- Why We Can Never Escape Problems

WHEREVER TWO SURFACES MOVING in different directions touch each other, there is friction, and wherever there is friction there is heat. In the operation of our highly complex modern machinery, friction is a serious problem. The resistance one moving part offers to another can slow down all motion and bring the machine to a halt, or the heat generated by one surface moving over another can burn up the whole thing. To prevent this, all contact surfaces are made as smooth as possible, and lubricants are used between the parts to reduce the friction to a minimum. Without lubricating oil the industries of a modern nation would grind to a full stop within a few minutes.
A machine is a society of metal parts, so to speak, each part having its own work to do toward the fulfillment of the purpose for which the machine was designed. Opposing parts may give the impression of working against each other, but actually they are working together toward an end too high to be achieved by any individual part working alone—an end which can only be realized by the efforts of the whole society.
The parts of a machine serve as an allegory of human society. A man standing alone is just a man, but as soon as another man walks up and joins him, we have a society of men. Because two men cannot stand still or be silent for long, this elementary society soon develops social problems. The separate interests of the two men cause them to move in different directions, and because they are in contact there will be friction. Now, instead of that simple society of two men, think of a full-blown society of men, women and children, and it is easy to see why the world has troubles. If humanity stood still, or if all its members were alike and had identical interests, there would be no problems in human society. The energy and activity of men, however, make a certain amount of friction inevitable.
From this we Christians may learn much. Because the church is a society of human beings, the problems that plague families and nations are found in the church, too. If a Christian stands by himself, his only problems are personal, but as soon as other Christians join him, he has social problems as well. True, the members of the church are redeemed human beings, but that fact does not make them any less human. Differences of taste, temperament, opinion, moral energy and speed of action among religious people in close association create a certain amount of friction in the group. Wise Christian leaders will anticipate this and will know what to do when it develops.
This is written for the consolation of God’s people, especially ministers and Christian workers. If we come to the practical business of living in the local Christian community with unrealistic notions concerning it, we are in for a bitter disillusionment and perhaps some soul injuries that will not heal.
When I was a young preacher with my first tiny pastorate, I had not had enough experience to know what to expect. I came to the work of the church with the naive belief that the twin wonders of the new birth and the indwelling of the Spirit would make discord and unpleasantness among the saints impossible. Consequently, the first flare-up in the church nearly crushed my spirit. Unconsciously I had thought that I had been called to shepherd a flock of angels instead of a flock of human sheep. Through agonizing prayer and deep suffering, I finally came to see what I should have known in the first place—that Christians are basically human beings, and when they try to live together, they will have problems just like other people. The church is a body of moving parts, a society of many members. The problems arising in any church will be in direct proportion to the zeal, the activity and the energy of its members. This is inevitable and should be taken in stride.
Some misguided Christian leaders feel that they must preserve harmony at any cost, so they do everything possible to reduce friction. They should remember that there is no friction in a machine that has been shut down for the night. Turn off the power, and you will have no problem with moving parts. Also remember that there is a human society where there are no problems—the cemetery. The dead have no differences of opinion. They generate no heat, because they have no energy and no motion. But their penalty is sterility and complete lack of achievement.
What then is the conclusion of the matter? That problems are the price of progress, that friction is the concomitant of motion, that a live and expanding church will have a certain quota of difficulties as a result of its life and activity. A Spirit-filled church will invite the anger of the enemy.
How then shall we deal with our problems? First, expect them so you will not be taken off guard. Second, realize that every live body of Christians has it troubles, from Christ and His apostles to the present day, so yours are not unique. Third, pour in copious amounts of love, the best lubricant in the world. Love will reduce friction to a minimum and keep the whole body working smoothly and without injury to its parts. Where does this love come from? The love of God bursts forth from the Holy Spirit in our hearts.