CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS
REACHING FULL POTENTIAL: Crime or Church?
The headline read: Clinton alludes to human rights in arrival speech.
Former President, Bill Clinton, visiting China, was giving a “gentle reminder of U. S. disapproval of China’s human rights abuses.”
“…the commitment to providing all human beings the opportunity to develop their full potential is vital to the strength and success of the new China,” he stated, according to the USA Today’s report.
Isn’t that commitment a key to the vitality of all governments, all countries, all organizations—and all churches?
I have to ask: What is “full potential?” Perhaps it’s developing your talents, gifts and skills and using them to the best of your ability.
Full potential can be developed, but like fire, it can be used for good or for the wrong reasons.
When I was a child, I considered criminals “stupid.” They couldn’t have any brains if they were not “living right.” It was a surprise to discover that “criminals” are often super-intelligent, that the life of crime offers a criminal an opportunity to use his potential to reach his goals, an opportunity to develop his “full potential.”
Criminal organizations do this. The opportunity is offered to anyone who cares to reach for the golden ring. This may be why they thrive. I cannot help but note that the first persons approaching youth new to the community are those with a criminal—or at least, a dysfunctional—bent.
But what about the church? Does it offer people an opportunity to “develop their full potential?” Are they strong and vital as a result? Do they approach youth (or adults) who are new in the community?
The answer to the first two questions is a resounding “No!” To the third, there is a tentative yes—but usually only if the newcomer fits their mold, and preferably is introduced by a current member.
Church members are offered limited resources to develop new potential. Churches don’t look at a person and their (future) needs, envisioning ways they can develop their talents to fulfill that need. They view members as filling slots, something to be used to fill the need of the church.
In fact, new members, although perceived as a need, are not welcomed as a fulfillment of that need. Therefore, churches become old and stale, their survival in question. Programs, like preparing future organists through the use of talented persons, are not seen. Instead, musicians are honored for their years of service, although they have never nurtured other musicians who can fill their shoes when they no longer can. This is true of other church positions also. Then, when the position holder moves away, becomes ill, or dies, anyone who enters the church is seen as a replacement, regardless of their talents.
Church dynamics need examination. To revitalize, they need to nurture the potential of everyone who enters their doors. And they even need to nurture the potential of everyone who doesn’t enter their doors.
It’s a large task, but someone has to do it. Why not the church?
(I included this piece in a 1998 booklet titled Commentaries on News and Life.)
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I welcome any comments you might make. How about a teacher who had an influential effect on your life? Use the COMMENT box below to respond. For details on the COMMENT CONTEST click on: http://carolyncholland.wordpress.com/monthly-prize-for-comments/
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADDITIONAL READING:
King Solomon and the Case of Two Mothers
Laurel Mountain Borough, Pennsylvania: Quaint
March days to celebrate
Battling squirrels at bird feeders I: to fight or join them
Spring…the joy and pathos of the…DANDELION
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Reaching Full Potential: Crime or Church?
Tags: Church, Develop your full potential, Human Rights, Latest post, Misc., Miscellaneous, Op Ed, Opinion, Thoughts
CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS
REACHING FULL POTENTIAL: Crime or Church?
The headline read: Clinton alludes to human rights in arrival speech.
Former President, Bill Clinton, visiting China, was giving a “gentle reminder of U. S. disapproval of China’s human rights abuses.”
“…the commitment to providing all human beings the opportunity to develop their full potential is vital to the strength and success of the new China,” he stated, according to the USA Today’s report.
Isn’t that commitment a key to the vitality of all governments, all countries, all organizations—and all churches?
I have to ask: What is “full potential?” Perhaps it’s developing your talents, gifts and skills and using them to the best of your ability.
Full potential can be developed, but like fire, it can be used for good or for the wrong reasons.
When I was a child, I considered criminals “stupid.” They couldn’t have any brains if they were not “living right.” It was a surprise to discover that “criminals” are often super-intelligent, that the life of crime offers a criminal an opportunity to use his potential to reach his goals, an opportunity to develop his “full potential.”
Criminal organizations do this. The opportunity is offered to anyone who cares to reach for the golden ring. This may be why they thrive. I cannot help but note that the first persons approaching youth new to the community are those with a criminal—or at least, a dysfunctional—bent.
But what about the church? Does it offer people an opportunity to “develop their full potential?” Are they strong and vital as a result? Do they approach youth (or adults) who are new in the community?
The answer to the first two questions is a resounding “No!” To the third, there is a tentative yes—but usually only if the newcomer fits their mold, and preferably is introduced by a current member.
Church members are offered limited resources to develop new potential. Churches don’t look at a person and their (future) needs, envisioning ways they can develop their talents to fulfill that need. They view members as filling slots, something to be used to fill the need of the church.
In fact, new members, although perceived as a need, are not welcomed as a fulfillment of that need. Therefore, churches become old and stale, their survival in question. Programs, like preparing future organists through the use of talented persons, are not seen. Instead, musicians are honored for their years of service, although they have never nurtured other musicians who can fill their shoes when they no longer can. This is true of other church positions also. Then, when the position holder moves away, becomes ill, or dies, anyone who enters the church is seen as a replacement, regardless of their talents.
Church dynamics need examination. To revitalize, they need to nurture the potential of everyone who enters their doors. And they even need to nurture the potential of everyone who doesn’t enter their doors.
It’s a large task, but someone has to do it. Why not the church?
(I included this piece in a 1998 booklet titled Commentaries on News and Life.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
To receive notification of each new post on Carolyn’s Compositions, subscribe by typing your e-mail address in the SUBSCRIPTION box in the upper right hand column of this page. Notification will begin after you CONFIRM your subscription in an e-mail sent to you by wordpress for that purpose.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I welcome any comments you might make. How about a teacher who had an influential effect on your life? Use the COMMENT box below to respond. For details on the COMMENT CONTEST click on: http://carolyncholland.wordpress.com/monthly-prize-for-comments/
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADDITIONAL READING:
King Solomon and the Case of Two Mothers
Laurel Mountain Borough, Pennsylvania: Quaint
March days to celebrate
Battling squirrels at bird feeders I: to fight or join them
Spring…the joy and pathos of the…DANDELION
Like this: