The human tendency is to try to control what we fear. Most people fear chaos. When chaos is understood as a natural, normal, and necessary part of life, we are free of the need to control. We enter chaos with a new acceptance, learning the critical lessons of adaptability and interdependence. In the church, the need to control often prevents the majority of our members from entering into meaningful ministry and service.
Control destroys the spirit of creativity, risk-taking, innovation, and participation.
Systems thinking expands our sense of church to encompass the whole people of God. When we ask ourselves how everyone fits into the community of faith we shift focus to relationship, away from structure. We look beyond our patterns and processes of control to explore new possibilities of creativity. In the life of the church, where people are the primary source of chaos, it is inappropriate to rely on control. In the arena of relationships, adaptability and understanding are the most appropriate means to lead us to the kingdom of God.