Don’t You Need Somebody To Blame

by Mark Tidsworth, Team Leader

Don't you want somebody to love

Don't you need somebody to love

Wouldn't you love somebody to love

You better find somebody to love

-Jefferson Airplane, 1967

After several recent coaching sessions with pastors, this chorus from Jefferson Airplane became the earworm in my brain, yet with an adaptation. Rather than love, blaming became the lyric alongside the music, “Don’t you need somebody to blame.”

That’s what we are hearing from way too many church leaders these days…so many want somebody to blame.

It’s not surprising really, given the rampant anger in this USA right about now. Early in the summer, we relished our new-found freedom to engage and interact. Vaccinations were on the rise, nicer weather was here, and our expectations for re-engaging life were high. We brought our hopeful expectations to church with us, making our plans for a strong fall season of robust church life. Then the Delta Variant arrived. We tried to ignore it as long as possible, with some still turning their eyes away because they can’t stand to look. All of this is resulting in great disappointment, frustration, and anger in churches. As leadership guru John Maxwell is fond of saying, “Disappointment is the gap between expectation and reality.” One unhelpful yet common expression of disappointment is anger expressed as blame.

Now we just want somebody to blame.

Some people won’t blame God, fearing danger to their salvation. The Psalmists had no hesitation in blaming God, laying their complaints at the foot of God’s throne. Even so, some among us won’t blame God, but they will blame their pastor and lay leadership. This week I’ve talked with pastors who are blamed for

• Declining worship attendance in recent weeks (same time Delta Variant appeared)

• Declining participation by young families (who have unvaccinated children)

• Opening the church too widely, violating pandemic protocols, putting people at risk

• Restricting church activities too much, giving in to fear of a pandemic rather than practicing faith in God

Wouldn’t you love somebody to blame.

We all get it. We are all frustrated, disappointed, and angry. We all want somebody to blame.

Yet most Christ followers get something else, too. Most disciples of Jesus recognize we are called to a different way of being. The vast majority of people in churches must be disciples of Jesus because they are responding to the crazy challenges of our day with exceptional grace, patience, kindness, respect, and perseverance. Surely they are Christians, reflecting the Jesus way of being in this world. The way most disciples in this body of Christ are managing themselves makes me truly glad to be part of God’s Church.

So, though we want somebody to blame, most Christ followers are rising to the occasion, recognizing now is the time to step up and practice the faith.

Though we want somebody to blame, we are choosing to find somebody to love. I have no idea if Jefferson Airplane’s song-writing inspiration came from Jesus, but their recommendation is not wasted on God’s Church. Through the power of Jesus Christ, we are laying down the blame, looking for somebody to love.