A Deficit of Trust

A wise friend of mine noted a phrase President Barack Obama used during his recent State of the Union address. The President spoke of "a deficit of trust." I think he's on to something, regardless of any individual political preferences. The two major political parties display an essential distrust of one another. Republicans and Democrats are beyond having differing approaches to the common goal of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans. Republicans believe the Democrats are out to create a big government, socialist state. Democrats assume all Republicans aim to protect those of power and means at the expense of the working class and the poor. In addition, we see an erosion of trust between the average citizen and those in leadership positions. As my friend suggested, from Watergate, to Monica Lewinsky, and through non-existent weapons of mass destruction, confidence is evaporating.

In his fascinating book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, Patrick Lencioni suggests that the foundational dysfunction of any group is the absence of trust. This holds true for anything from a committee, to a small business, to a corporation, to a faith community, to a nation. A deficit of trust is indicative of many things: lack of a common mission and vision, the needs of individuals overriding the main goal of the group, egotistic power plays, etc.

I believe this holds true, at least in gatherings of Jesus-followers. I'm familiar with a number of congregations. In the congregations that have the most health and success at making new disciples, the disciple-making mission is clear and it drives everything the group does. Ego needs take a back seat to overall fulfillment of the mission. Everyone knows his/her role in the movement, and works to trust everyone else to fulfill their roles. Involvement is less about what I get out of it, and more about what I put into it.

So again, whether your are a Republican or a Democrat, or an Independent voter like me, the President may have pin-pointed the issue. It's not about which ideology prevails. It's deeper than that. The question is whether we can rebuild a basic trust that, though we may differ in methodology, we are all aiming for the same goal.

I'll see you around the next bend in the river. (Trout season opens in the Missouri state impoundments in 18 days!)