Time to get out of the well

Recently I was on a Zoom call with a group of Korean pastors and ministers. One of the older leaders warned us about the danger of being a frog in a well. When it was clear that I was not familiar with that particular idiom, one of the mature sisters on the call explained the concept by saying that a frog looks up from the well and sees a small circle of light at the top of the well and thinks that is the whole world. But the frog’s perspective is wrong because that circle of sunlight is really just a very small part of a much larger world.

I was fascinated by the concept, as well as the idiom, so I researched it. I found the history of the phrase on a number of different websites. Apparently it is a common Japanese saying that many legends say originated in a Chinese story written by Zhaung Zhou four hundred years before Christ. Though the phrase might be new to me, it is actually a very ancient piece of wisdom, reinforcing the idea that I may indeed be living as a frog in a well, thinking my view of the world is all there is.

I think most leaders live in a very small world, at the bottom of a well. We may have worked hard to make our well very comfortable. We may have shared our well enthusiastically with others, and even invited them to live in our well with us. But too many leaders think their small little view of the world is all there is. As we grow in maturity and wisdom, we learn to see the world as God sees it. And that world is much bigger than we realize.

“…too many leaders think their small little view of the world is all there is. As we grow in maturity and wisdom, we learn to see the world as God sees it. And that world is much bigger than we realize.”

Perhaps this is what Jesus was trying to help us understand in Matthew 7:2 “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” If we view others through our very narrow minded viewpoint, then others will likewise judge us by their very narrow minded view point, and none of us will ever grow in our understanding of each other.

We can learn to practice what Jesus taught in Luke 6:42 “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” If we want others to respect our opinions and viewpoints, we also must learn to respect theirs. Their viewpoint may indeed be wrong, for they may indeed be like a frog in a well, looking at the world from a very tiny viewpoint. But if we are at the bottom of our own well, then our perspective is skewed as well. So we point out others’ inaccuracies, while holding onto many of our own.

Imagine if we all got out of our wells and viewed the world as God saw it. While this can be applied to every area of life, as a Christian leader, I most want to apply it to how I lead a Christian organization. Shall I insist that we use specific programs or ministry structures, or can I learn new ways? Shall I insist that only terms and phrases that are familiar to my own tribe are correct, or shall I learn to understand the terminology of other Christian tribes? Is there only one way to plant a church, or many? Is there only one way to revitalize an existing church, or many? Is there only one way to fund ministry, or many? I’m not talking about abandoning theology, as God has already ordained that. I am talking about the wells we built around our theology that limit us from seeing how God could use other means to accomplish the same mission. It is a fascinating concept, worth investing time and mental energy. It may lead to much better understanding of others and better relationships with others, even though we may still disagree with each other. Following the concept, we would always seek to be learners instead of defaulting to always being lecturers. It’s time to get out of the well.

Dr. Terry W. Dorsett serves as the executive director of the Baptist Convention of New England.