Some things in life are complex, and rightly so because there is no way of making them less complex than they are. So many factors, variables, and unpredictable developments just make them complex. Attempting to oversimplify them would result in giving out soundbites that are good for primetime TV political debates and social media reels but have no root in the real world.
However, we sometimes make things more complex than they are already. Worse still we even make simple things complex for reasons best known to us. And that leaves the team trying to understand what should be done and how it should be done.
Whenever I study the life and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, I’m always amazed at how he was able to explain complex spiritual intricate matters in so simple ways. Things that if you were to be transported into the spirit world to see them, you would be amazed at their complexity. Pastors spend decades teaching these concepts that Jesus explained in three years, yet the well of treasures remains untapped.
Just consider the issue of salvation from sin. The number of spiritual invisible events that occur between the moment one hears the gospel and becomes born again is mind-blowing. However, they can be summarised as one confessing his sins and accepting Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.
When Jesus told Nicodemus summarily that he must be born again, Nicodemus being a teacher of the law and an erudite scholar, wanted to understand more hence his question on how the possibility of getting into his mother’s womb and being put to birth anew.
Jesus’ response on the intricacies of the new birth showed that it was better to accept “you should be born again” than ” that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear the sound but cannot tell where it is coming from and where it is going.”
My point is that Jesus simplified the concept. In fact, in John 3:16, we get another simplification “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
As a leader, understand that painting a beautiful picture of your vision that spurs everyone on the team to go towards that direction requires simplification. Even the strategies necessary to birth that vision need to be understood clearly by all. Therefore, as much as possible, simplify, and draw life real examples that depict what’s on your mind. No wonder Jesus often used parables to explain deep complex spiritual truths.