Photo by Matt Botsford on Unsplash
THE DECISION’S been made, you’ve clearly not been consulted, but now you’re being ‘informed’ (i.e. told what you’re to do — support the church through change). The die is cast. The stage is set. Nothing will change the course chosen. Is this situation familiar to you?
No matter how many are for the
change occurring, it feels like the leadership is stubbornly forging ahead
despite the probability of casualties and collateral damage. Like in a lottery
competition, the ‘judges’ have had their say and no correspondence will be
entered into.
You’re left in a precarious
situation. What do you think and how do you respond?
I’ve experienced this first-hand.
In fact, I’ve been in situations where I felt on all sides of the conundrum of
change simultaneously, seeing its impact yet its potential at one and the same
time. And, I have to say this, I’ve seen what it does to a church when there
wasn’t full support for change. And unfortunately — not that I saw it at the
time, mind you — but I’ve been part of opposition.
Usually because of my concern over the treatment of people. At times like this
I’ve seen the enemy have more of his way than he ever ought to, and the enemy
ought never have his way when it concerns
the church. Yet, who is the church made up of? Humans, broken, wounded, sordid,
prideful, ambitious, and easy-to-hurt humanity.
Anyone has the capacity to be used
by the enemy — all sides of any argument — and the mark of the enemy in terms
of church is division.
What if your church stood united or
fell divided based solely on your
call — on your decision? Because that is the reality. Stand united and Jesus’
church thrives. Engage in sedition and at least a portion of the church falls.
Its name is discredited. Its potential is limited. It falls far short of
Christ’s glory.
When we choose to support our
church through change we don’t agree with, we trust God at a higher level than
what we were previously capable. We trust God enough to journey maturely
through ongoing dissonance. And we can only do that when we love His church more than our own or
others’ agendas.
Love God and we love His church. Love
the church and we love God. The two are synonymous.
We’re allowed to disagree with our
church leadership provided they have our support, and, provided there is the maturity
in leadership to accept and even embrace disagreement, all should be well.
Church leadership should spare
space for diversity of viewpoint, but the membership ought also to stand
faithfully behind its leaders. Leaders who lead humbly are easier to trust.
Church leadership deserves and
requires our trust. But church leadership serves the people of God as well as God.
It does help if church leadership
understand how powerless it can feel to be on the receiving end of change.
1 comment:
Mmmm this is a hard call to trust in our church leadership even if we dont agree . But divided congregations are also damaging . We can understandibly become very passionate about matters that affect our church family. Calling congregations to unity is wise as division and steong emotion leaves us open to spiritual attack . The Holy Spirit gives us a special ability to love each other l believe .
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