This Church Conflict Originated in Hell
Back in 2009, pastor (and cartoonist!) Joe McKeever had a particularly insightful post about the origins of church conflict. To encourage you to click on through and read the entire post, let me tempt you with a few excerpts of his descriptions of two different church conflicts:
“My quick assessment, based solely on my friend’s account, is that such an immature pastor has no business leading a congregation. He is not a shepherd who cares for his flock. He is cowardly. (He refused to talk to the woman whom he accused of wrong before hearing her, then turned around and wronged her!)
Furthermore, he forbids the church staff from having anything further to do with my friend and her husband. (I’d like to know where he finds that in the Bible!)
Pastors who wrong their members need to be held accountable, if for no other reason than that they might face their misdeeds, repent and be forgiven. In the process, they will grow, and eventually might even become true shepherds of the Lord’s people.
Whether the wrong originates in the pulpit or the pew, once it threatens the well-being of a child of God and the health and fellowship of a church, it should be dealt with promptly.”
I must admit … I cringed and grieved as I read the details of the church conflicts he described. I also cheered Pastor McKeever for his wise and redemptive response. Here is an excerpt from the second church conflict in his words …
“I heard this week an illustration of how miscommunication and misunderstanding can quickly jeopardize the fellowship of a church and the work of a minister.
The incoming pastor had last served with our SBC North American Mission Board (referred to colloquially as NAMB), headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia. On his very first Sunday in the new church, the pastor said something to the effect that ‘I want to thank my NAMB friends for their encouragement….’ Well sir, some lady sitting toward the back of the church who clearly does not hear well, did not know the word “NAMB” and thought he said ‘damn.’ Really, she was totally convinced that was what she had heard. Hard to believe.
The biddy was irate and could not wait to get with her friends and start a gossip-campaign in the congregation. All week long the matter spread throughout the community. ‘What kind of pastor do we have!!’ ‘I was shocked!’ ‘Have you heard what the new preacher at the First Baptist Church said Sunday?’ ‘If he would use such language from the pulpit, what else might he do!’
Toward the end of the week, the tale finally reached the pastor’s office. When he heard it, to his credit, he bellowed with laughter.
The next Sunday, he used the powerpoint to spell out NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD (NAMB) in huge letters on the giant screen and to explain what it meant. The friend who told me that story said the congregation roared with laughter.
To this date, she said, no one knows who started the campaign. I do. It originated in Hell.“
I have to admit that I agree with Pastor McKeever that such a destructive campaign has its roots in Hell.
Initially, I was going to try to end this post by drawing his conclusion back to our THREE enemies (the world, the Old Man, and Satan) … but upon reflection, I am completely comfortable with saying that the ongoing attacks against the Church absolutely have spiritual forces at play.
Yes, of course, in the second example, this woman’s “areas in need of sanctification” were also showing. (As were the areas of immaturity in every other person who permitted her to spread such slanderous gossip without stopping her, helping her, and protecting the pastor/church.)
But think back on that first example—when the pastor refused to even speak to the woman whom he accused of such terrible wrongdoing (!). And then he required people to give that family the silent treatment?!*
Oh oh oh. What better evidence do we need of just how much Satan hates the Church? I agree with Pastor McKeever that Hell had something to do with the destruction brought about by such a “restless evil full of deadly poison” (James 3:8).
May God have mercy on us all—
And may we never, ever speak destructive, graceless words about someone behind their backs, or rally professing Christians to give the silent treatment to another human being (or an entire family!)—people created in God’s image, with souls that will last forever.
Soberly,
Tara B.
* 2018 Comment: A few months ago, I learned that the “silent treatment” this pastor referred to in 2009 has now escalated because of social media and technology to be something called ghosting. As I have discussed that article (on “Christian Ghosting”) with numerous people, I have heard repeated stories of individuals and families (especially children!) being irreparably harmed when entire churches, entire communities, have dropped them off a cliff of immediate silence even after decades of “doing life together” and “covenant relationship.” I cringe and emotionally double-over, as though I’ve been kicked in the gut, every time I think about my friends sitting their children down and explaining why the people who are on every page of their photo albums growing up now act as though they never even existed. Poof! Like a ghost. They are just GONE.
That being said, please note that I do not agree with much of this linked article —especially some of the inappropriate words + wowza! please stay away from the comments!—but I could not find quickly a better example of the horror show known as “Christian ghosting.” So please learn from the wheat and just discard the chaff. Thanks! — tkb
[A re-post from April 28, 2009]