 The Rotten Apple of the Local Church
Read: Matthew 5:9 and Romans 12:14-18
As specific trees are more susceptible to specific diseases, some congregations are more susceptible to internal corruption. While some church systems may “spoil” local churches from the top down, others plant decay and foster death from the inside out. The most common intra-body disease is the failure of the members and leaders within a church to restore broken relationships. As Christians, we neglect the ministry of peacemaking.
Restoration is the final stage of forgiveness resulting in renewing the process of trust. Church leaders commonly ignore broken relationships within the church. But the hair-line crack will expand over time into a wedge within the church body, because even though leaders ignore divisions within the body, individual members do not. They take sides and in whispered tones retell, many times inaccurately, the wound-story. Tale bearing and gossip result. If wounds are allowed to fester, the wounded often simmers in invisible anger. Anger will turn to bitterness and bitterness to withdrawal and isolation--attending church, but uninvolved.
Why do we fail to be peacemakers? Here are some reasons I believe we hesitate to restore relationships:
1. We wrongly believe that the one with the greatest guilt or the one who initiated the conflict should be the one to take the first step. We believe the one with the highest position in the church ought to initiate the “I’m sorry” speech. Scripture puts the burden upon both. The one who was offended is just as responsible to take the first step as the one who is the offender.
2. We don’t want to get caught up in the confrontation. We protect ourselves, but we pass along the wound story anyway.
3. We falsely believe that harsh feelings diminish over time. In reality, they simply “simmer” in a deeper part of the heart and continue to color one’s relationships. Addressing another cordially is
not the same as forgiving another.
4. One fails to see the offence as it is. To refuse to work for restoration is to offend Christ. It is an anti-testimony of belonging to Christ.
5. Our definition of restoration is often skewed. One hears, “I have nothing against him or her,” but that is not restoration. Not holding a grudge is not the same as restoration.
6. There is another church not far away where one can start over. Not facing those we wound is too easy. No wonder most church growth is the result of church hopping.
Go and be restored to your brother or sister. Let us follow Christ by making peace.
Prayer: God of peace, give us the insight and courage to be peacemakers. Amen.
Gerry Zordel
Interim Pastor
FBC/Brighton |
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