Category Archives: Issues

We’re looking at a number of priorities for the Church to fulfill our purpose to love God and others.

Click on the links below if you haven’t read the posts showing biblical reasons these practices should be a priority for the Church and in our personal lives.

Benevolence
Christian Nurture
Fellowship
Outreach
Prayer
Worship

Our purpose to love God and others doesn’t change regardless of circumstances or what is happening in the world around us. Even if we can’t meet as a local church, this purpose remains. Under adverse conditions, we actually have greater opportunity to demonstrate God’s love. But, that won’t happen if we think “church as usual” is the only way we can accomplish these priorities.

What happens to these biblical priorities if we can’t do Church as usual?

This is a good time to re-examine how we view Church.

• If it’s all about our programs and the building we meet in, then we’re going to find ourselves in a dilemma.
• But, if the Church truly is about ministry and providing opportunities for people to know and love God and demonstrate His love to people, we just have to get a bit creative.

We are still the Church. The programs we have to accomplish these priorities aren’t what make us the Church. These priorities remain priorities. Live streaming is one way many churches are using but not everyone is set up for it and that certainly is not the only way to continue on. We can still shepherd people and provide the support and encouragement people need. Regularly communicate with people by phone, texting, e-mail, social media, and yes, even snail mail.

Encourage People to Be the Church Where They Are

Encourage people in your church to look for ways they can individually and as families live out these various means to show love for God and people. Provide, or at least point them to helpful resources. Think creatively about how to communicate God’s purposes and how these priorities continue to be priorities. — “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24)

Here are just a few things we can encourage people toward. Click on links below for various helps already on the MinTools.com site. The links go to resource pages with articles and books you can pass along to others in your church.

Benevolence – help neighbors in need; give to those in financial distress as you are able

• Benevolence Resources
• People Helping Resources

Christian Nurture – good time to get into the practice of personal study of God’s Word; share what you’re learning with someone else as a means of encouragement

• Bible Study Resources

Fellowship – phone, texting, e-mail, social media

• Body Life Resources
• Fellowship Resources

Outreach – be the salt and light by how you respond in adverse circumstances

• Apologetics Resources
• Outreach Resources
• Witnessing Resources

Prayer – pray for and with people over the phone

• Prayer Resources

Worship – watch services live streamed but also use available platforms to testify of God’s goodness and grace during this time

• Worship Resources

In Acts 2:42-47, we read that the Early Church was so devoted to accomplishing these priorities that they met daily with one another. Though that might not be happening today, we’re in a unique position from the Early Church. We have technology they didn’t have … like phones and the Internet. Let’s seek God’s wisdom on how to creatively use it for ministry. Who knows, if we, as the Church, get back to what truly makes us the Church, perhaps we too will be able to say “and the Lord added to their number” (Acts 2:47).

Click on Buttons Below to Pass This Article On to Others:

In an exchange in the comment section on the Train Church Leaders Practicum under the topic of church discipline, someone posed a question about how elders or other church leaders can come alongside of people with comfort and counsel to help bring healing in a divisive church situation. I gave some of the following general suggestions but have herein expounded on my response.

9 Suggestions to Help Bring Healing in a Divisive Church Situation

What this looks like could depend on the particular situation, such as what caused the division, how far along it is, what has already been done, perhaps the church’s culture and governance, etc.. But, these suggestions can help elders and leaders bring healing in a divisive church situation.

1) Communication

Church leaders must honestly share with the church about what is happening, what steps have been taken, and how they hope to bring resolution. If you wait too long to communicate, you open the door to what might be irreparable damage as gossip, misunderstanding, and side-taking quickly ensue in situations like this. Further, people may feel you are trying to hide or cover up things through your lack of communication. You do not, and often should not, share every detail, but you must share enough for people to be able to understand, join in praying about it, and be able to participate in varying ways in the process. Being kept out of the loop can compound the hurt, adding to their sense of helplessness.

Also Read: Christ-like Communication

2) Availability

While some of the sharing will need to take place in the large group setting, much of it can and should happen one-on-one, as couples, or even as small groups which is more conducive to dialog and addressing specific concerns. Church leaders must make their desire to come alongside in these ways known. While this does require a commitment on the part of the leaders, their availability is essential to helping the healing process.

Also Read: Don’t Just Survive, Thrive: Need for Presence

3) Safety

Keep in mind that people need more than the physical presence of church leaders meeting with them. They need to know that the leaders will be safe to talk to, that they will be objective, non-judgmental, and will keep confidences. People need a safe environment in which to express themselves. Remember that people will be at different stages in the grief cycle. Can people feel as though they will be accepted and loved if they express where they are at … even if they don’t appear to be very spiritual? Or will they feel further traumatized?

Also Read: Christ-like Ministry

4) Observation

Take note of people who seem to especially be taking it hard and initiate contact with them. But, be careful that you don’t assume that people who aren’t saying anything are okay. They could be withdrawing which can be as harmful as obvious reactions.

Also Read: Want to Be More Discerning? – Look at God

5) Listening

Let people talk. Don’t make it all about you talking AT people. Hear what they are truly saying and then gently correct (Gal. 6:1), encourage, and support as needed (1 Thess. 5:14). The kind of help people need to heal could vary from person to person and the way you are going to find out what is needed is by listening.

Also Read: Listening Skills Training for Accurate Empathy

6) Prayer

Constantly bathe the situation in prayer, specifically praying for the people involved and for the entire Body. Encourage people to spend much time in prayer. Take time to pray with people, especially after you have taken time to listen to them. But, be careful not to use prayer as a means of preaching at them. By consistently turning to God in prayer, you are pointing people to God as not only the standard but also the source of all that is needed in the situation. Prayer is an important part of the healing process (James 5:16).

Also Read: Effective and Powerful Prayer?

7) Love & Serve

Despite people’s reactions, seek God’s help to love them no matter what. Go out of your way to assist them in any way you can Give a blessing when they attack. React to their unkindness with kindness (Rom. 12:19-21; 1 Pet. 3:8-12). One of the worse things a leader can do is to respond in like to aggressive, obnoxious, inconsiderate, or even hateful expressions of people’s hurts, fears, confusion, frustration … grief.

To Read: Attitude Toward Those Who Do Us Wrong

8) Reconciliation

This should be a major objective of church leaders in coming alongside of people to help in their healing. A divisive church situation tends to be filled with hurt feelings as things are said that shouldn’t have or said in ways that damage relationships. Trust gets broken. Fellowship between believers and with God gets fractured. For true healing to take place there needs to be an effort to reconcile. People, including the leaders, need to extend and seek forgiveness.

Be clear that the restoration of relationships with one another, and with God, is essential to healing, not the need for people to agree with or condone what has happened. We must work toward unity based on who we are in Christ, even if we continue to disagree, for God’s glory and for testimony’s sake. One of the best ways leaders can teach people to be at peace with one another and God is by being an example of it themselves.

Also Read: Let All Be Harmonious – How’s that going to happen?

9) Mediation

Where reconciliation seems unlikely, it may be necessary to bring in an unbiased person from outside of the situation to mediate. In some situations the leaders may be able to step in and mediate between members, but it may be necessary to bring someone in from outside of the church.

The above suggestions aren’t listed in order of importance or even as chronological steps to take. The reality is that there are no 1-2-3 steps in situations like this. We need to continue to seek wisdom and discernment from God each step of the way as we grieve these kinds of situations. – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5-6)

If you’ve been there, you know the heart wrenching feelings that go along with grieving a divisive church situation, especially when some you have come to love leave or you feel like you must leave because of it. The church is never the same. People aren’t the same. Some eventually learn and grow from the situation but others get stuck in their grief.

Grief Cycle Applied to Grieving a Divisive Church Situation

What I have observed is that the sense of loss in these kinds of situations sets into motion the grief cycle — denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. We may need to feel these emotions to get to the point where we are willing to do what God wants us to do in the situation. If we don’t keep advancing through these stages when grieving a divisive church, we won’t learn and grow from what’s happened.

1) Denial – downplaying, avoiding

People stuck in denial tend to be content with the dysfunction. They shun the idea of church discipline for immoral situations. They think the church will be fine just as it is, even if it is on a downward spiral. As such, they try to avoid thinking about and dealing with what might be the inevitable.

Getting Unstuck:

Work at finding the truth in the situation, not how you want it to be.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5)

… that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Tim. 2:26)

2) Anger – blaming, resenting

People stuck in anger sometimes make things worse as they lash out at people for their real or perceived parts in the problem. They are so frustrated about what is happening that it just pours out of them. Not everyone, however, expresses their anger in these situations but rather bottles it up within themselves. Nonetheless, it is there and eats away at their soul.

Getting Unstuck:

Work through your anger.

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Eph. 4:26-27)

Remember that you are accountable for what you do.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? … first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matt. 7:3-5)

Exercise humility regardless of how you feel.

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. (James 3:14)

3) Bargaining – postponing

People stuck in the bargaining stage could be the ones who put conditions on staying or leaving. They’ll stay as long as … or until … but often get caught up in the dysfunction even though they said they would leave if things didn’t change.

Getting Unstuck:

Make your goal trusting the Lord rather than testing Him.

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” (Matt. 4:7)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. (Prov. 3:5-8)

4) Depression – feeling helpless and hopeless

People stuck in depression realize the inevitable is about to happen and are so saddened by it that they slump into despair. They tend to be ones who give up on the church. Even if they attend another church out of duty, they don’t get involved like they had been. Their goal is protect their hearts from further hurt.

Getting Unstuck:

Find your help and hope in the Lord, not your circumstances:

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Ps. 55:22)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Pet. 5:7)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)

5) Acceptance – releasing to God

People who work through this variety of feelings aroused within them eventually get to the point where they are able to gain some perspective. They might not like what has happened and it may still hurt, but they trust God nonetheless to work for the good even in a bad situation (Rom. 8:28). Consequently, they’re able to experience God’s peace even in the midst of turmoil and change. Their prayers for the church are more selfless growing out of desire for God’s glory more than their own hurts.

A Final Note about Grieving Division in the Church

Moving through these stages when grieving a divisive church isn’t a sign we aren’t trusting God. Getting stuck is.

Remember that grief often doesn’t follow a straight path. We can re-cycle through some of these stages. We must learn to keep turning it over to God. It is when we get our eyes off of God that we risk getting stuck in our grief.

Also remember that not everybody grieves the same. Some people cycle through grief quicker than others. We must allow one another to grieve while constantly reminding each other to look to the Lord.  In the next post we will look at how to help people heal in these grievous church situations.

We live in difficult days for the Church. Immorality runs rampant, making for some tough decisions. Standing for truth tends to get pegged as intolerance. Yet, the Church is to be the pillar and foundation of truth.

How is the Church supposed to navigate through these difficult times?

1) Emphasize what really matters.

How easy it can be for the Church to focus in on that which is not the most important. That often translates into the world’s opinion that we are against everything and for very little. Putting the spotlight on what really matters could help us from falling into legalism and also help us avoid wasting both time and resources in that which yields little spiritual fruit. Let’s remember Jesus’ words to Martha in Luke 10:41-42 — “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

To Read:

• 5 Things That Matter More
• Are You For or Against?
• We Need More … But, More of What?
• What Really Matters in Ministry?
• Christlikeness: Holiness, Not Legalism

2) Be real.

Authenticity communicates far more than words alone. When people experience a first hand, authentic demonstration of the love and power of Christ, it makes a difference. Hypocrisy has the opposite effect, turning people off to the wonderful message we have to proclaim. Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:5 — “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

To Read:

• Christ-like Communication: Authentic
• Ministry Check-Up

3) Focus on both truth and grace.

To be the light and salt God calls us to be in this world (Matt. 5:13-16) and to function as the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tim. 3:15), the Church must not only stand for truth but also communicate it in a way that will be heard. In representing Christ in this world, we must remember that He came full of both grace and truth (Jn. 1:14). Grace without truth leads to a licentious church. Truth without grace leads to a heartless and rigid church unable to effectively reach the world for Him.

To Read:

• Grace & Truth – Not a Matter of Balance
• Christ-like Ministry
• Christlikeness: Balance

As the Church, we have the answer for the sin-ridden world in which we live. Navigating through the tumult will not be easy but when we apply the above three suggestions, we will have greater potential of gaining entrance into people’s lives so we can at least share God’s solution with them.

Some people who look at the Church today get so overwhelmed that they fall into despair and just give up on her. Others become cynical or embittered, especially if they had some bad experiences at the hands of the Church. All they can see is what the Church does wrong rather than the good God is still doing through His people. Some will zero in on and lash out about certain issues in which the Church is compromising. Though well-intentioned, they tend to turn people further away than toward who they should be.

7 Ways to Help a Compromising Church

If we aren’t careful, we can become part of the problem rather than part of the solution. Do you feel like the church is compromising and want to do something about it? Pray over the following suggestions. Acknowledge and trust in the Lord to move forward with the following means of realigning with God.

1. Make sure your own house is in order.

We are ultimately accountable before God for how we stand for truth. Inconsistencies in our own lives hamper attempts we make to correct compromises made by others in the Church. Let’s heed Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:5 — “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

2. Focus on what you stand for more than what you stand against.

I read that when people are trained to identify counterfeit bills, they study the real thing, not the counterfeit. They don’t focus on what a bill shouldn’t be like but rather what it should be. Who should we be in Christ? What do we have in Him? What should we stand for as believers? Let’s focus on who we should be as the Church more than who we shouldn’t be. Let’s be known for what we stand for not just against. People will tend to listen more when we have a cause, not a rant.

3. Be careful not to miss the big picture because you are hung up on specific issues.

We need to keep perspective. Specific issues are usually symptomatic of bigger problems. Deal with the roots and the rest will tend to right itself. Look at the five reasons for compromising given in a previous post. If those core issues aren’t addressed, you are merely engaging in debate about the specifics. People will continue to compromise when the foundations are faulty.

4. Speak the truth but do it in love (Eph. 4:15).

We need a Christ-like approach. Yes, Jesus spoke with authority, but He was not an authoritarian (Lk. 4:31-32, 36; Mk. 10:42-45). Jesus came full of both grace AND truth (Jn. 1:14). Failure to speak truth to one another is likely one of the reasons the Church has gotten into such a state of compromising. Truth without grace, however, merely leads to further rebellion, hurts, or people turning a deaf ear.

5. Remember that it is the Spirit’s job to convict, convince, and change hearts. (Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-8, 13-14; 1 Cor. 2:10-14)

Our responsibility is to plant the seed of Truth and to water it but we must remember that “neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Cor. 3:7). It’s not about winning people over to our “side.” That kind of goal is divisive rather than unifying. Read the verses leading up to the one just quoted. When we try to take on a role that belongs to God, we actually can do more harm than good. People usually don’t respond well to those who try to play God in their lives.

6. Stand against the schemes of the devil.

The devil is the father of lies (Jn. 8:44), seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). One of the biggest schemes of the devil is to get us to forget that he is the real enemy. But, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:11-12). When we lose sight of this truth we tend to attack people more than help them. We divide the church because of the positions we take rather than become the Church we should be.

7. Pray, pray and then pray some more.

Keep praying. Don’t underestimate the role of prayer. Look back through history and you will find that fervent prayer accompanied some of the greatest revivals in the Church. Let’s be praying for pliable and yielded hearts. Speaking truth is not the only way we can be a part of the change process. When people won’t listen or when they get defensive, we don’t need to keep pressing the issue or fall into despair about it. Rather, we can keep praying knowing that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

I’ll occasionally hear from people about the condition of today’s Church, that there is too much compromising when it comes to truth that is clearly presented, even commanded, in God’s Word. All Scripture is inspired by the Almighty God which makes it authoritative. So, why is the Church compromising and what should we do about it?

5 Reasons Churches Compromise

Consider if any of the following possible causes of compromise may be present in your church, or even in your own personal life.

1. A blatant disregard of what is written God’s Word often stems from one’s view of the Bible.

Is the Bible truly inspired by God, authoritative, and relevant for today (2 Tim. 3:16-17)? If so, then we must use it as our standard for living.

Compromise is so much easier if we view the Bible as antiquated, out-of-touch, or authored by man.

To Read:

• If the Bible is from God, Then What?
• What You Believe About the Bible Has Implications 

2. A relativistic approach to God’s Word ties into one’s view of God Himself.

Is He a God whose Word should hold absolute sway over our lives? If so, then we do not pick and choose what to believe and obey.

Compromise is so much easier if we have an anemic God.

To Read:

• Devotion to God’s Word Makes Sense If . . .
• If the Bible is Accurate, Then What?

3. An unfiltered approach to life comes through a casual and surface approach to God’s Word.

Does renewal of our minds and discernment come through the use of God’s Word (Rom. 12:2; Heb. 5:12-14)? If so, then we need to not only spend time reading God’s Word but digesting and using it.

Compromise is so much easier if we are anemic believers.

To Read: Want to Be More Discerning? – Get Into the Word

4. A tendency to lower our standards happens when we conform more to the ways of the world rather than holding firm to Truth.

Aren’t we to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3-5), with Him as our standard? If so, then as the world is getting worse, the gap between the ways of world and the Church should be broadening rather than keeping parallel.

Compromise is so much easier when we rationalize that we still aren’t as bad as the world.

To Read:

• It’s About Lining Up with God
• Lining Up with God in Ministry

5. A propensity toward making concessions comes when we elevate pragmatism and tolerance above God’s Word.

Aren’t His ways higher than all else (Isa. 55:8-9)? If so, then we should be trusting in the Lord with all and in all and not leaning on our own understanding but rather submitting to Him even when we don’t see how something He commands will work in a given situation (Prov. 3:5-6).

Compromise is so much easier when we buy into the lie that the end justifies the means.

To Read:

• Glorifying God in Ministry: Both Results & the Process Matter
• Scripture Related to Decision-Making
• Getting Guidance from God First Only Makes Sense

Perhaps you can add to the list of reasons given above. Understanding why the Church is compromising is good but we must also consider what we should do about it. We need to get beyond merely talking about the condition of the Church. Go to the next post about what to do about compromise.