No matter what we’re involved in, sooner or later, somebody will make a mistake. We might like to think we’re the exception but we too will do something that should have been handled differently, say something we shouldn’t have said, overlook something or someone we should have seen. Everybody makes mistakes, including you and me.
Life in the Church is no different. We are a group of diverse human beings coming together, though saved by grace, still human. That means we don’t know all, see all, and can’t do everything. The pastor will make mistakes. Ministry leaders will not get everything right. And, you and I will make mistakes too especially if we’re involved in ministry.
We do have access to a God who does know all, see all, and can do everything. We can learn the right way in His Word. We can pray for wisdom and strength. Yet, we’re all a work in progress (Phil. 3:12) so there will be times we might lean on our own understanding or on occasions we’ll plow forward without waiting on God.
Since Everybody Makes Mistakes, How About a Little Grace?
God, who makes no mistakes, being perfect in all He does, extends grace. And, we’re not talking about a little grace but rather grace upon grace (Jn. 1:16). Also, His grace extends to outright sin we commit against Him, not just minor lapses in judgment.
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. (Ps. 103:8-14)
Many church conflicts and splits could have been avoided if people had just extended a little grace toward someone they perceived to have made a mistake. And, it would have been easier for people to exercise that grace had those at fault handled their mistakes with humility, grace, wisdom, and understanding.
Let’s all ask God to search our hearts (Ps. 139:23-24), whether or not we’re the person making the mistake, to see if we’re extending grace. Remember, everybody makes mistakes.
- How will you react to mistakes others make?
- How will you handle mistakes you make?
These results are listed in the Church Purpose Ministry Manual which views worship as a means of loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.