The picture for this blog is all too familiar to me because my father was a pastor of several churches; a few that broke apart. Those were horribly difficult times for my parents and for all those involved. It was discouraging, frightening, hurtful, damaging to the church on many levels, and broke church families apart, much like a divorce.
I remember one time, my father came home from a long and very challenging church board meeting, where grown men and women argued for about two hours about what they should do with the church’s silver tea set! Our parents didn’t usually share church conflict with us kids (grateful for that), but he was very discouraged that night and we heard all about it.
There were times when the head deacons thought they had the power to tell my father, the pastor, what to talk about, how to talk about it; and to change his beliefs! Are you kidding me?! How did they get that power and why did they even think they had the right to do that?! The crazy thing was, they each had a Scripture to back up their opinions, even though they conflicted with each other, as well as my dad.
One of the biggest conflicts in churches now are about the style of worship music. We want to bring in the “younger generation” and then seem to bypass the members who have supported and attended the church for decades. I am a worship leader and it is possible to combine traditional and contemporary songs to bring the WHOLE church family to the Throne in worship. It takes thought, prayer, preparation and love for the ENTIRE church family to do this well. The problem comes when younger and more contemporary song leaders are brought in who only know songs from the radio or their own writing and then they alienate half of the congregation. Resentment says, “The older generation need to just get over it, stop complaining and let us lead worship OUR way.” Resentment says, “This isn’t worship to me. The drums and the volume hurt my ears and it’s just too chaotic to worship.” Many, many churches have split over the very thing that should unite a church! Oh, how the enemy must grin because he won another battle.
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) live together in unity. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.” Psalm 133
Definition of unity: “The state of being one; oneness. A whole or totality, as combining all its parts into one. Oneness of mind, feelings, etc., as among a number of persons; HARMONY OR AGREEMENT.”
Are you in a church family right now that has a divide in it? Are you part of the problem or do you want to be part of the solution to bringing healing and renewed unity?
On Tuesday, October 3, our guest on Chained No More Talk Radio, our expert guest will be Dr. Rick Marks and his topic will be” When People Get Hurt in the Church.” He will be discussing spiritual abuse, church division, the stats, reasons and possible solutions to the things the enemy uses to divide churches around our country. Tune in at 2-3pm ET at www.toginet.com. You can download the podcast beginning later that day at www.toginet.com/shows/chainednomore.