Conflict in the Church

Conflict in the local church.  It happens.  I was reminded of this today.  I am employed by a local church, working in a Christian school.  I work in a very effective school, a ministry of a very successful, influential church.  I work with great people, and that includes dedicated, professional teachers and caring pastors who value children's ministry.  It is in this setting that conflict and controversy can very readily arise.  How could it be?

Well, simply put, there are two problems.  Imperfect people and Satan.  God's work is vehemently opposed in the spiritual realm.  In his ministry, Jesus cast out demons from people.  Those agents of Satan did not just disappear.  Just look at some of the terrible news stories each week.  Meanwhile, well-intentioned people fail, and people get hurt from others' imperfections.  Hey, that is just truth.  We have all been wounded, and we have all done the wounding.

I once was fired from my job at a church.  I can honestly say my position was eliminated or, at least, reduced.  However, the way I was dismissed was hurtful to me.  I was told, "The Lord told me to give you 30 days."  This is not the usual explanation for one's loss of a job.  Now I knew the Lord was with me and working in the situation.  God spoke to me during this time to assure me things would work out.  I forgave my pastor (Whether he was wrong or not, I needed to do that.) and trust I do not have a grudge.  I realize there may have been some small things I did or did not do to contribute to the breakdown.  This experience, though, really hurt, and it hindered me from being very involved in ministry for some time.  I did not want to open myself up to the possibility of this hurt and disappointment.  And this is part of the enemy's strategy. 

John 10:10 is very clear.  There is opposition to the church, and Satan is the accuser who wants to thwart all God is doing.  Yet our own shortcomings also can be the trigger or the impetus to cause strife or division.  Also, we just aren't good at following Matthew 18:15; most people hope and pray their problems with other people will somehow go away without a personal confrontation.  This is unlikely.  We must be willing to see our flaws, and we need to have amazing grace for the imperfections of others.  We are subject to disappointment by anyone in our lives.  How we handle these delicate situations will be evident in the fruit of our ministry and in our testimony.  With God's grace, may there be a positive result.

Divisions in the church do not happen by accident.  There are problems even in the best ministries.  This is not by chance.  Conflicts result from the volatile combination of evil and human imperfection.  The sinister intent is to reduce or diminish our effectiveness as Christians.  When we recognize this, we can see things a bit differently.  We then can have a desire to pray, reconcile, and move on toward growth and maturity as believers.  Life is hard and it does get messy.  But God knows about it all, and He was aware these trials would arrive.  I think of Proverbs 14:4.  I like this poignant verse.  I hate my imperfections and selfish tendencies, but I love that God has given me the abilities and opportunities to serve Him.  I pray I may do it well and better, and I hope God will correct me even when it hurts.  Song of Solomon 2:15 mentions the "little foxes."  As God knows all the details of our lives and the intricacies of our hearts, he also will give us the wisdom and strength to deal with the "little foxes" in our lives.