WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE AN ISSUE IN CHURCH

Dear Church,

It is wisdom to recognize that ‘the best time to deal with an issue is when it is not an issue yet’ which is why I am writing this article now.

The internet has empowered the mass media with tremendous power to influence. Like many things in life, it is a neutral entity and it is up to the user to use it for good or bad. It has opened up to us a world of information, social networking and entertainment and made our world borderless. Recognizing this power of influence of the mass media like facebook, blogging, twitter etc even our own PM has joined in the fray.

Recently I received an email from an unknown person highlighting the weaknesses of a Bible seminary and comparing it unfavourably with other local Bible seminaries in Malaysia and asking the recipients not to support the seminary with finance as well as to circulate the email so that a debate can be generated.

A researcher from NECF soon responded with the true facts in response to that email and we realized that the writer of the original email did not have his facts correct. However the damage was done. The minds of those who read the email are already influenced negatively towards the seminary and I expect that the financial support and the enrolment will be affected in the coming semester.

It is for this reason that time and again, I reminded the church staff and folks who are serving the Lord in church, not to use the email or internet to resolve issues. The email is emotionless and cannot fully reveal the good motive of our hearts, communicate the acceptance of our body language, the compassionate tone of our voice or the love in our eyes. The majority of man has a default mindset that is negative, suspicious and critical and whatever is written will be discoloured with this mindset.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

So what do you do if you have an issue in church? Matthew 18 outlined the steps to resolve any conflict in the body of Christ.

First, we are to approach the person on a one-to-one basis and confront him/her with the offence.

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” (Matthew 18:15)

Asians, however, are very weak in the confrontational approach because we can be so easily hurt and any confrontation could mean the end of a friendship which we do not want to risk. This is one of the reasons why the biblical approach has not been put into practice in many churches. When our feelings are hurt or we are unfairly treated, we are naturally tempted to want to tell the whole world about it and air the offence over the internet. However giving in to that moment of rage and anger can result in much damage to the body of Christ.

A fellow pastor-friend in NZ was sharing with me that the Lord opened his spiritual ears and he literally heard the devil snickered and laughed in the background as he listened to some audio recordings of the arguments in a church meeting. Let us not fall into the devices of the enemy.

While the church is far from perfect, the Lord is building His church which is still the apple of God’s eyes.

One of the prophetic words over my life is that I will be a shepherd that will protect His church. The Lord has prompted me to write this article for that purpose. Please use the email, facebook, blogging etc to bring encouragement to the body of Christ.

The Lord bless His church.

Love,

Pastor Ron Hee