As we discussed the upcoming church partnership process at elder’s meeting last week, pastor Clint made an observation about the precious peace and tranquility that our church is enjoying. His observation struck a chord with me, and it caused me to rejoice in the examples of God’s grace that I have observed both in myself and in so many within Calvary Grace. For quite some time now, the Lord has blessed us with a sweet unity and peace. There do not seem to be any major disagreements that have gone unresolved and caused division. It appears that individuals are changing and growing as their affections for our Lord are awakened by life in the church and the hearing of the Word preached.
Much of the peace that we’ve enjoyed can be attributed to individuals who have overlooked offences and offered mercy to others because they have first been offered God’s mercy. It has not been easy. We are all sinners after all, but as sinners who have received mercy we offer mercy to others.
Since church life has been so wonderful, it can be easy to slip into complacency. It is so easy to take for granted what so many of our brothers and sisters so long for. I hope this note by Ray Ortlund Jr. is a reminder of just how easily precious peace can be destroyed:
How to wreck your church in three weeks
Week One: Walk into church today and think about how long you’ve been a member, how much you’ve sacrificed, how under-appreciated you are. Take note of every way you’re dissatisfied with your church now. Take note of every person who displeases you.
Meet for coffee this week with another member and “share your heart.” Discuss how your church is changing, how you are being left out. Ask your friend who else in the church has “concerns.” Agree together that you must “pray about it.”
Week Two: Send an email to a few other “concerned” members. Inform them that a groundswell of grievance is surfacing in your church. Problems have gone unaddressed for too long. Ask them to keep the matter to themselves “for the sake of the body.”
As complaints come in, form them into a petition to demand an accounting from the leaders of the church. Circulate the petition quietly. Gathering support will be easy. Even happy members can be used if you appeal to their sense of fairness – that your side deserves a hearing. Be sure to proceed in a way that conforms to your church constitution, so that your petition is procedurally correct.
Week Three: When the growing moral fervor, ill-defined but powerful, reaches critical mass, confront the elders with your demands. Inform them of all the woundedness in the church, which leaves you with no choice but to put your petition forward. Inform them that, for the sake of reconciliation, the concerns of the body must be satisfied. Whatever happens from this point on, you have won. You have changed the subject in your church from gospel advance to your own grievances. To some degree, you will get your way. Your church will need three or four years for recovery. But at any future time, you can do it all again. It only takes three weeks.
Just one question. Even if you are being wronged, “Why not rather suffer wrong?” (1 Corinthians 6:7) HT: Thabiti Anyabwile
The battlefield is within the heart. Notice that in week one seeds of bitterness and discontentment are what begin the downward spiral toward the destruction of the church. It is critical that none of us forget the grace by which we have been saved.
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; – Hebrews 12:14-15