Another conflict situation! thought Glenn...
Illustration
"Another conflict situation!" thought Glenn. "That's all I seem to work on these days."
Glenn worked in the denominational judicatory offices. Lately it seemed like most of his work was with congregations that were fighting.
At the meeting, church leaders shared frustration over a meeting that had been called the week before. The pastor had moved some furniture in the sanctuary without permission. The vice-president was angry and had called a special meeting. The last to hear about the meeting was the pastor, who put the furniture back. When the meeting was gathered there was little to talk about. Sadly, the pastor had been the last one invited to the special meeting even though he was the subject of the controversy. Now Glenn was there to debrief what had happened last week.
Glenn started with devotions and read from 1 Corinthians. Surely there was plenty of conflict happening there. He then asked why the pastor had not been asked about moving the furniture prior to a special meeting being called.
Jim started, "That furniture is sacred. He had no right to move it."
"But Jesus tells us that if our brother sins against us, to go and talk to him in private," said Glenn.
"Are you telling me we shouldn't have called that meeting last week?" Jim retorted.
Glenn responded, "All I'm saying is that Jesus would have handled it differently."
"I don't care what Jesus would have done!" Jim yelled.
At that, Glenn knew what the biggest issue in the congregation was all about.
Glenn worked in the denominational judicatory offices. Lately it seemed like most of his work was with congregations that were fighting.
At the meeting, church leaders shared frustration over a meeting that had been called the week before. The pastor had moved some furniture in the sanctuary without permission. The vice-president was angry and had called a special meeting. The last to hear about the meeting was the pastor, who put the furniture back. When the meeting was gathered there was little to talk about. Sadly, the pastor had been the last one invited to the special meeting even though he was the subject of the controversy. Now Glenn was there to debrief what had happened last week.
Glenn started with devotions and read from 1 Corinthians. Surely there was plenty of conflict happening there. He then asked why the pastor had not been asked about moving the furniture prior to a special meeting being called.
Jim started, "That furniture is sacred. He had no right to move it."
"But Jesus tells us that if our brother sins against us, to go and talk to him in private," said Glenn.
"Are you telling me we shouldn't have called that meeting last week?" Jim retorted.
Glenn responded, "All I'm saying is that Jesus would have handled it differently."
"I don't care what Jesus would have done!" Jim yelled.
At that, Glenn knew what the biggest issue in the congregation was all about.
