What's all the fuss about? I really get tired of all the petty bickering among church people. I mean, come on! I was just thinking about all the things that unnecessarily caused a ruckus in churches where I've served or simply attended. It's really stupid if you ask me.
You decide, are the following worth fighting about, arguing over, or getting bent out of shape? Let's start with the preacher's looks; the length of hair, style of hair, a tie or no tie in the pulpit (especially at Easter), daily attire, must be in the office for regular working hours or must be out making calls all day, teacher or evangelist, pastor or administrator?
How about worship stuff? What time should worship be? Chairs or pews? Traditional, contemporary, or blended worship (music) style? What type of communion bread? How should communion be served? Who gets to partake of the Lord's Supper? Can guitars and/or drums be used in "Morning Worship?" Do we use hymn books, overheads, slides or video projection? Can we eat or bring coffee to morning worship (in the auditorium/sanctuary) or Sunday School?
What about teaching material? Which translation should be used? Who can teach? Who can serve? Who can baptize? What's proper church attire? What or who is spiritual? Are speaking in tongues allowed? Graded worship or kids in church services?
I haven't begun to scratch the surface of issues I've had to deal with which caused great consternation, broken relationships, severed ties, and sleepless nights. To be honest, most of the divisiveness I've dealt with through the years has been over incidental issues. For the most part, they aren't even really biblical issues. My guess is God is just slapping Himself on the forehead saying to Himself, "You've got to be kidding?"
God, gave us all the ability to choose. With choice comes opinions. With opinions comes differences. With differences comes disagreements. With disagreements comes arguments With arguments comes conflict. With conflict comes division. With division comes a negative picture of the church. With the negative picture of the church comes lost lives that will never come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.
My oldest daughter painted her room pink. My youngest daughter painted her room purple. My wife would like to paint our room country blue. I prefer off-white. We all have different tastes, but we all live harmoniously in the same house, under the same roof.
God, I just want to honor you with my life. I want others to honor you with their lives. I want our church to honor you. Help me quell any negative or critical spirit within my own heart or my church's hearts.
1 comment:
Thank you for such a nice article. It would be wise if you also displayed the classifications of the church chairs…..with some visual representation.
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