Comments on: Crooked Line Comunication Squelches Freedom and Kills Confidence

By: rdsmith3

rdsmith3 — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:15:33 +0000

Great post. It is for this, and related, reasons that a church should have a peacemaking culture. Ken Sande's book, "The Peacemaker," and the related ministry deal with these types of situations, and many other sources of conflict among believers, and how to resolve them biblically.

By: The Nerdy Teacher

The Nerdy Teacher — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:33:54 +0000

Reminds me of the time our youth group did a skit for the whole congregation called "Prodigal Joe" (about the parable of the lost sons in the theme of Bonanza). Afterward, an elder came to me and said, "Nice skit, but 'some people' were offended because you used the word "prostitute" while standing in the pulpit". Suddenly, I realized why I had never heard verse by verse expository preaching from that pulpit.

By: Mike Erich the Mad Theologian

Mike Erich the Mad Theologian — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:06:52 +0000

I fully agree with what is said here not only for pastors but for other members of the congregation. It is simply not possible to resolve a problem second hand where you cannot even discuss it with the person involved. Having been on the other end of this, pastors need to remember this too and be cautious of sending a third party to deal with a dispute or be a third party in a dispute where to two parties have not tried to resolve it between themselves first. Even if the issue is 100% legitimate you cannot be sure if the offended person is satisfied with your repentance if you cannot face them.

By: Jared

Jared — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:58:04 +0000

Bobbi, I don't know anything about your situation so there's no way of course I could say whether your concerns were justified, but you absolutely did the right thing in taking them directly to the people involved. You handled your end biblically. Whether you were right or wrong in your indictments, they were wrong to respond simply by shunning you.

By: Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:49:49 +0000

Maybe I was too direct. I indited the entire church board with a letter and documentation of my concerns. Now I'm shunned by the pastor and the board. I'm praying they will forgive me some day. Meanwhile I'm attending another church! I will wait to see what God will do.