TRAFFIC CONTROL

The last blog entry discussed general conflicts congregations become involved in.  This entry focuses on one I was a witness to.

As a church elder for over seven years, I had seen my share of conflicts, but this one seemed to have been a particular threat to the welfare of the Church—by that I mean church local and Church universal.

We’re told in the New Testament how sometimes, in order to produce better fruit, the “dead wood” needs to be pruned out of an existing tree— so it goes with many a congregation, and as I reflect on the circumstances, I see they mirrored the three basic tenets of Psalm 59:  1)  My enemies stink, 2)  Beat them up, God, 3)  I’ll praise You for having done it.

The incident that I recall had three adult friends (an older married couple and an older widow) attempting to undermine the authority of the pastor and his elders.  There is a difference between having a conflicting opinion on how things are done and attempting to implement your own agenda as a renegade parishioner. 

The pastor sat midst his elders, discussing the perceived threat, and we took turns offering our constructive input.  I’d been in prayer to that point, and when my turn came, I shared the vision the Lord had given.  It was a traffic signal—the kind you see hanging from a wire in the middle of intersections all across the country. 

“The Lord is showing me a traffic signal, “I explained, “We are, if you will, at a “cross” road, and there are three (the couple and their friend) that are like this traffic light.  They need to 1) Stop what they’re doing, 2) Yield to the Holy Spirit, or 3) Go.”  We decided to pray that way, rather than confront them in a non-spiritual manner. 

In Psalm 59, David maintains that his enemies need not be his enemies—likewise, our pastor’s “enemies” were undeserved (though not unexpected—as a pastor, one will always have a target on one’s back—being continuously shot at by Satan and his flaming arrows).  The psalmist continues, suggesting God scatter the motley crew, for if He simply kills them, people will eventually forget, but if he scatters them, they will not only be ineffective, but God will be glorified in their being moved.  In this modern day example, the man and wife moved from Illinois to Ohio, and the widow moved to New Hampshire—ironically where we moved several years later.

Did we glorify God in their exodus?  Yes.  Not because they left, but that God caused them to leave in such a diverse manner.  It is possible to love someone while not loving what or how they do what they do.

Conflicts come, and conflicts go.  To have peace in the middle of them, recognize your problem, allow God to take care of it for you, and then thank Him for that deliverance.

b(Les)sings

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Psalm 59

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
 ²Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
 ³For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
 ⁴They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
 ⁵Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
 ⁶They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
 ⁷Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
 ⁸But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
 ⁹Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
 ¹⁰The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
 ¹¹Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
 ¹²For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
 ¹³Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
 ¹⁴And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
 ¹⁵Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
 ¹⁶But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
 ¹⁷Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.