Welcome to "A Word from the Vine." I'm Pastor Loren, coming to you from Danish Countryside Chapel. Today, we will be discussing a difficult situation that many of us may face at some point in our faith journey - what to do when our church is going in the wrong direction.
It can be disheartening to discover that the church we are involved with is not following the path that we believe is right. This can be compounded when there are divided factions, and the moneyed class seems to believe that they have the right to control church polity without the consent of the entire congregation. So, what should we do in this situation? Do we stand and fight, or do we leave and find a church where we feel welcomed, wanted, and needed?
As Christians, we are called to seek unity and peace within the church. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:18, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." However, this does not mean that we should compromise on important matters of faith and morality.
In situations where the church is going in the wrong direction, it is important to first seek out dialogue and discussion with those involved. Paul encourages us to speak the truth in love in Ephesians 4:15, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."
If we have attempted dialogue and it is clear that the church is not willing to change course, it may be necessary to consider leaving. However, this should not be done lightly or impulsively. We must prayerfully consider our decision and seek guidance from trusted mentors and advisors.
In terms of the role of major benefactors in the function of the church, we must remember that the church belongs to God, not to any one person or group. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:16, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?" The function of the church should be guided by the will of God, not the will of any one individual or group.
In conclusion, when faced with a situation where the church is going in the wrong direction, we must first seek out dialogue and discussion in the spirit of love and unity. If it is clear that change is not possible, we may need to prayerfully consider leaving. However, we must always remember that the church belongs to God and must be guided by His will, not the will of any one person or group. This has been "A Word from the Vine."
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