Churches are funny places. Have you heard the old saying ‘If it wasn’t for the people it would be a great place to visit?” It appears the majority of people feel that way and is a leading cause of why our churches are failing to bring people in. Everyone knows someone who rubs them the wrong way and churches are no exception. As Christians we shouldn’t let feelings get in the way of Worshipping God, but we do because we’re human. Either someone’s upsetting us, or, heaven forbid, we’re upsetting someone else!
What happens when the person we can’t get along with is the pastor’s son?
What if every time we see him we feel angry at his actions? No, we’re not talking about a cute, tousle-haired child who is overactive and runs through the church halls. We’re talking about a grown man, married with a family who appears to go out of his way to be non-conformist. Every week, he attends church where his father is the preacher, in old, un-ironed clothes and scruffy beard. In winter he wears a yellow beanie which looks like a tea cosy and in summer an old felt hat which is falling apart at the seams and gives the impression he is homeless. And this man is given the honour of being song leader!
What if you had his wife sit at your table crying because of his treatment of her? He won’t work due to a compo case which his wife believes is fraudulent. He swears and yells at her at home but is constantly at her to obey him. He even raised his hand to her. Your advice would be to seek counselling from the pastor immediately, but what if he already knows?
In this particular instance, everybody in the family is aware of what is happening. Instead of approaching him, they tiptoe around him. Her mother knows and says they can’t do anything until she leaves him. The pastor knows and has basically given up on telling his son anything as he doesn’t listen to him. The pastor’s wife won’t say anything otherwise he won’t bring the grandchildren over to see them. This is emotional blackmail at its worst.
What is the best way to handle this? Obviously first and foremost is prayer. Situations such as this one are occurring in God-fearing churches all over the world. Why?
Where is it written that churches and their members have to put up with that sort of blatant rebellion against God?
Is this what our churches have come to? Have we become so fearful of offending anyone that we have in ourselves become offensive to the world and to other Christians?
It’s time that we took a good hard look at our churches and ourselves. Biblical standards are becoming in danger of being obsolete. No wonder people are turning to other religions instead of turning to Christ. Perhaps it’s time we entered our churches and viewed them as a visitor would and make the necessary changes before its too late. But then for some churches it already might be too late.
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