Broken | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Broken | Previous Challenge Entry
By Stanley McMahon
11/04/14
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They sat awkwardly in the circle, and only because they had been instructed to do so. This group was unaccustomed to facing one another without barriers. Everyone was focussed on a square of carpet roughly in the middle of the room; not there was anything to look at in particular, but it saved them looking at one another. The tension was palpable.

They were there to talk things out, but a few ground rules needed to be set before any talking could take place. The pastor opened the session by thanking everyone for coming. He set out what he felt should be the outcomes that the group were looking for – clarity, honesty, understanding and ultimately, reconciliation. The participants mumbled consent. Not a good start, thought the pastor, but at least they knew what was expected.

Next for the practicalities. The pastor lifted one of the spare chairs and put it in the middle of the room. He then proceeded to place a Bible on the chair.

‘Now this may seem strange to some of you but there is a reason for doing this. I know that you all have a lot of things that you want to say. Things that you want to unload and people that you want to set straight.’
‘Nevertheless, we are here as brothers and sisters in Christ, and Jesus is our common Lord. I want you to know that He is here tonight, and I want you to imagine that He is sitting right in this chair.’

‘The other thing you need to do is, before you speak, get up out of your chair and lift the Bible, return to your seat and then speak calmly and without accusation. The action of getting the Bible and returning to your seat will put space between you and your words and hopefully draw some of the poison out of any angry words. Only one person should speak at a time and remember that your goal is reconciliation.’

The pastor knew each of the six people assembled very well. He knew that some had habitually held on to every gripe and grudge they had ever encountered, so such a meeting represented a real challenge for them, but the fact that they had come was encouraging.

He had lost nights of sleep, gained ulcers and lost weight; he had been agitated with his wife and children, prayed incessantly and talked endlessly with mentors and colleagues in the ministry. It had all come down to this.

He thought about how exhausted he was, how close to burn out and wondered how much more he could endure. But he knew he had been there before and the Lord had intervened and brought blessing again, and healing to wounds and closure to fissures.

After a few moments of awkward silence, one of the deacons rose, approached the chair in the middle of the room and strode purposefully back to his place, Bible in hand. The pastor felt his throat dry up and gave a nervous cough. The others looked on in anticipation. If anyone was going to make or break the situation it was this man. The room held its breath as the treasurer and instigator of many a difficult episode in the history of the church took his turn.

But instead of speaking his mind as he was so often inclined to do, he opened the Bible. He gave no-one his eyes but felt the glare. The pastor was still uneasy because he could easily read a contentious passage of Scripture. He opened the Scriptures at John 17 and read Jesus prayer for unity among believers. They waited, but the storm in his heart had abated. As he prayed it became clear that this was now a broken man.

‘Father,’ he prayed, ‘I have spoken many times without compassion over the years. I have acted sinfully against You and against my brothers and sisters.’ He paused to take a breath. He was now sobbing. The pastor was astounded. ‘Lord I ask you to forgive my sins, cleanse my heart and make me a man of peace.’

As he continued to weep the Holy Spirit brought them all to their knees in repentance and in prayer for one another. They stayed there praying together, apologising, asking forgiveness and even laughing together with relief and joy. The pastor stayed a long time after the others had gone home, sitting in silence, soaking up the holy atmosphere in wonder and in thankful prayer.

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