Gunny shares from Atteberry’s book why one of the 10 dumbest things Christians do is argue amongst themselves.
We continue with our series based on The 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do, by Mark Atteberry. The following are some notes from my Sunday school lesson at Providence Church.
DUMB MOVE #6: Fighting Among Ourselves
“I doubt that anything causes God more anguish and Satan more delight than Christians attacking one another.”
When a feud breaks out in the church … 7 terrible things always happen.
1. the church’s leaders are distracted.
“Time and energy that could be spent planning for the future, organizing new ministries, or seeing to it that the flock is well cared for, are instead spent chasing down rumors, smoothing ruffled feathers, and negotiating cease-fires.”
2. the noncombatants are discouraged.
Sometimes it’s the bystanders who leave the church when they get beat down by drama.
3. the Lord’s work is disrupted.
“… no Christian can advance the cause of Christ while punching the bride of Christ.” . . .
Click here to read the whole thing including suggestions for how we can stop the in-fighting.
Nos 2 and 3 are the main reason I will quit going to a church and have. I am not so naive to think that conflict does not happen. But, it should not cause others within the Body to leave or to disrupt the work of God in any way.
Unfortunately, this is an all too common occurrence among those that think they know what is best for God’s church or are unwilling to change for the furthering of the Kingdom.
Between the seeker friendly, feel good God is in all rhetoric and the conflicts amongst ourselves over things, it is a wonder that any truth is being heard anymore.