4 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Exodus 22-23
Matthew 21:33-46

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Exodus 23:1, 7 (CSB): “You must not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked to be a malicious witness… Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent and the just, because I will not justify the guilty.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

I’m sure you can relate to me when I say that in my 22+ years of pastoral ministry, many of the false things that have been said about me originated in the church, not outside. Most of the folks who sit on the church pews are good people who want to know what God has said so that they can believe it and do it. But there are some in our midst who are either wolves or sheep with very bad hearts.

The verses I have chosen for today (Exodus 23:1,7) relate to just one way in which bad church folks hurt others. They tell things that they know are not true. And others, who don’t know what’s going on, may believe the lie. When it is all said and done, God removes His hand of blessing because Satan has disrupted the church with lies and disunity.

In Acts, we have the account of how Deacon Stephen was a very godly man (Acts 6:3-5) who powerfully preached the Gospel and performed signs and miracles (Acts 6:8-10). But religious folks from a synagogue stirred up people by getting them to believe lies about Stephen, which eventually led to his untimely murder.

Acts 6:11-15 (CSB): “Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, ‘We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin. They also presented false witnesses who said, ‘This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law. For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.’ And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

Speak up when something is going wrong in the church. Use the process in Matthew 18:15-17 as a guide in addressing the matter, even if it is the pastor (1 Timothy 5:19-20). Blatant sins, unbiblical theology, and other things must have no place in a church setting. They have to be addressed. If it causes a degree of disunity, then so be it. The glory of God, the health of His Church, and the progress of His Kingdom must be first and foremost in our minds, hearts, and actions.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to forgive you if you have gossiped or even spread lies about a fellow believer. (If your words are public, ask God for the humility and strength to go to the person, confess your sin, and ask for forgiveness.)
  • Ask God to give you the grace to forgive and to think the best of others before you know all the facts.
  • Ask God to give you wisdom and the desire (and ability) to pursue the truth when conflict arises.
  • Ask God to help you study His Word to know how you should behave during a time of conflict.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into handling conflict in the church, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“How should sin in the church be handled?”

“When is it right to criticize my pastor?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)