Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (cont.)

Regarding gossip in the church
One Sunday about 20 years ago, back in our days in the YWCA, I said something impromptu while receiving new members into the church that has stuck with us ever since. People were standing in a row across the front before me, and as I spoke, the Holy Spirit seemed to prompt me to add, "And now, I charge you, as pastor of this church, that if you ever hear another member speak an unkind word of criticism or slander against anyone-myself, another pastor, an usher, a choir member, or anyone else - you have authority to stop that person in mid sentence and say, 'Excuse me-who hurt you? Who ignored you? Who slighted you? Was it Pastor Cymbala? Let's go to his office right now. He will get on his knees and apologize to you, and then we'll pray together, so God can restore peace to this body. But we will not let you talk critically about people who are not present to defend themselves.'

"New members, please understand that I am entirely serious about this. I want you to help resolve this kind of thing immediately. And meanwhile, know this: If you are ever the one doing the loose talking, we will confront you."

To this very day, every time we receive new members, I say much the same thing. It is always a solemn moment. That is because I know what most easily destroys churches. It is not crack cocaine. It is not government oppression. It is not even lack of funds. Rather, it is gossip and slander that grieves the Holy Spirit.

As I highlighted this passage, I read it to Greg and he had me put a special mark on that page. He wanted to say something like that at our first membership class, "maybe without the 'I charge you' part. As he got to this part of the class, he said pretty much the same thing, with the 'I charge you'! It was a solemn moment indeed. Every head nodded in agreement, that this was something we didn't want in our church.

Check out what the Bible says in Matthew 18 about how to resolve conflicts. It's the dictate our church will stand on as things arise.

Blessings on this windy, sunny Lord's day.