ARBITRATION

 The Corinthian Church was Paul's 'problem church'.  They had apparently written to Paul addressing a number of problems that they were facing.  Paul responds as though he is working down the list of problems addressing each one in turn.

When we get to I Corinthians 6, he addresses the issue of taking one another to court.  He is appalled by this practice!

If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?  [v.1]

Then, he counsels them:

...if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!  I say this to shame you.  Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?  [vs.4-5]

Next, Paul chides the Corinthian believers for damaging their witness before those who do not know and serve Christ!

But instead, one brother goes to law against another - and this in front of unbelievers!  [v.6]

 Finally, Paul advises them:

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already.  Why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be cheated?  Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.  [vs.7-8]

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It seems to me that Paul is making several tangent points:

1.  We are family!  Paul uses the word, brother, consistently.  We who are 'in Christ' share a deep connection that gives us immediate fellowship!  

When Debbie and I lived in China, we attended an international church.  Although it varied frequently, there were always at least fifteen nations represented on any given Sunday:  America, Canada, Germany, China, many African nations, Viet Nam, Korea, Philippines, Russia, and so many more.  The fellowship was rich and the worship vibrant!  I had the privilege of preaching to that congregation many times.  I hated to miss this experience, and wish many Sundays - even now - that I could return.  

I recently have become a 'Messenger' friend with a Rwandan pastor who cares for the widows and orphans in his area.  In his initial greeting to me, he called me 'brother'.  We now have almost daily contact;  he prays for me and I pray for him!  We are family!  

2.  As family, we should persevere to find ways to get along and resolve problems!  Writing one another off is not an option!  That's NOT what believers do.  We practice forgiveness - seventy times seven!  We exercise humility and grace!  We aggressively seek reconciliation!  We do not respond in kind - we respond in kindness!  And, if push comes to shove, then we simply choose to be wronged or cheated - and trust God to make it all right in the end!  

I've not escaped these kinds of relationships.  I've been abused, maligned, slandered, robbed and physically attacked over the years.  None of these were pleasant experiences.  I have not always been a paradigm of appropriate response - but I persist in trying.  

3.  We are to be resources to one another in arbitration and reconciliation!  I'm struck by Paul's words:  appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!   We don't need Supreme Court Justices to help us!  Any person who loves the Lord and has common sense can help us find the way to peace!  

I recently read the LENGTHY SMALL PRINT of an agreement I was about to enter into.  It took me nearly an hour to read it all.  Toward the end was a detailed description of an arbitration process PLUS an agreement not to bring a lawsuit against the organization.  I agree with this much:  the courts should be our last recourse - not the first!  As the world says:  when you go to court, only the lawyers win!  

Surely Christian love, prayer, common sense and humble spirits can find a way to settle disputes.  And if they can't, then we can fall back on the grace of God and trust Him to help us to move forward without malice or a vengeful attitude.  

 Lord of Love,

Help us to take this message to heart!

Help us to understand more deeply the concept of the Family of God!

Help us to have humble hearts when we disagree - and to avoid animosity and anger.

Help us to intervene courageously with others to sustain peace!

Help us to choose to suffer rather than lose the fellowship of a brother/sister in Christ!

For the Kingdom's sake.  Amen.

 

 

PEACEMAKERS DON’T MAKE GOOD LEADERS – III

[This is the third of a series.  You might want to read the first two articles first!]

I received my call to ministry when I was seventeen.  It was re-confirmed when I was thirty in a way that was so convincing, I will never doubt the reality of my call again!

I have one relative who was also a pastor.  His name was J. O. Archer.  He was my Grandma Haire’s brother – which made him my great-uncle.  However, he was more like a grandfather to me!  I loved him dearly! 

He was honored by the Pittsburgh Conference for fifty years of active ministry in the Free Methodist Church.  He was stepping out of ministry just as I was stepping into it.

Interestingly, Uncle James was also a peacemaker!  In his day, pastors were moved frequently – as often as every three or four years.  The conference leadership had recognized his peace-loving ways.  They repeatedly sent him to churches known for unrest and division.  Uncle James had a way of restoring peace and love among the members of the church.  He was a calmer-of-storms, a healer of relationships.

There is a place in the church for the peacemaker!  Like Uncle James, I have served churches that needed healing.  Two of them had experienced pastors who fell due to sexual misconduct.  One had been torn apart through the pain and tension of a building program.  Another struggled to survive because it was located mid-way between two highly visible mega-churches.  Another was torn over the decision of whether or not to build a new building. 

In each case, I worked hard to restore peace and establish unity.  In each case, the church grew significantly.  In each case, finances were strengthened.  In each church, new people were introduced to the family of God. 

Certain pastors are known to have a healing ministry.  They are solid in their faith and above reproach.  They earn people’s trust and bring people together.  These pastors almost always see convert growth, however, rarely at a level that ignites ‘break-out’ growth.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Peacemakers don’t make good leaders, but they do make excellent pastors!

PEACEMAKERS DON'T MAKE GOOD LEADERS - II

[To make complete sense, read "Peacemakers Don't Make Good Leaders" first.]

I've come to realize that a big part of my problem is centered in the fact that I haven't fully believed that God would communicate His "preferred future" to me as a leader!

God has always worked through leaders to accomplish His work.  God will likely work through leaders to direct the ministry and future of the church! 

I believe that God has lifted the veil on occasions to let me see His 'preferred future" for the church.  I have failed to act on that vision and knowledge by succumbing to authorites other than God!  [Disobedience = sin.]

There are several factors that can and do impact me in these situations:

1. Low self-esteem makes me think that God would never reveal His "preferred future" to me.
2. Lack of confidence prevents me from speaking up with the dominant message the church needs to hear.
3. Fear of conflict or confrontation causes me to shy away from speaking strongly of what I believe to be God's will.
4. Reluctance to use the power of my office (pastor) to push an agenda - even when I know that God has given me a glimpse of His "preferred future" - deprives the church of God-given leadership. 
5. An over-valuing of the democratic process puts the will of the majority above the will of God.  In the Bible the democratic process is never used with good results.  God consistently chooses to get His work accomplished through leaders who lead!

In reality, no one prays for the church more than I do.  No one thinks about the church more than I do.  No one works as hard in the church as I do.  No one cares about the health and growth of the church more than I do. 

By loving peace and giving it such a high priority, I have robbed the church of effective leadership!  I have deprived the church of God's "preferred future"! 

That's sad!

PEACEMAKERS DON'T MAKE GOOD LEADERS

I am a peace-maker.  I want unity and peace above all.  I work hard to obtain and maintain peace.  I willingly sacrifice to sustain peace.  I want us all to finish the race together.

This is the very reason that I have not been an effective leader.  I have not been willing to make the hard call.  If my decision will anger or disappoint someone, then I back up from it. 

However, reality calls for tough decisions.  What's right is more important than what everyone will like!  I wish I had learned that earlier in life!  It would have made me a much more effective leader!

Dissonance is uncomfortable!  Differing opinions create tension!  Resistance causes fear.  Ideas have to be thought through carefully.  Spiritual discerning must take place.

But, what's right and best must take precedence over maintaining the status quo!  The status quo may be what is most comfortable, but it is probably not what is best! 

An essential leadership quality is courage coupled with justice.  This kind of leadership presents itself not with an "It's my way or the highway" mentality, but with a "This is the way and we must walk in it" attitude!

This leadership is not ruthless, but persuasive;  not insistant, but determined;  not uncaring, but committed to what is right and best! 

God, help me - even at this stage of life - to become more confident in my ability to lead.  Give me courage to believe that You want to work through my leadership to accomplish Your great purposes.