Killing Church Politics, 1

Last weekend I was in conversation with a good friend and we talked about church politics.  While I am serving among churches who seem to have made a point of killing politics and we enjoy a measure of freedom from it -- that is a gift of grace at this time, it has not always been so in places where I have served. We talked and he wondered if I should write some on this subject.

There is no doubt some of you have experienced both the exasperation and pain of church politics. There is no doubt that it may seem to be complex and tangled and impossible to change.  Complex it is! There is rarely a straight line between a decision and its implementation because of the presence of politics.  The issues are not ideas or plans or principles, but people.  Politics has to do with people -- their power, their opinions, their influence, their objections . . . .  When I have faced deeply entrenched politics, I do not lie awake at night wondering about the ideas being discussed, I lie awake wondering about angry responses, the effects on the church of being vetoed or threatened by a few power brokers.  I worry about church splits and angry e-mails. 

Yes, it seems very very complex.  But it is really simpler than that.  Politics is all about pride, unbelief, and fear of man. I want to offer a few reflections on my own deficiencies in these areas if they will help you in any way. I am not really an advice giver here -- but one who is seeing how I could and can serve better.

After years in ministry I used to describe a certain part of pastoral leadership as a "dance with the ego."  What I meant by that is that I was always dealing with someone or more than one someone whose opinions mattered and whose influence was significant.  I was always aware that there were certain sins present in their lives and that addressing those sins may mean an explosion.  Or it may simply mean being held at arms length by them. 

Proud people hinder ministry.  There is no way for the Gospel to advance into our lives with sanctification without it revealing our sin or our error.  If someone is more committed to their good reputation than to a truthful reputation, they will resent any inference that their motives are less than pure or their behavior less than edifying.  Pride reveals itself in someone who is unteachable, easily offended, or who carries grudges.  I do not want to sound self-righteous here. I have known too many occasions where my reputation or convenience was more important to me than the glory of God!  What I want to be is simple.  When people pursue humility the most difficult decisions become much easier.  The two men who serve with me here are exemplary in their humility and it makes serving with them such a pleasure.

That brings us to the next ingredient in this toxic brew.  Politics happens when somewhere at some time this particular church made a decision, or its leaders did, not to to offend, not to speak clearly and truthfully about sin.  It made a decision to let an angry person intimidate -- or a wealthy person.  It made a decision to play favorites.

The fruit was sad:  Recommendations always had to be filtered through a "what would X think of that?" filter.  Some ideas were not even proposed because we knew X would object.  Some ideas were pushed along very carefully to get around X's objections.  The fruit of all this is that we never or rarely hear the truth from people -- they are always holding back, masking their real thoughts, and then we are shocked to find out what was really going on behind the scenes. And people try to get enough of their group in power to get their agenda accomplished.

It was easy to think the problem was X.  He was a proud person.  If only X were not such a curmudgeon, we would get something done.  The problem was alway bigger than X.  He has gained his influence and been given his influence by others.  The second ingredient is the fear of man.  It is the choice not to offend.

The fruit of the fear of man and pride mixed together is lots of meetings behind closed doors, lots of phone calls before the meetings, lots of discussions about how to get someone on our side.  It all sounds rather much like the Congress. It all seems rather less than the God-bought church should be.

It is really fairly simple -- the question is why would I give to X that much clout?  Who gave that person so much influence?  And why have I not spoken to them and tried to address their influence?  As I examine my heart over years of learning to play the political game, it seems that fear of man is the major issue -- the desire not to offend, and not to address sin. The straight line of humble and truthful communication and decision making becomes crooked and twisted.  All because I do not want to get X mad at me or against me.

And there is a third ingredient: unbelief. I am trusting my own skills at manipulation and politicking more than I am trusting in God who will work through me. I am not talking about cynical sayings like "let the chips fall where they may" -- that is not faith either. I am talking about seeking to please God by faith and to serve the souls of those around me, for their good and God's glory.

You see, if I am afraid of offending and full of unbelief, I cannot serve people.  I am looking at X as a hindrance to my plans -- I am no longer seeing X as a brother whose souls is being ruined by pride and power.  I am no longer trying to watch for his soul -- because I am watching for his veto or approval.  And that means I am no longer a shepherd but a politician.

If I loved their souls, what would I do to serve the people in my church that are part of the politics of the church?  What would I say and how would I lead to help them grow in Christ?

So what do we do with these thoughts?

1. Clothe yourself in Christ. This can all be overwhelming and is not intended to give anyone a heavy dose of condemnation.  I would encourage you to reflect on the perfect righteousness of Jesus for you and know that this is how God sees you.  I have been reading through the life of Jesus -- what occurs to me is that he was utterly free from the fear of man and the unbelief that leads to politics.  I have been amazed at how he lived under criticism and scrutiny of the worst kind -- how they attempted to trick him and trap him -- and how he humbly and clearly spoke truth and asked questions to expose their hearts and offer them repentance.  He is my righteousness. Remember him.
2. Serve people for their eternal good. I am not called to be unwise and impulsive, but I am called to seek people's eternal good -- to present them mature in Christ (Col 1.28-29).  I need to sit back and look at my present place and ask: "Lord, what would you have me to do to confess my own sin here and to serve the souls of those around me?"  God will help you see where you have walked in the fear of man and unbelief - and that may need to be confessed.  God will help you see how to wisely press into people's lives for their good.
3. Be very patient and fight self-righteousness. It is easy to try to change a highly political situation over night.  It is a temptation to think of yourself as above it all and better than the proud.  Our Lord Jesus has infinite patience with his sheep and he would lead you in the same way.
4. Trust God as you go. War against unbelief and fear. Get the help of others.

And as we do that, we are to ask -- what does it look like to serve these people -- for the good of their eternal souls, in the name of Christ and for the glory of God?  Then trusting God and fearing him alone, go about that with humility and grace.

Comments

[Mike P.]

Wow! Great insight!

As I read, I could see the faces. I could hear the responses. I can feel the discouragement. And what's worse I can see the impotence of a Church in this state! God please help us!