Conflict is inevitable in human...
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Conflict is inevitable in human life, even in churches. A poll of evangelical pastors taken a decade ago by Christianity Today revealed that 95% of these clergy had experienced conflict with their congregations. It is quite likely that these numbers have not improved. Author Marcia Lynn McClure notes how much we like to gossip. In her The Heavenly Surrender, she writes: "People like to think the worst. They like to have hushed gossip sessions and point their fingers at someone's problems that are more obvious than their own."
Jesus has some good advice on how to avoid such behavior, for making sure we stop talking about others behind their backs. The famed martyr of Hitler's persecution Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that it all comes down to realizing you are a sinner too and that the thing to do is spend of a lot more time forgiving and less gossiping: "In a word, live together in the forgiveness of your sins, for without it no human fellowship... can survive" (Letters and Papers from Prison, p. 31).
People look a lot bigger and better when you spend more time looking up at them while on your knees confessing your own sin. Besides, when two or three of those sinners get together God shows up to forgive them (along with you).
Jesus has some good advice on how to avoid such behavior, for making sure we stop talking about others behind their backs. The famed martyr of Hitler's persecution Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that it all comes down to realizing you are a sinner too and that the thing to do is spend of a lot more time forgiving and less gossiping: "In a word, live together in the forgiveness of your sins, for without it no human fellowship... can survive" (Letters and Papers from Prison, p. 31).
People look a lot bigger and better when you spend more time looking up at them while on your knees confessing your own sin. Besides, when two or three of those sinners get together God shows up to forgive them (along with you).
