I ran into someone I had not seen for awhile at a New Year's Day Party. I originally met this woman when I was on the Board of a certain non-profit in Westchester County, New York. It occurred to me at the time how she stood out as a genuinely kind and caring person. She was well-liked and well-respected by those around her.
So, it was quite a surprise to hear that she had recently gotten thrown out of a local church. When she mentioned this at a table crowded with atheists and new age believers, everyone stopped what they were doing to listen to Megan's* story. It was like throwing out some chum for sharks!
I must admit I was curious too. Megan is originally from the Midwest. People from the Midwest generally tend to be nicer than New Yorkers. I think New York just got voted the rudest state in the Union, didn't we? So, Megan is basically the nicest person in Westchester County. What could she have done to raise the ire of the elders or Pastor such that they would ask her to leave?
The story unfolded during the Christmas season. Wow, is it just me or do you already feel the irony of someone getting thrown out of a church at Christmastime. She must really have a side that I have never seen, right?
Here is the story. Megan was the concert master for her churchs' annual Christmas production of Handel's Messiah. Recently, a new choir director had been hired. He wanted to bring in his own orchestra and choir master at that point. Megan told us that, "she was fine with that." That is until some, perhaps well-meaning, members of the congregation told her that she should continue in this long-held position. Megan brooched the topic with the new choir director who acquiesced and agreed to allow her to continue her role in that capacity.
The problem is, that he didn't mean it. Instead, he was deeply insulted. He could not let it go. His ego could not stand it. Megan called it music politics. Sure, music politics at the New York Philharmonic but at a local church? Does this seem like godly behavior to you? Nor did any of the atheists and new age believers think much of the Christian world when they heard this story. They are right too.
After hearing the non-believing crowd tear the church to pieces, it was my turn to chime in and say what I thought. I started by telling Megan that I was sorry that this had happened to her. I continued to explain that, in any church there are a variety of people at varying levels of Christian maturity. We are all a work in progress that God is working on. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you are perfect just forgiven. Within a "body of Christ" we should be accountable to one another in a kind way. The Bible tells us if someone offends us to go and tell him alone. When we do this and solve the problem immediately we show the power of God in our life and the life of the church. Why couldn't they talk this out?
When are we Christians going to let Christ be the head of our Church? This story highlighted something that we all need to think about. How do we handle the so-called politics of positions at our local church? Are we drunk with the power of our volunteer or paid position? Are there factions in our churches? The effects of factions are damaging and can destroy a church. The Bible uncovers what often lies beneath our disagreements. (For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."-James 3:16.)
I find it incongruent to think of hearing the words from the book of Isaiah proclaiming the coming Messiah sung in a church and imaging the resentment and factional disputes that lie underneath it all. Yet, isn't that what the Bible tells us, all our deeds are as a filthy rag-Isaiah 64:6. That description well fits the effect of what this church did in their musical performance.
We are sinners. This manifests itself in all that we do. We need to understand this, confess our sins to God and ask Him to help us to be more holy. We ought to obey and follow what the Word of God instructs us to do when conflict arises. (To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”- John 8:31-32.) Spoiler Alert: the Word of God never advises fighting over who gets to play the lead role in Handel's Messiah.
I know Megan and her husband have started to attend another church but I invited her to visit my church as well. I am praying that she does not confuse this all too human conflict with who Jesus is and what He did for her, because Jesus was a man just like us in every way except sin. He is her Savior and Lord.
* the names are changed to protect people's identity.
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