Protecting Your Local Church

Protecting Your Church

Be United – 

“United we stand, Divided we fall” reminds us the effect of unity and disunity of one’s organization. Church as a living organism and it function also as an organization, has a life and integrity that needs to protect. 
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Eph. 4:3

As a Christian, we are responsible in protecting the unity of your church, because it is the soul of fellowship. Destroy it and you rip the heart out of Christ’s body. It is the very essence of how God intends us to experience life together as His people. 

Nothing on earth is more valuable to God than his church. He paid the highest price for it, and he wants it protected! If you are part of his family, that is your responsibility! 

1. Practice Acceptance of One’s weaknesses, not to compromise but to love unconditionally

“ Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Eph. 4:2

2. Practice Encouragement and not Condemning.

An accuser of a brethren is the work of Satan.
Whenever I condemn my brother and sister in Christ, four things instantly happen.
- I lose fellowship with God
- I expose my own pride and insecurity
- I set myself up to be judged by God
- I harm the fellowship of the church

3. Practice to Refuse to Listen to Gossip

Gossip is passing on information when you are neither part of the problem nor part of the solution.

“A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.” Prov.17:4

“ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:15.

4. Practice Biblical Conflict Resolution

Jesus gave the church a simple three-step process for conflict resolution. But during conflict, it is tempting to complain to a third party rather than courageously speak the truth in love to the person you are upset with. This always makes matters worse!

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” 
Matthew 18:15-17

5. Practice Supporting Your Pastors and Leaders

One of the sad things you learn in ministry is that people who have been around the church the longest can often be the most immature. Pastors often have the unpleasant task of serving as mediator between hurt or immature members, and they’re also given the task of trying to make everyone happy, which even Jesus couldn’t do!

“ Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” Hebrews 13:17

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. I Thess 5:12-13

“No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” I Corinthians 10:24 

It is not always easy to protect the unity of the church. Sometimes you will have to do what’s best for the Body, not yourself, showing preference to others. That’s one reason God puts us in a church family – to learn unselfishness. As members of a church, we learn to say “we” instead of “I” and “our” instead of “mine.” God blesses churches that are unified.