Sometimes, when we go through tough seasons, the problems can feel unique to us. However, church hurt has always been a scheme and strategy of Satan. While it can feel unique to you, it most certainly isn’t. Consider some hurts within the early Church. Paul and Barnabas had a “sharp disagreement” because of John Mark (Acts 15:39). Later on, and Paul asked for John Mark to join him because he found John Mark “useful” to the ministry (2 Timothy 4:11). The point is the Lord took a great falling out between Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark and brought good from it. John Mark went on to write the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament. The Lord knew that John Mark needed a Barnabas, whose name meant son of encouragement, while a young Timothy needed the more Type A, stricter Apostle Paul. Both were needful in the early Church as both are needful today. My point is that God can take sharp disagreements and later turn them for good.
Paul instructed two women who were arguing within the Church at Philippi to “agree in the Lord” (Philippians 4:2). It may be that there can never be reconciliation between two believers because they cannot agree on certain issues or topics, but they can agree in the Lord.
4. Avoid the Temptation to Quit Church at Large
Satan’s greatest goal is to isolate you from other believers. I want to encourage you to avoid the temptation of quitting church. It may not be that you need to remain in your current church, but I can guarantee you that it is not God’s will for you to quit the church at large. Consider Hebrews 10:25, “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Make no mistake that church is ultimately a habit. We are either in the habit of going or we fall into the habit of not going. Notice the word neglect in the verse. Your walk with the Lord may not suffer due to a terrible sin, but it very well may suffer due to neglect. It may be that you need to take a break from serving or take a break from leading, but you absolutely do not need to take a break from gathering with other believers for prayer, worship, fellowship, and growing in the scriptures.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/ skynesher