Learning to disagree

We were talking church with some friends last week, and they told us about some silly things their pastor had said - things about feminism, homosexuality...your typical Fox News kind of stuff.

I was so impressed by something in this young couple...though they disagree with some of the arguments their pastor makes, or some of the attitudes of people in church leadership, or just the way things are said, they're not throwing in the towel! They're not making a b-line for the next trendy church down the road, or giving up on the Church all together, as alot of people do.

When was the last time you gave your pastor the benefit of the doubt when you heard something you disagreed with? When did you defend him to critics around you? When did you think that, perhaps, you don't have all of the information? Just maybe, you don't know it all.

This week I also was reminded of a terrible way to disagree with your church or pastor. I spent 2 hours with someone who did nothing but complain about her pastor, the church, and the other attenders. Of course, it was all in the form of "constructive criticism" and "concern" (read: gossip), and it really came down to the fact that things weren't done the way she would like them done. It was ugly. Not for the pastor. For this woman who revealed so much immaturity and self-centeredness.

So the next time your pastor quotes Bill O'Reiley, the youth guy overhauls the jr high ministry to something totally new, or the worship minister chooses someone else to sing a special.....take a deep breath and ask God what He might want to teach you through this. I promise, if you ask....you might learn something.