God-sent leaders must never let themselves be intimidated into submission because “if you don’t go along with this, I’m leaving and taking my checkbook with me.”
Let them go.
You will never regret it.
Does this sound harsh?
It will to some. They will interpret the departure of some as a personal rejection and grieve over what this says about themselves, their church, their preacher.
Get over it.
To those who know their Scriptures, treasure the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and truly want His Gospel to go forth, the day the naysayers and unbelievers, the controllers and the demanders, the malignant and the recalcitrant, depart will be a banner day for that congregation for years to come.
I can see it now.
A generation from now, this wonderful, healthy, thriving church holds a day of celebration. They erect banners, invite in longtime members and ask the old folks to give testimonies about this pivotal moment in the church’s history.
“Tell us again, former pastor, about that blessed day when those people walked out and left, and our church began to get strong. We are so indebted to them for leaving.”
They even erect a bronze plaque in the foyer of the church with their names on it …
“Hall of Fame. Due to the departure of these Christ-denying, church-controlling sons of Diotrephes (III John 9), our church began to grow and multiply. We owe them so much.”
Never can tell. Might happen.
