–Get prepared. The time to get your leadership ready to deal with troublemakers is when things are going well and nothing scary is taking place. Some will question why you are “stirring up things” or “expecting something that may never happen,” but the answer is Acts 20:29. Trouble arises from inside and outside the congregation, and it’s a wise church that knows this and prepares for it.
–Be proactive and address the people who join your church, at the time they join. In a private conference, new members can be educated about this church. They need to know this is God’s church and its shepherds are on the job. There are right ways to get questions answered and appropriate methods for dealing with dissension.
–When things are going well, from time to time, the pastor should preach on church unity and how to have it. The texts are numerous and include John 17 and Ephesians 4. The path to unity (i.e., how to have it) involves mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21), humility and obedience to Christ.
–People need to know there is a place to share opinions and a way to differ on matters. But once the decisions are made, everyone should join together “for the common good” and work as one. The exceptions—those times when the vote went the other way but you still oppose it—must be on serious matters worth splitting a church over.
–Among key leaders, an unofficial “swat” team should always keep an eye out for dissenters, trouble-makers or persistent nay-sayers. Only the most mature would qualify for such a sensitive assignment since they will be called on to make judgements as to how serious or disruptive a person’s actions are, whether they rise to the level of needing some corrective response, etc. Sometimes, this will involve finding the right friend to talk to that individual. This swat team’s work will deal with accountability among the members.
–When leaders allow troublemakers to work their mischief without dealing with it—“We didn’t want to rock the boat”—the membership should hold them accountable.
–If a small group is meeting regularly in the foyer to run the pastor down or plot their mischief, get two or three friends to join you and go over and join the meeting. It’s your church too. Don’t say anything, just stand there. Do it every time they meet and you will soon put them out of business.
–When you get word that some are trying to stir up opposition to the pastor, use every occasion to speak up for the preacher. Say a good word about him. Do not wait for the naysayers to spread their virus, but take the initiative.
–Elect only courageous leaders who are Christlike. This is not an option but absolutely essential, in good times and bad.
God bless your church. God bless His church.
This article on troublemakers originally appeared here.
