The average person may have experienced belittling, arguments and problems in everyday life, but when it happens in the church around so-called “Christians” sometimes it’s a whole new ball game.
“The reality is problems in the church shouldn’t be a surprise. Since Adam and Eve fell from the glory of God, we have a tendency toward what is not good. So it shouldn’t surprise us when there are problems. We should be surprised when there are not problems. Problems are simply challenges for the greater good,” said Gene Crouch, minister of Missionary Free Christian Church and professor at Crossroads Bible College.
The Bible itself offers a solution to conflicts that are inevitable during the Christian journey, which is to walk in love.
“It is not the love of Hollywood, but it’s a sacrificial love,” Crouch says. “It’s called agape love. It means, I am going to do what’s right to someone whether or not they respond and do what’s right to me, because I belong to God and he will take care of the benefits.”
Crouch has dealt with conflicts in the church, and offers the following steps to deal with opposition from Ephesians 4:32.
– Be kind to one another
– Tenderhearted to each other
– Forgiving to one another even as Christ has forgiven you
The Lord asked the disciples, “Who is it that will love the most?” The Lord replied to himself, “the one who is forgiven the most.”
