He is at it again.’ Every time I hear this phrase, I cringe. Since arriving at my parish, I have heard my congregants comment on the social media antics of a local parish leader. Sadly, this person considers it appropriate to weaponize the Bible against the theological traditions of nearby parishes that belong to different denominations. Initially, I responded by encouraging my flock not to pay lip service to the leader, to ignore his behavior, to pray for him, and to simply move on. However, it is easier said than done.
Over the past two years, these attacks have continued, and at times, I feel like a fish in a river struggling to swim upstream against the current. It has begun to wear on me, too. All I want is to find an eddy behind a rock in which I can rest.
What really digs at my heart is that this person organizes our Lenten ecumenical services, during which various churches host midweek services and luncheons.
The sinner in me wants to walk away and have nothing to do with this. Yet my soul says these luncheons were designed and organized for the good of the community, and we mustn’t forget that.
This past Lent was hard. As I saw more and more hateful behaviors from this “leader,” I found myself asking ‘How can I continue to work with someone who attacks not only my brothers and sisters who are a part of a neighboring flock but also those of my own?’ Yes, those condemning social media attacks also painfully hit home for my congregants.
Just before the annual organizing email went out, this leader posted another attack on social media, prompting me to phone a friend: a pastor with a long-standing relationship to our town as a community event organizer. I needed another Christian with rock-strong values who was also neutral in the situation to talk to about my struggles, who would offer constructive criticism if my reaction was off base.
As I explained the issue to that pastor, he saw the social media posts and, having known my flock for a few decades, understood why my flock and I were hurt. From our phone call, it became evident that the defunct ministerium for our community needed to be revived. Later on, I reached out to another fellow pastor who has known this leader for a long time, and he suggested following Christ’s instructions to speak with the pastor one-on-one, and if he is not receptive, bring it up to him in front of the Ministerium.
This past Lent, did we host a midweek service and luncheon? Yes. I was thrilled to see nearly 60 people attend and hear my ecumenical message on the importance of unity within the body of Christ. In case you were wondering I did call the leader in question, left them a few voicemails asking them to call me, and received no response. Thus, the current is still flowing swiftly.
Fast forward a few months, and I cringed once again. This time, someone who usually doesn’t say anything about the aforementioned leader’s antics said something. Just like that, I found myself back in the stream. Where I once thought I was getting some respite in an eddy, this new attack washed me out and back to fighting against the current.
In the past week leading up to yet another cringe, I began reading John C. Maxwell’s book Becoming A Person of Influence. The book’s premise is that leaders can have a positive or negative effect on those they lead, and this must remain at the back of a leader’s mind at all times. As parents influence their children, so too do pastors shape the habits and character traits of their congregants.
I carry a great responsibility as a called and ordained minister in the Church of Christ to be a positive role model. My vocation is to demonstrate to people what it means to live out their calling as disciples following Jesus Christ. Admittedly, the sinner in me does want to respond similarly to this pastor’s claims of condemnation. However, what message does that send about my character to those who look to my leadership? If I did that, I would be a hypocrite.
There is a quote that says, ‘If the devil can’t destroy or defeat you, he will distract you.’ He enjoys keeping us busy or making us tired. When we are entertained or overwhelmed by something else, that thing draws the followers of Christ away from what he has called us to do through the Great Commission. The devil will use distractions, lies, and discouragement against us, to which we must remain vigilant. Those attacks fit the description.
As our solid rock, we can stand on the Word of Christ to guide us, or, in my case, he is the eddy in which I find respite from the current that repeatedly attempts to drown me.
