Growing Christian Community with Conflict
Two Redeemer members relaxed for a moment after a particularly rough day. One member came within a day of losing both her home and her income to court actions that have resulted from the conflict with SEPA Synod.
She learned of the problem by accident with only a weekend and a day to do anything about it. Every effort was being made by a half-dozen Redeemer friends to stop the travesty and by noon we heard that there had been some success.
And so we paused over coffee and a donut.
One might expect hate and despair and finger-pointing to reign in such an atmosphere, but the opposite has been true in our faith community.
One member commented that one blessing of the conflict has been that we’ve really gotten to know each other — and some of us have known one another for a decade or more.
We started talking about what we had learned about the character of our members, how their very differing personalities that we once enjoyed as passing acquaintances on Sunday morning had become endearing and appreciated.
Conflict defines character.
After this conflict, we know whom we can count on. We know which preachers mean what they preach. We know to whom we can turn for action, for prayer, for ideas, for legal knowledge, and the list goes on. We gather for Sunday worship and brunch as an eclectic mix of people brought together by faith and a common cause. We leave on Sunday, each with our individual spiritual gifts, ready to serve.
After such a close call, it would be no surprise if the endangered member had thrown up her hands in despair and vowed to have nothing to do with us or religion ever again.
Instead, by the end of the day, she had presented a few new ideas for our ministry as the holidays approached. Amazing!
We know each other well. Too bad SEPA doesn’t know us at all.
This is so touching to me and I feel less a loser. The support received was surprising to me and I thank God. I llove my little house and remember days when my family and I didn’t have this, or lost what we had for a new life in America. Even though we had no language barrior, it was a difficult road for us as strangers in a new land but here I am tending my little garden &, hopefully, helping my fellow Redeemer members in their struggle. We all want goodness to come out of this and pray that an agreeable solution can be reached. Amen and Hallejuha.