Understanding congregational splits

Fred Starke and Bruno Dyck

“I’m tired of being treated so unkindly and thoughtlessly,” I fumed. “I’m going to quit this position – and maybe this church, too! They don’t really appreciate me!”

A quiet voice spoke to my heart: “Whom are you serving?”

“You, Lord!” I exclaimed silently. “You know that!”

“Then stop getting hurt so easily. Just serve Me humbly and joyfully.”

In the apostle Paul’s day, many who became Christians were slaves or servants. Unfortunately, a number of their masters were rude and unkind to them, even cruel. It was natural for some of the slaves to be filled with feelings of anger, hostility and resentment at such treatment.

However, if they held these feelings in their hearts and brooded over them, it would cause a breach between them and the Lord. This would hinder their growth in the Lord and their testimony for Him. So, Paul told the slaves and servants to obey and serve with respect, fear and sincerity of heart. “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,” he urged, “because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free” (Ephesians 6:5-7).

It’s not easy for us to follow such advice when we are being mistreated. I found it very hard to back down to the humble attitude that makes it possible. When being mistreated, our first response is anger. Our next response is often indignation and self-righteousness: “How dare that person do this to me!” But when I realized that in this I was thinking more of myself than of the Lord and His work, I knew I had to heed Him.

When my attitude was changed, I found much more joy in my service. I could sit at the organ, playing, singing and smiling with joy.

“To see you sitting there smiling and singing lifts my heart,” one lady told me. I sure wouldn’t have lifted anyone’s heart with a sour, angry look on my face! I’m glad the Lord set me straight.

If we have a servant heart, not only will we enjoy our service much more, but on top of that God promises to reward us in our afterlife with Him. A wise man said, “Life is like a game of tennis: The player who serves well seldom loses.”

Muriel Larson lives in Greenville, S.C.

Last modified May 31, 2005.

© 2005 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.