One More Thought about Church Politics

I've been writing about church politics, how to spot it, and how to eliminate it. We've looked at Colossians 3 to see how God's Word tells us to "stop it" and gives us the remedy for it, "love is more important than anything else." Today I want to take one more look at Colossians 3 and a challenge to us to see how church politics harms children.

Stop and think about it. When we have a situation in our churches where "politics" influences what we do, this has an impact on the children. Consider the following -

• When we have certain adults who are in the "power positions" and who get to determine what we do and who does it, this models the same behavior to our children. Be honest. Church politics is often a form of adult "bullying" where people are treated badly and marginalized. Do not model this to the children in your ministry.
• If we have people in positions of power who determine what we do and do not do, it can limit the effectiveness of the children's ministry. Most churches where I've seen this, those in "power" wanted to keep things the way they were when they were children. When this happens a huge price is often paid as children continue to go through our ministries without ever really understanding God's Word and how it looks when it is lived in their everyday lives.

Now, I understand there has to be people who are able to determine what you do and do not do in your ministry, but church politics is something different. Church politics is about power. Church politics is not all about understanding God more and becoming more like Him. Church politics is not all about showing Jesus is Who matters the most and He lives in us. Church politics is not all about showing God's love by being gentle, kind, humble, meek, patient, graceful, forgiving, loving and by showing love is the most important thing because it is love which ties us together. Church politics is not all about showing we are all part of the body of Christ and He has chosen us to live together in peace. (Colossians 3) Church politics is all about power. Period.

Commit to be on guard for church politics and to stop it wherever you find it. Commit to living as Colossians 3 calls us to live; "God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together. Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him." (CEV)