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So, fickle friends, split personality people and two-faced facades are just part of the package for anyone leading ministry at any level.
“Suck it up!” — an old coach of mine used to say.
But can I let you in on a little something that seems a bit unfair?
Southbrook just seems to be one of those dream churches that doesn’t have a lot of this. Really—so little that when someone acts like this they stick out like a sore thumb.
But listen, beyond the logical, I cannot expect nothing but smooth sailing because Jesus already told me there would be two-facers. He already warned me that I would be hated without cause.
* BTW, I am NOT saying I never drive people crazy WITH cause—I do! And they let me know. It’s just that that’s pretty easy to deal with because, well, I deserve it. I see it coming. This other stuff?
Tricky business. But not unexpected, and here’s why…
John 15:24–26 24If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.'[a]
26″When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
If Jesus got attacked and maligned for no reason—surely we will. But the Bible tells us further…
John 15:17–19, 17 This is my command: Love each other. 18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
Ooh, what now?!