Disdain-able Discord

I know you all knew I had high hopes but low expectations for the resolution of the conflict between Haven Baptist Church (made up name) and Haven Christian Central (also made up name). And I assume you all are eagerly awaiting an update. I also assume I have a slightly delusional-ly optimistic view of my readership numbers. cest la vie.

So I say with some disappointment that the situation remains unresolved. HBC has now said that HCC can no longer use any of their technology, including not only the technology which had been tampered with (whether or not that was the school's fault) such as their amps,  and the remaining faulty power cords and mics (most of which the poor instructor had replaced on her own dime anyway), but also the tech items which had not been improperly used or damaged at any point, including the power point projector, and the laptop connected to it. 

This not only means an added expense for the school, and one it cannot afford given its priorities, it also means that the poor young-in-spirit, middle-aged teacher with a baby still in a carrier, has to bring in a sound box, amps, mics, chords, mic stands, music stands, and other sundry technological and sound items on her own, twice a week.

I remain disgusted by this unchristian behavior. I had hoped that the members of the church who work in the offices within sight of the door the poor woman needs to enter through with all her gear would step up and help (as I have known them to be truly remarkable individuals and strong in their faith) but they have not. I hope they are not associated with this divisive incident at all. 

I am, however, impressed with how the school has stepped up in the meantime! A student always seems to be around to watch the teacher's infant in the carrier, and gentlemen students (with permission of their teachers) seem to magically have a free moment when she needs to carry things in. I think this is an amazing example of members of a ministry rising above.

I suppose my surprise is unwarranted regarding the behavior of members of HBC, I just cannot imagine someone behaving like that in a church. I truly believe Christians must hold ourselves to a higher standard of work ethic, moral behavior, and character. This is a part of the ministry of the church for goodness' sake.

I know for a fact that the praise band teacher is having back problems. She was in tears the other day because of the stress and the disappointment at how she and her students were being treated. Forgive a moment of "ranting" but do you want to know what the last offense was? Someone set a miniature amp down on a cord. A 1X2 foot guitar amp. And we're not talking a little mic cord or a connector or adapter cord, we're talking a half-inch thick, permanent connector cord. If you know about sound, you know that won't do any damage to the cord. Perhaps many many repeated cases of dropping something on a cord of that type might eventually cause some damage.

But for the church, I understand, this offense was the last straw. And in their eyes, their actions are completely justified. And if they were right that this is carelessness or intentional, they would be right in doing this....by the world's standards. But Matthew 18:22 (NIV) says that when Jesus was asked how many times we must forgive our neighbor, "Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'" And Matthew 5:39 (NLT) says "But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also." People of God are called to give someone a second chance, and a third, and a fourth. And as I spoke of before, we are called to speak to a person and hear them out before seeking their punishment before the church. Jeremiah 7:5 calls us to deal with one another justly and change our actions if they do not fit God's request for our dealings with one another in the church.

Remember, Proverbs 20:11 says "Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right." We need, as Christians, to act in an honorable way. To stand up be an example. To strive to be more like Christ. Galatians 6:4 says "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else." We will be held accountable by others, and we should hold ourselves accountable. And when Ephesians 6:7-8 says "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free," we know that God will hold us accountable as well.

But fear of retribution and being held accountable is not the only motivation to make a positive change here. John 3:18b-19 says "let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence"