I think we has a society have lost the ability to have a tough conversation. When somebody says something we don’t agree with we call them mean or intolerant. Sometimes we question their wisdom or maturity. All of those are really thought stopping replies to squash the conversation. I think this is the core reason why churches have started to slip into doctrinally unsafe areas and is a solid contributer to divorces. Churches are afraid of being called mean or intolerant so they are afraid to call sin what it is. Sin. It is against the will of God. The end result being that sin isn’t sin, but just a different way of life. In marriages, couples find it easier to leave than to sit down and work it out (in a sometimes heated way) through conversation. Talking is hard, but the consequences of not talking will be even harder to deal with.

I think this is one thing that causes me trouble with churches. I’m honestly not afraid to have the tough conversation. Because I know at the end of the conversation both I and the person I’m talking to will be closer to what Christ wants from us. They at times think I’m mean or intolerant, but generally they look down on my wisdom or maturity. Thats life. I’m OK with that.

This is actually one thing I have really liked about the Batavia Church of Christ, when my family and I first went there we were ignored. I can’t put it in a positive light… it was bad. So I got in touch with their minister and then the person who heads the welcoming ministry. I shared my thoughts and they accepted them very willingly. They didn’t take it as an attack, because it wasn’t. They took it as a guy wanting what was best for BCC and more importantly the people who walk through their doors.

Another church that was a very good example of this is the Loveland Christian Church. I visited their a few months back because I’m friends with a few of their staff members and I wanted to see how their welcoming ministry was. We walked into a crowded room and were spotted by a person and then taken to the children’s check in area… that was such a bad experience. When you have four children to sign it that can be a burden. So I emailed my friends and let them know what I thought of it, and they were VERY appreciative of some true and honest feedback. They tell me its fixed… one of these days I’ll go there and find out. Again they could have taken it as an attack, but they took it as a chance to improve.

We, especially we as a church, need to learn to be able to have a tough conversation and to take some critiques from people that may even annoy you. Because if they took the courage to say something then it must be important to them.