Delivered Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people and what fears in this regard does a leader face? One reason is the fact that people come with different personalities, backgrounds, and needs, so when constructive criticism is given, it could easily be turned into a confrontation, full of hostility and defiance; the outcome depends on the spiritual growth of the person, and the end results could be that of discord. Great leaders are those who are more concerned with righting the wrong that has presented itself, problems must be faced for growth to occur, wrongs must be righted, not only for the good of the church, but also for the person that is being confronted. It is not easy being a leader, but things do become difficult when one does not exhibit the ability to lead and guide its people. How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? If it is done in the right spirit, with the right motives, it could and should be a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Williams Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? It is hard for some church leaders to confront people because we do not want to cause confusion. We may want to please or keep peace regardless. There are times when leaders have to confront people for the better of all. Some may fear that it may cause some to leave, lose friends and a decline in finance. It can be a good thing when it cause others to be responsible. When we refuse to confront then responsibilities are not being met or being carried out in the wrong way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanks Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? I think it is all about membership and ultimately about finances. Leaders today apply worldly standards to running their churches and are scared of offending people; and this perhaps resulting in them moving to another church. What fears in this regard does a leader face? Besides the loss of membership and income there is the fear of being rebuked, and even the fear of rejection. How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? We are all sinners and need to be disciplined in love. Our sermons should be reminders of this fact, then hopefully we will conform to the teachings of the Bible. We do not need our Pastors preaching what we like to hear, but rather what we need to hear. What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? A bad precedent is set, and the devil gets a foothold in the church. It weakens and destroys the church and can eventually lead to its closure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susannahwollman Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? Because it is painful. No one seeks pain, and confrontation brings pain. Someone called to leadership, whether it be in the home or in the church, loves those put in his care. And because of this love, he does not want to see someone in pain. But he also realizes that correction now, although painful at the start, reaps a bountiful harvest of peace and righteousness (Hebrews 12:11) What fears in this regard does a leader face? We all want to be loved. It is one of those basic needs that everyone has, and is needful for our very survival. When a leader must correct or discipline, he chances losing the "love" of the one he corrects. Also, the very need to correct is not only painful to the sinner, but to the one offering forgiveness for repentance, also. Jesus bought our righteousness and peace for us; and he did it at great cost. We don't even begin to know the meaning of pain compared to his. How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? There are multitudinous reasons to want to be rebuked for our wrong doing. Some of them are: Hebrews 12:5-11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l.a. Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? I think that some of the hardest reasons there are in confrontation is that they are often met with a negative attitude. Many will try to pass off judgement as your opinion or arrogance. In these days when so many value 'political correctness' to tell someone what they are doing is wrong according to the Word of God,' is met with different perception. Many times this will lead to division between the body. True repentance means you have to change and, well, change is hard. Many will argue that God's love is extended to all, but leave out the important part about obedience. When we choose to ignore sin in another's life, many ill effects can occur; we may send a wrong message that God will tolerate sin because of His undying love. The greatest consequence of ignoring sin is jeapordizing another's spiritual growth which will lead to an eternal life of truth and righteousness under the reign of the Mighty God and the Lamb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? I don't like confrontation. I don't know why but it makes me very uncomfortable. I do if I have to but I don't like it. It could be lack of conficence, fear, being looked as intolerant (or political correnctness). It should not be done lightly and should be done in gentleness and when we are sure of the issue. It can help others to see the "error" of their ways, correct us when we are wrong. If done properly it can build up and not tear down. Sin multiplies and grows. God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onyon53 Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Some people just do not like confrontation. It is hard to take a matter to people because you do not know how they are going to react. In the case of a preacher it could be a cause for the church to vote him out. Sometimes though it can solve problems that some people did not know exist. If we don't confront when we should then the thing most of the time just grows. Sometimes it might just go away that is very seldom the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoiKosum Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? Perhaps such leaders have in them a fear of man rather than the fear of God. Nowadays virtually every church is focused on numbers - they see Church growth as a sign that God is blessing them. This is erroneous. From the growth in numbers, the offering increases, with which the Church can use to fund more building projects, programmes, etc. The richer the church, the more holy and blessed the Church is perceived to be. The richer the church, the more "influence" it has. No congregation - no money; no money - no status and so the fear begins. The leader will not confront and instead compromises are made. Confrontation and rebuke can serve to open the eyes of the person being rebuked, provided this is done in love. Refusing to confront can also put the leader in the firing line - "why didn't you tell me?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammie7 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? It so difficult for some leader to confront there member is because they are afraid that their member will leave or that they will not have the money coming in or the chruch with the most member. Confrontation and rebuke can be a good thing because it let the member know this man of God will live and do according to God word,and they will repect the leader more. When we refuse to confrontation, the sitution will get worster and the people will one day lost repect for the man of God. Thinking that he is not strong to do the job that God have given him to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebony Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? Some church leader have difficulty confronting people because they fear the reponse or reaction they will get (maybe lose members and in turn the tithes). Some just dont care enough to be confrontational. Fear of being voted out of office. Fear of how the person will accept the confrontation. Confrontation can be good as it allows persons to know where they are going wrong and what needs to be done to correct the wrong. How can I know if I am not told. Rebuke on the other hand can be a touchy subject. When we refuse to confront when we should thing go from bad to worse. Things and situations need to be nipped in the bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacongirl Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? It is difficult for some church leaders to confront people because they do not want to have to deal with the fallout that comes with the confrontation and the retaliation. These confrontations can cause discord amongst organizations, mistrust, accusations that have to be defended that draw attention away from the original reason for the confrontation. Confrontation and rebuke can be a good thing when it helps to bring control, respect and direction back to your organization. When we refuse to confront when we should, we slowly lose control of our organizations, our sense of direction and respect and things continue to spiral out of control until we confront and rebuke to set the situation right. However, we must handle this in decency and order, we should pray and seek God before the confrontation. His guidance will put us on the right path and keep us there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyho1 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? Some church leaders have difficulty confronting people because they fear that they will lose members and tithes. They fear that the person will accept the confrontation negatively. However, confrontation can be a good thing since it will help that person know what they did wrong, and what he or she needs to do to correct it. The person(s) that we refuse to confront when we should will get into more trouble for example, and as a witness we know about it, and they probably know we know, but did not say anything, that makes us even more to blame for not rebuking them at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anne1151 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? 1.Most people, leaders included, do not like confrontation. Confrontation can cause hurt feelings, denials, and frequently can turn back on you if the person confronted becomes angry and brings others into the confrontation. 2. Questions such as am I truly in God will? Could this cause a division in the membership of the church? Will I still be respected and liked? 3. A confrontation could lead a person to turn their life around, change their ways if confronted with love. 4. The situation worsens, bad things can happen, and we can't change them. We need to listen to God, and obey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raph Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 I think it is difficult for some church leaders to confront the people due to the fear such leaders have to be seen "bad". They also lack the courage to speak out the truth. They want to stay in good books with the people without realising the damages this may cause. By not confronting the people the church leaders are faced with the destruction of the church as they see something wrong being done but they close eyes. Confrontation and rebuke is good as it helps to bring back people who are going astray to follow the desired values. If we fail to confront we are heading to our own downfall, as when the organisation falls due to misbehaviour of its people, the leader falls also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyndiLee Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? My experience with Godly leaders has been that some simply don't like confrontation. They fear if they make the person unhappy, they will spread their unhappiness throughout the congregation (population) and soon people will leave or cause problems. It has is easier for some leaders to smooth things over than confront. But, if you sweep a rattle snake under the rug, you still have a rattle snake, right? At some point, it will find its way out again. How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? I now work for a leader who is a master at "confrontation" and rebuke. He does things such as calling or meeting with the person who is upset, groveling, or complaining. They may agree to disagree in the end, but at least the Matthew Principle has been followed and God is free to work his will out. Remember, we don't fight flesh and blood, but principalities. Lots of prayer directed towards difficult situations will allow God to work. Taking things in our own hands prevents God from using us to our full potential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara A. Lee Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? I think some leaders are afraid to confront people for fear of what they might say or do. Some so called Christians can be vindictive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizzie55 Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 THEY ARE MIGHT SAYING SOMETHING WRONG LOSS OF MEMBERS,SAYING BAD THINGS ABOUT THE [C]IT HELP US STAY ON TRACK WITH GOD'S WORD [C] IT COULD LEAD US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godisthebest! Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people?Many times confrontation stirs up strife and hatred. For example, in the case of Moses and Pharoah, when Moses confronted Pharoah it stirred up deeper feelings of bitterness from Pharoah to the Isaraelites. However, if Moses had not obeyed God and confronted Pharoah, then the people would have still been in bondage. What fears in this regard does a leader face? Fears a leader face when confronting anyone are many, but just to name a few they most likely fear rejection, bitterness, failure, a lack of peace and many other feelings. How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? It can be a good thing if it releases a person or a group of people from a bad situation. For example, many people don't like criticism, but constructive criticism if received in the right spirit can only make us better! What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? An unstable or unbalance situation will remain the same, nothing changes until a man or woman of God has the strength, backbone and tenacity to do what God has commanded them to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moses 4 Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? . A flock cannot change and grow under wrong circumstances. Church Leaders who are standing in the way of God's move will be pulled up and discarded, while those who will flow with God's direction will build and plant. Confrontation is a large part of the new move of God, and if there refuse to confront, holiness will not come without it. There cannot compromise. Undergirding this trust is an understanding that history is not just mankind's story. It's the Lord's story (His-story!). It has a beginning and an end. It is not circular, as some religions contend, but linear. Three major markers define the trajectory of church leader Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? Some church leaders believe confronting is being unloving -- not being a good Christian -- not nice. Some leaders want to be everyone's friend. Additionally, some leaders fear that confrontation might lead to someone leaving the church; someone might stop tithing; and confrontation might cause stress or division in the relationship with the person being confronted. A leader who confronts might lose his/her job. Confrontation and rebuke when styled as training or spiritual development can lead to the confrontation of issues in a caring and loving style, but to the point. When we refuse to confront an issue with a person(s), then whatever that issue is will worsen and spread. Possibly creating greater damage. Issues need to be dealt with at once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marloes Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? Some leaders might be afraid that people get angry. People have the power to dismis the leaders. It's their job to tell what is wrong! Then the wound starts to rot. Repentence is essential. We need to know our sins, in order to understand Jesus' offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexandria Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? It is difficult for some church leaders to confront people because they feel that confrontation sometimes causes more harm than good. Most people do not see themselves as sinners and for someone else to point it out to them is not acceptable. Sometimes the church leaders do not figure God into things and they do not have the strength, without God to know exactly how to handle the situation. As Moses and Aaron did, most church leaders do not follow God with humility and faith, so they do not know how to approach people who have sinned openly. The fears that the leader faces are pretty much the same as those of Moses and Aaron, lack of faith, doubt in their ability and most of all trust that God will give them the right words and subtlety to handle such volatile situations. Confrontation and rebuke can be a good thing if it is handled appropriately and makes the sinner see that he or she has been sinning and should change and live for the Lord. When we refuse to confront when we should, the sinner sometimes or most times gets so caught up in the sin, that they start to see it as an okay and acceptable way of life and they move further and further away from God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissioned Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? It is differcult for some church leaders to confront people because they want to always appear to be agreeable with everyone. So when the time come and they must confront someone they are afraid of betraying their trust. What fears in this regard does a leader face? The fear of not having the followers in agreement with his decisions. How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? Confrontation and rebuke can be a good thing because it allows the person confronting to present his view and the rebuke tells them the position that they should adopt. What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? When we refuse to confront when we should we are left with unanswered questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russellt77 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Because some think that leadership is linked to popularity. Fears center on a failed church in poor attendance and contributions. Confrontation can be a good thing as it is a teaching moment. When we are afraid to confront we allow our values to be gradually erroded over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaplain Michelle Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? Difficulty in confronting church members may be from fear of offending the members, losing tithe money and losing membership. Offended members may also not be polite about it. While we, as leaders, need not be afraid for ourselves by rebuking a member in love, some members have anger management issues and may respond explosively toward others around them. Confrontation and rebuke can be a good thing because a member may not realize a type of sin is in their lives. I think that most church members truly want a close and fulfilling relationship with God. Confrontation and rebuke becomes essential. Church members may need continued Godly counsel to help them work through strongholds. Church members will not grow or mature in their relationship with the Lord if they are not confronted and rebuked in love. They need to be regularly encouraged in renewing their minds to the Word of God - to BECOME the message,not just to be familiar with it. Church members will continue to identify with the world if not confronted and rebuked according to God's Word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.