Dealing with Church Drama and Team Losses Biblically

Biblical Foundations for Dealing with Church Drama and Team Losses

The Bible provides guidance on navigating church conflicts and losses, emphasizing the importance of compassion, unity, and perseverance. In Psalms 10:14, the psalmist writes that God "consider[s] it to take it into your hand" when dealing with trouble and grief, highlighting God's role in helping the afflicted ^[1].

Compassion and Sympathy in Times of Loss

Christ's compassion is a model for believers in dealing with losses within the church. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that Christ's compassion is "necessary to his priestly office" and is manifested towards the weary, heavy-laden, and afflicted ^[2]. This compassion is not limited to spiritual losses but also encompasses emotional and physical suffering.

Seasons of Loss and Gain

Ecclesiastes 3:3 reminds us that there is "a time to break down and a time to build," indicating that losses and gains are part of the natural cycle of life and the life of the church ^[3]. Believers are called to rejoice in times of gain and to persevere through times of loss, counting all things as loss for the sake of gaining Christ (Philippians 3:8) ^[4].

Support for the Afflicted

The Bible emphasizes the importance of supporting those who are afflicted. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights that God is with the afflicted, comforts them, and delivers them from their troubles ^[5]. Believers are also called to support one another, with the apostle Paul rejoicing in his sufferings for the sake of the church and filling up in his flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions (Colossians 1:24) ^[6].

Persecution and Suffering

The Bible acknowledges that persecution and suffering are realities that believers may face. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that Christ suffered persecution and that believers can expect to suffer as well ^[7]. The apostle Paul teaches that believers are to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, indicating that spiritual struggle is part of the Christian life (Galatians 5:16-26, as interpreted by Charles Hodge) ^[9].

Unity and Mutual Support

The early church fathers emphasized the importance of unity within the church. Clement, as quoted in the Ante-Nicene Fathers, exhorts believers to unity, highlighting the role of the bishop, presbytery, and deacons in maintaining this unity ^[11]. John Calvin notes that the Church is characterized by the mutual communication of blessings among its members ^[12].

Dealing with Church Drama

Church drama often arises from conflicts and misunderstandings among members. The Bible teaches believers to live in unity and mutual forbearance, as exemplified in the life of the early church (Torrey's Topical Textbook) ^[8]. When conflicts arise, believers are called to address them in a spirit of love and humility, seeking to restore one another rather than exacerbating divisions.

Biblical Examples and Teachings

The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on dealing with losses and conflicts within the church. The story of Peter walking on the water, as interpreted by Augustine, illustrates the importance of faith and trust in the face of adversity ^[14]. The parable of the lost sheep and the lost drachma, as discussed by Tertullian, highlights God's concern for the restoration of those who are lost ^[13].

Conclusion

Dealing with church drama and team losses biblically requires a deep understanding of God's compassion, the importance of unity, and the need for mutual support. By embracing these biblical principles, believers can navigate the challenges of church life with faith, hope, and love, ultimately glorifying God in their struggles and triumphs. As Matthew Henry notes on Habakkuk 3:16, believers can expect to experience both trembling and triumphing in their walk with God ^[10].

Sources

Psalms “But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless. -- Psalms 10:14”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Compassion and Sympathy of Christ, The — Necessary to his priestly office -- Heb 5:2,7. Manifested for the Weary and heavy-laden. -- Mt 11:28-30. Weak in faith. -- Isa 40:11; 42:3; Mt 12:20. Tempted. -- Heb 2:18. Afflicted. -- Lu 7:13; Joh 11:33,35. Diseased. -- Mt 14:14; Mr 1:41. Poor. -- Mr 8:2. Perishing sinners. -- Mt 9:36; Lu 19:41; Joh 3:16. An encouragement to prayer -- Heb 4:15.”
Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 3:3 (BSB) — a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build,”
Philippians “Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ -- Philippians 3:8”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
Colossians “Colossians 1:24 (BSB) — Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Persecution — Christ suffered -- Ps 69:26; Joh 5:16. Christ voluntarily submitted to -- Isa 50:6. Christ was patient under -- Isa 53:7. Saints may expect -- Mr 10:30; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:20. Saints suffer, for the sake of God -- Jer 15:15. Of saints, is a persecution of Christ -- Zec 2:8; Ac 9:4,5. All that live godly in Christ, shall suffer -- 2Ti 3:12. Originates Ignorance of God and Christ. -- Joh 16:3. Hated to God and Christ. -- Joh 15:20,24. Hatred to the gospel. -- Mt 13:21. Pride. -- Ps 10:2. Mistaken zeal. -- Ac 13:50; 26:9-11. Is inconsistent with the spirit o”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Families — Of saints blessed -- Ps 128:3-6. Should Be taught the Scriptures. -- De 4:9,10. Worship God together. -- 1Co 16:19. Be duly regulated. -- Pr 31:27; 1Ti 3:4,5,12. Live in unity. -- Ge 45:24; Ps 133:1. Live in mutual forbearance. -- Ge 50:17-21; Mt 18:21,22. Rejoice together before God. -- De 14:26. Deceivers and liars should be removed from -- Ps 101:7. Warning against departing from God -- De 29:18. Punishment of irreligious -- Jer 10:25. Good -- Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 18:19. Jacob. -- Ge 35:2. Joshua. -- Jos 24:15. David. -- 2Sa 6:20. Job. -- Job 1:5.”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 31: Galatians v. 16-26 . Another passage of like import is Galatians v. 16-26 , “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not full the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would,” etc., etc. The Scriptures teach that the Spirit of God dwells in his people, not only collectively as the Church, but individually in every believer, so that of every Christian it may be said, he is a temple of the Holy Ghost. God is”
Habakkuk (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Habakkuk 3:16: Within the compass of these few lines we have the prophet in the highest degree both of trembling and triumphing, such are the varieties both of the state and of the spirit of God's people in this world. In heaven there shall be no more trembling, but everlasting triumphs. I. The prophet had foreseen the prevalence of the church's enemies and the long continuance of the church's troubles; and the sight made him tremble, Hab 3:16. Here he goes on with what he had said Hab 3:2, "I have heard thy speech and was afraid. When I heard what sad times were coming upon t”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. VII.--I HAVE EXHORTED YOU TO UNITY.: For though some would nave deceived me according to the flesh, yet the Spirit, as being from God, is not deceived. For it knows both whence it comes and whither it goes,(10) and detects the secrets [of the heart]. For, when I was among you, I cried, I spoke with a loud voice: Give heed to the bishop, and to the presbytery and deacons. Now, some suspected me of having spoken thus, as knowing beforehand the division caused by some among you.(11) But He is my witness, for”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 83: this clause, though usually omitted by ancient writers, must not be overlooked, as it admirably expresses the quality of the Church; just as if it had been said, that saints are united in the fellowship of Christ on this condition, that all the blessings which God bestows upon them are mutually communicated to each other. This, however, is not incompatible with a diversity of graces, for we know that the gifts of the Spirit are variously distributed; nor is it incompatible with civil order, by which each is permitted privately to p”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — CHAP. VII.--OF THE PARABLES OF THE LOST EWE (part 1): AND THE LOST DRACHMA. You shall have leave to begin with the parables, where you have the lost ewe re-sought by the Lord, and carried back on His shoulders.[6] Let the very paintings upon your cups come forward to show whether even in them the figurative meaning of that sheep will shine through (the outward semblance, to teach) whether a Christian or heathen sinner be the object it aims at in the matter of restoration. For we put in a demurrer arising out of the teaching of natur”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — AGAIN ON MATT. XIV. 25: OF THE LORD WALKING ON THE WAVES OF THE SEA, AND OF PETER TOTTERING. (part 4): human weakness could do. Therefore, "if it be Thou, bid me;" because when thou biddest, it will be done. What I cannot do by taking it upon myself,(3) Thou canst do by bidding me. And the Lord said "Come."(4) And without any doubting, at the word of Him who bade him, at the presence of Him who sustained, at the presence of Him who guided him, without any delay, Peter leaped down into the water, and began to walk. He was able to do what the Lo”

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