Let’s just lay it out there: The church needs to support decisions that are passed down by governing boards and leadership (elders, pastors, staff, ministry teams, etc.), whether or not one agrees with the decision because what happens amid support is more glorifying to God, more unifying for the church, and as we’ll see – more important for the gospel.

[Now, I wish this could go without saying this, but I’ll say it anyway – I am not talking about those decisions that break from orthodoxy, or are illegal, or deal with sin and salvation issues, or in any way about glorifying people over God. I’m talking about decisions regarding church dynamics and growth, liturgy, methodology, facility usage, worship style, preference, budgetary topics, protocol, scheduling, programming, calendar issues, etc. and etc. as the list goes on and on…]

These are (some of) the great things we do when we support decisions we do not agree with:

1. WE DEFEND LEADERSHIP & PROCESS

Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

In our support of decisions made, we defend our leaders’ God-given roles of authority and we defend the process which led to those decisions being made. We need godly leaders and we need solid processes – and we need to support both. When we defend our leaders we are doing our part A) to close the door for gossip to spread among the church, we are doing our part B) to curb grumbling which corrupts hearts, and we are doing our part C) to promote health as our church follows lines of authority and accountability.

2. WE DEMONSTRATE LOYALTY & HUMILITY

Titus 3:9-11 says, “But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”

Paul is writing to Titus, a church planter on the island of Crete and is instructing him on how to build a healthy church culture. He tells Titus not to put up with those causing division over secondary, non-salvation issues, but rather focus on the gospel and how it transforms lives. Meaning, the people of the church should do the same.

When we are part of the decision-making process: Loyalty

• When decisions are made that we don’t agree with and we were part of that decision-making process, we need to have the loyalty demonstrated in our hearts, attitudes, and speech that we wish to see in others. Even if the decision didn’t go “our way,” we need to rest in the reality that we were part of that decision, either in its shaping or refining. Again, this is part of that godly process we are defending.

When we are not part of the decision-making process: Humility

• When decisions are passed and you’re not part of that decision, we need to have the humility to realize a few things. A) We don’t have the perspective of our leaders. Leadership is a different seat from which to look at things. B) We probably haven’t invested the time, prayer, and research that led to their decisions and even if we have, we need to keep point A close at hand. Thirdly, C) We need to remember we are called to be sources of joy for our leaders and demonstrating loyalty to them and humility before them are primary ways we do this!

This is the Holy Spirit working in Christ’s church for God’s glory!

3. WE DISTRIBUTE UNITY & TRUST 

Jesus says in John 17:20-21, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word^, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Jesus’ prayer in John 17, right before his crucifixion, is known as the High Priestly Prayer and this is Jesus big prayer: That Christians would have unity. Why? Because when Christians are unified, the gospel becomes more evident, “so that the world may believe…” The world has enough to criticize the church for, it doesn’t need the added weight of disunity and dissension to scoff at our message. So, when Christians decide to break ranks and fight decisions, causing disunity and dissension – it better be a decision where the gospel is at stake. Otherwise, we are actively choosing to be a hindrance to what Jesus himself prayed for. Simply stated: too much is at stake for us to make our sanctified preference a point of contention.

When we support decision we disagree with we live into the unity that Jesus prayed for and we build the trust that the church needs.

IN CLOSING

As Hebrews says, good leaders do good things for the good of our souls – this should help fuel our defense of our leaders and the process they follow, this should fuel our hearts towards loyalty and humility, and believing this despite decisions we disagree with should fuel our hearts to distribute the unity and trust that a church needs to remain healthy and for the gospel to remain undistracted. Here a few points in closing…

• 1. Remember Jesus calls us to unity. This should squelch your need to share your dissenting opinion after a decision has been made. Godly people stand behind the prayerful decisions of their godly leaders.
• 2. “Public loyalty creates private influence.” That quote from Andy Stanley means that when you discuss, if there is ever really need, decisions you don’t necessarily agree with, it’s as simple as saying, “I’m excited to see how The Holy Spirit is working through our leaders and I can’t to see where God leads!” This is why you don’t always get to hear what leaders are really thinking – because they are to support unity in the church and by being publicly loyal they not only being godly, but are buying private influence among their fellow leaders.
• 3. Know the power of your words. Your tongue is either a tool to build or a weapon to harm. James 3:5-6 says, “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” James’ warning here is that a loose tongue is not just unhealthy for your church, but it’s unhealthy for soul.
  

Grandpappy said, “Life doesn’t always go your way.” What he didn’t say, but should have is, “…and the same goes for church.” But hey, that’s OK, right? Because the church doesn’t belong to us, it belongs to Jesus. And when we support decisions we don’t agree with, we are remembering we belong to him too.