It only took an ounce of flint and a toothpick's worth of wood. It only took a single match and a seemingly insignificant spark. On August 24, 2000 Janic Stevenson pulled her car off the road near Jewel Cave National Monument in order to light up a cigarette. After throwing the lighted match to the ground, she watched as a small fire began. As the fire began to spread, Federal investigators say she quickly drove away.
When everything was said and done, Janic Stevenson had caused the single greatest wildfire in the history of South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest. Despite the heroic efforts of over a thousand fire fighters, in just two weeks close to 84,000 acres of valuable timber was destroyed. Seven percent of this was Black Hills National Forest. The blaze cost an estimated nine million dollars to extinguish, unnecessarily imperiled the lives of dozens of firefighters, and caused an estimated forty-two million dollars in damage.
One of the last vacations I took with my family happened to be in South Dakota. We spent an entire day exploring the scenic Jewel Cave area while snapping pictures of the breathtaking landscapes of the Black Hills National Forest. It is angering to know that someone didn't care enough, that someone could be so negligent, that someone could turn her back and allow such beautiful country to be destroyed. And for what? A cigarette? A quick smoke? It will take decades to restore the Black Hills National Forest.
This morning I didn't come to preach Smokey the Bear's campfire sermon. Smokey the Bear is a terrifically gifted communicator, and I don't want his job. My desire this morning is to talk about an altogether different kind of wildfire. It is the kind of wildfire that begins with a tiny flicker and then grows into a burning flame and then into a consuming fire and ultimately into a raging firestorm. It is the kind of wildfire that instead of consuming trees, consumes human souls along with their eternal destinies. It is the kind of wildfire that wreaks incalculable damage, that imperils the mission of the Church, and that reduces the breathtaking work of God into smoldering ashes. It is the kind of wildfire that can carelessly be sparked within any church, even in the greatest of churches, even potentially in this church.
Church wildfires!
The wildfires I am referring to are nasty. They are terrifically destructive. They are a disgrace to the Church and everything the Church of Jesus Christ stands for. And yet they are commonplace within the Church's vast landscape. Perhaps you are one of those individuals who have been fortunate enough to escape a church wildfire with your spiritual life still intact. Perhaps you are one of those individuals who has been recovering from scorching three-dimensional spiritual burns that you once received from a church wildfire. Perhaps you are one of the careless ones who inadvertently ignited a church wildfire and fled the scene of the crime seeking refuge in another church. Perhaps you are a church pyromaniac who intentionally and habitually ignites church wildfires everywhere you attend! Perhaps you are one of the fortunate few who has no idea to what I am referring to. If so, consider yourself blessed.
The truth is that many of us have experienced church wildfires first hand. These wildfires are the dark side of the Church. They cannot be ignored. They must be understood for what they are. The New Testament never conceals these wildfires, but rather, the New Testament boldly confronts and extinguishes them! I believe the wildfire imagery helps us understand the nature of church conflict.
Level one - Every church wildfire begins with a flicker or a spark.
James 3:5 (NIV) says, "Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." This morning I would like to suggest an alternate translation. "Consider what a great Church is set on fire by a small spark."
A spark is a conflict that is generated between two people. At first the spark can seem harmless, like a lighted match dropped on the ground. But if that spark is not immediately extinguished it can quickly develop into a fire that has the potential to wreak incredible destruction.
In college I remember preaching my first sermon at a country church. I arrived early and went out of my way to greet everyone. A week later I returned to that church and already the sparks had begun flying! An elderly woman was telling people how unfriendly I was. "I'm telling you that there preacher doesn't like us old people." I pulled an elder aside and asked why this lady was spreading such gossip. He said, "Last Sunday you said hello to her, but you didn't shake her hand." Well from then on I began enthusiastically shaking her hand every Sunday before church, during church, after church, and every time I saw her! This zealous handshaking quickly extinguished the sparks, and she befriended me.
It doesn't take much to get a fire going. It only takes a spark. A spark can be a small misunderstanding, a misjudgment, or a sliver of dissatisfaction. If extinguished the spark is virtually harmless. It left unattended it can smolder and grow for years and eventually erupt into a wildfire.
Level two - If a spark isn't extinguished, it grows into a flame.
A flame is more pronounced than a spark. It has greater intensity. Whereas sparks mostly bounce off us harmlessly, a flame penetrates. It grabs attention. It makes its presence known in small, but significant ways. A flame lets off a small plume of smoke, enough to set off a smoke detector. A flame is basically a strengthened conflict between two people.
One Sunday I was again greeting people in that small country church. After greeting you-know-who, I moved on to a couple sitting near the back. I had been to their home. I called on them in the hospital and we laughed together. But on this Sunday when I went to greet them, they were very cold and detached. They sat straight in their seats looking ahead. They wouldn't make eye contact with me.
Earlier that week they had driven by when I was out working in the yard. With great enthusiasm they waved, but I was too busy and non-attentive. You gotta love this stuff! This couple took things to a whole other level. They resisted all conciliatory gestures. They stopped attending worship. They would make snide remarks and refer to me in the third person. "It sure would be nice to have a minister who pays attention to you. This one sure doesn't. "This went on for weeks, and during that time I learned to swallow my pride! It was like swallowing a horse-pill at times, but we finally reached an understanding.
When a flicker becomes a flame, watch out! There are so many red flags. At this point humor becomes cutting, sarcastic, and insolent. People become entrenched and stubborn about their views. They refer to others in the third person. "Those people. That preacher. That elder." They begin using flat assertions and exaggerate, "She never.....He always...."
People become cold and edgy. They withdraw. They stop talking about how they feel. They fold their arms. They stop making eye contact. They withdraw their support. They drop out of choir. They skip worship. They look the other way on the street. They stop giving money to the church. They look for other people to whom they can relate their criticisms. They gossip. They lose interest in resolving the conflict. They grow angry. They seek justification for their feelings. They continue building their case.
As you know, it doesn't take much for a flame to become a small fire.
Level three -The flame grows into a fire.
Ron Susek, in his book Firestorm describes what a fire in the Church looks like. "Pent-up emotion rules over reason. Fleshly behavior is accepted as the only way to handle a given problem. People sound like lawyers in their arguments. Legalism obliterates grace. Man-made rules take over biblical instruction and spiritual sensitivity. The faults of others are spoken about with intolerance. The call for spiritual attitudes and conduct is perceived as a manipulation to help the other side win. The lowest instincts of human nature rise up in unbridled liberty. Tempers flare. Discussions deteriorate into the destructive trading of accusations. Winning takes precedence over fairness. Justice is replaced by judgementalism. Mercy is buried by retribution."
The humble servant nature of Christ is denigrated as weakness. Respect for human dignity is abandoned. People who were civil and Christ-like in peaceful times, treat each other in godless ways. Slander becomes acceptable in talking about the opposition. Issues become ultimatums and people's perceptions become the new reality. Everyone's position becomes their holy cause, their jihad, and their holy war. Apologies become extinct. Opponents are demonized. Each side is sure it knows the wrongful motives and strategies of the other. Lines are clearly drawn in the sand between opposing camps.
Friends, this is ugly stuff! I knew of one church where the deacons literally invited each other outside for a fistfight to resolve a church dispute! And lest you think things can't get any worse, the fire escalates!
Level four -The fire explodes into a firestorm.
Again, Ron Susek is helpful with his explanation. "At this stage paranoia sets in. Spirituality seems impotent. Each side is absolutely sure the other side will not change. Fighting is seen as the only option. Permanent damage is done. There is a fear that the truth might diminish one's position. People begin leaving the church. Some leave as a statement of protest. Others are pressured to leave by family, friends, and allies. Prayers are given to rebuff those of opposing viewpoints. Scripture is used out of context to undercut the opposition. Outside people, even lawyers, are consulted to bolster a person's case. The charge of Satanic activity is levied against the opposition. Church discipline is misused and even becomes abusive..."
Most of us have never experienced the full fury of a church wildfire. There is absolutely no reason we should ever have to either! In conclusion, I would like you to find Philippians 4:1-3 in your Bibles.
Paul's case study of a church fire.
In Philippians 4:1-3 (NIV) the apostle Paul says, "Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life."
The Church in Philippi was experiencing a spark between two prominent members. Euodia and Syntyche had been instrumental in the ministry of this church. They contended at Paul's side in the cause of the gospel. They co-labored with Clement and the rest of the workers in Philippi. Their names were in the book of life. For years, they had been a blessing to the Church. But now, for whatever reason, things were getting ugly between them. They had a major disagreement that demanded the attention of the apostle Paul.
Notice several things about Paul's response to this situation.
First, Paul responds to the conflict directly.
Paul doesn't beat around the bush. He calls a spade a spade. He names the women who are at the source of the conflict, Euodia and Syntche. He doesn't ignore the sparks. He doesn't pray for their issue to simply go away. He speaks up, he mentions their names, and he induces a healthy dose of shame.
Second, Paul responds urgently.
Notice Paul's words in Philippians 4:2 (NIV)."I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche...." Paul was imploring them to work out their differences immediately. He didn't want the sun to go down another night without them first resolving whatever dispute they had between them. He didn't want the flicker becoming a flame, or the flame becoming a fire, or the fire becoming an all-consuming firestorm. With urgency he pleads with them to extinguish it immediately.
Third, Paul responds impartially.
Notice that Paul doesn't take sides on whatever issue they were facing. He refused to be drawn into the emotion of their differences. He refused to validate whatever matter they were quarreling over. He refused to play favorites with one over the other.
Fourth, Paul responds authoritatively.
He commands them to, "agree with each other in the Lord." Paul appeals to a deeper authority within their relationship. This deeper authority is Jesus Christ. He was calling them to a higher standard than their own preferences or feelings.
Five, Paul responds pragmatically.
He refers to a, "loyal yokefellow." Paul encourages a third party to get involved in the dispute. Their personal efforts to work out their problems hadn't gotten them anywhere. This dispute wasn't just about Euodia and Syntyche. It wasn't a private interpersonal conflict that could simply be swept under the rug. This dispute was affecting the entire church. An objective third party was needed to mediate the conflict and bring it to a quick resolution. And Paul didn't ask Euodia and Syntyche if they wanted a mediator. He simply assigned a mediator, not taking any chances.
Sixth, Paul responds contextually.
Notice the phrase, "...the cause of the gospel." Paul reminds them of their previous involvement in the cause of the gospel. In essence he was saying, "Don't drag the Church and the name of Christ through the mud of your disagreement! Don't disgrace the gospel. It's not worth it. Remember the bigger purpose which you serve and to which you are called."
The cost of unresolved conflict.
Janic Stevenson caused the greatest wildfire in the history of the Black Hills National Forest. Eighty-four thousand acres of valuable timber was destroyed. Forty-two million dollars in damage was done. Friends, that is mere pennies compared to the eternal damage we can cause when we allow sparks within the Church to grow into flames. When conflict erupts, that conflict must be addressed directly, urgently, impartially, authoritatively, pragmatically, and contextually.
There is always something greater that is at stake within the Church. And that something is the name of Jesus Christ. That something is the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That something is the life that God wants to generate in our midst.