Sep 5 Ghramm Cracker Crumbs

Dear Gateway West (or anyone who sometimes has conflict with another person),

Remember what I said a few weeks ago during my teaching on "Priorities?"  We asked, "What is most important to God?"  Based on the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, we are to love God, love our neighbor, and make disciples.  Part of loving our neighbors is to love our fellow believers.  Jesus said that the world will know that we are followers of Jesus by how much we love each other.

I believe strongly that one of Satan's most effective tools to keep Kingdom work from happening is to get us to fight and bicker with one another.  He wants us be petty and gossipy (is that a word?).  He wants us to have interpersonal conflict.

Frankly, I think that Satan is succeeding to do some of that to degree at Gateway West.  There are times when I want to scream, "Why can't we all just get along?" or "Why can't we all just grow up?"

Notice that I used the word, "we."  That's because I can be a part of the problem sometimes as well.  I'm not putting this on anyone specific but I am saying that I think that the attendees and ministry partners of Gateway West have some "getting along" and "growing up" to do.

I beg of you to not give into some of these temptations.  Please, please.  I beg of you.  Do not Satan interfere in what God is trying to do.

Here's what I'm asking each of us to do.  Do some introspection.  Ask yourself some hard questions about your relationships with other people in our church.  Humbly ask for the Holy Spirit to reveal some these answers to you.  Here are a few to get you started.

Have I been making a bigger deal out of something than it needs to be?
Have I been gossiping?
Have I been talking about people behind their backs?
Have I been lying?
Have I been finding my identity in what others think about me?
Have I been overly protective of my thing (whatever that thing might be)?
Have I been afraid to confront sin in a brother or sister?
Have I been holding a grudge because of something someone said or did that hurt me?

Have I been putting the interest of others before mine?
Have I been giving others the benefit of the doubt?
Have I been putting God's kingdom first instead of my own agenda?
Have I been willing to submit to the leaders in my life?
Have I been willing to go to someone that I have a conflict with and work out your issues?
Have I been willing to apologize when I am wrong?

I'm sure there are more questions to ask but that'll take some time.

Let me say one more thing.  If you are offended by this email, then you are the one who needs to do the most introspection.  We all have growing up to do.  If you are not willing to take a close look at how you are treating others, then that says something about your relationship with God first.

Gateway West, I love you and I want what is best for God's glory and for our church.  Let's love each other and deal with any kind of conflict by speaking the truth with one another but doing it in love.

Please let me know how I can help.

Pastor Dan