“The Crickets” sang, “I Fought The Law, And The Law Won.” I fought two ladies in church, and the results are mixed.
The first was a long-time volunteer with our children’s ministry who wanted choir robes for the boys and girls. The cost was about $5,000.
This idea never took fire.
The children normally sang at Christmas and Easter when their parents adorned them in colorful dresses and navy blazers. Some of the parents thought robes were unnecessary after they went to the trouble of finding “church” clothes. And then there was the issue of remaining robed for the rest of the worship time or so much disruption if disrobing.
Today, choir robes and hymnals are either in dusty storage closets or listed in the “free to a good church” want ad columns. But at the time, there was probably merit to her wish. And $5,000 was just a portion of that particular church’s budget.
We probably should’ve purchased these as a gift to the children and in respect to their leader. I think I should’ve used my influence with the finance committee to proceed. But I didn’t and we didn’t
The second lady wanted a playground at church. Again, every church member wants to support children and youth, but I had two counters. First, we were downtown with other churches nearby and parking was scarce. I didn’t think we could give up even five or six parking spaces for a small playset and a fence.
And second, I believed that our instruction time with boys and girls was minimal at best, and instruction was more important than going outside at church to play.
The issue was still being discussed as we moved away, but the last time I drove by the church I saw a playset and fence adjoining the building.
Every pastor wrestles with priorities. We know people are more important than things, and missions is more important than our comfort. But there are a myriad of issues, such as these, that test our decision making.
We commit to scripture (though I admit I’ve found no guidance in scripture about robes and playsets), then to prayer. But we also listen to one another and try to find consensus.
A local minister in Louisville was our leader for a seminary practicum class. He said the pastor must always focus on ministries and really shouldn’t care what members choose to do with paint color and carpet.
“Keep your eyes on the main thing,” he counseled.
His advice is yet worthy.
Christians seek first to obey the clear word of the Lord. Then we strive to find pathways of agreement for everything else—“compromise” in the best sense of the word.
