By Brett Petrillo
As a plane was on its way to Paris, a report came in about extremely heavy fog throughout the city. The fog was so severe that landing the plane in Paris was completely out of the question. So, the aircraft was diverted to another city about 190 miles away, where the passengers would be carried home by charter buses at the airline’s expense. One would think that most passengers would be frustrated by the delay, but understanding of the dangerous situation. Not on this plane.
When the plane finally landed, around 20 passengers flat out refused to get off the plane and demanded that they be taken to Paris by air. The flight attendants remained on the aircraft until the passengers became so troublesome that even the attendants left. Being left with few options, the bathrooms were locked and power was turned off until the passengers exited the plane. Sitting in the dark, the disgruntled passengers staged a protest for 4 hours (which was longer than the bus ride). Ironically, after this hissy fit, the passengers still had to walk off the plane, get on a bus, and were taken back to Paris, a place they could have arrived at several hours ago had they not been so ridiculously stubborn.
As people, we can be extremely stubborn. Especially when we feel like we need to hold our ground to make a statement. Strikes. Protests. Rallies. Riots. Spits. Marches. Lock-downs. Attacks. There are a variety of ways people today exercise their beliefs and opinions.
This is something we’ve come to expect from our culture. It’s part of our new normal. But this is not something we should see in the church. It’s not normal. It’s not ok. But we still see it.
How many church disagreements, splits, and arguments could have be solved and avoided through humility (Philippians 2:3), soft answers (Proverbs 15:1), and an honest attempt at unity (1 Corinthians 1:10; Hebrews 13:1)?
Problems are going to occur. Issues will happen. Disagreements are unavoidable. Sadly, in some extreme cases, even splits will result. What is avoidable, however, is stubborn bull-headedness.
Let’s be people who look for solutions, not for problems. Let’s be people who see the souls that could be eternally damaged by our squabbles. Let’s be people looking for the good of the church, not just the good of ourselves. Let’s commit ourselves that so far as it depends on you, we will be at peace with all men, doing good to all, but especially those of the household of faith (Romans 12:16-18; Galatians 6:10).