3 Essentials to Survive an Attack in church: Part 2
A bullet proof helmet, vest, and an emergency church exit
Let's face it. We live a world where church ministry and church planting can be dangerous for all the right reasons. We already have the Devil who hates us and wishes that we would just die or settle for mediocrity, and just tend or keep the aquarium of the saints. No need to rock the boat, just settle into maintenance mode. But have you noticed that the moment that you get knocked off your high horse, like the aspostle Paul in Acts 9, and get off of your tail and start venturing to do something great for the Kingdom of Heaven, persecution will come against you, your family, and your church where you serve. "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution", 2 Timothy 3:12.
There it is, the Biblical principle that states that "when you do something right for the Kingdom of God, the Devil will unleash his attack against you." In case you have forgotten, ministers and pastors are the primary attack target of Satan. He is not your friend, but is your foe. Never forget that.
One of the ways that Devil tries to slow you down and discourage you as a preacher is through people. Have you discovered that yet? He uses people, especially their mouths to discourage you. "You can't do that! No one has ever done that before", or "You'll never be able to reach that goal or vision in this church." Negative comments from naysayers can be combated with a positive spirit and prayer, after all, "Stick and stones may brake my bones, but words will never hurt me."
Two pieces of counsel that have helped me survive and thrive in the ministry are as follow. Though remember that it is best to operate in both modes, survival and success. Why? Have we forgotten the Nebuchaddnezzar syndrome: "Is this not the great Babylon I have built", and then ever so quickly came his demise! Here are the two pieces of advice.
The first piece of advice is: You are not a golden coin so that everyone will like and love you. In the ministry, the job of certain individuals and church members is to give you a hard time and make ministry impossible for you. Stay on your knees. Thank God for your enemies. See them as purifying agents in your life, ministry, and leadership.
Second: Be life teflon. Never let anything negative stick to you. Silence those naysayers by claiming God's promises and reminding yourself that God chose you to this sacred work, and you did not volunteer or sign up for it. You were drafted as God's #1 pick in his Ministerial Draft. Live and lead with that purpose in mind and heart.
What about attacks or threats in the church? It's one thing for someone to say: "You can't do it. I don't believe in your leadership. God is wrong in sending you to this church or community. You are the wrong person for the job." It's another thing for someone to make a verbal threat against you, your family, and your church. What is a church leader. Let me correct, what is a servant of the Most High suppose to do? ... Put your head under the dirt like an ostrich and pretend everything is fine and dandy, or it is time to take action, preventative action? ... Is it time to go the army store and buy a bullet proof vest, helmet, and confirm the church emergency exit for the pastor?
Threats in the local church
So what does a pastor due when he is verbally threatened by a church member? Do we nurture church members for the sake of nurture, and just pretend nothing happened? I don't think so. Walter Pearson, ex-speaker of the Breath of Life, used to say:
"I believe in Jesus Christ. But one of the greatest things that God gave a preacher is a BRAIN! Lady, do you want me to call 911, or shall you?!"Just recently, in Los Angeles where I pastor a small church of 120 members, a mentally unstable individual, church member, and leader decided to threaten the pastor. That is what get's me the most. "Why do we nominate people to leadership who are not mentally stable?" The pulpit is sacred in the sense that is for promulgating the Gospel of Christ that brings life and liberty. It is not to present personal agendas or hobby horses or topics. Don't use it to sell Bibles like one pastor does, or to sell your books or cds. Sell those outside the worship place. This church member who has been given access to the pulpit because of his leadership went on to say. "I know I'm not suppose to mention this name of this person. I have been told I am not suppose to mention this name in this church, but" ... and here is what really gets me. The church leader goes on to say, "But I'm going to say it anyway. This person is doing so much to take "the message" ("what message I ask?") and is doing so much. We need to learn and be like him. The person I am talking about is Hugo Gambetta*. He is getting the message out there to others."
As the pastor of the church, I try always to be inside the church at all times to listen and to feel the spiritual pulse of the congregation: "What are the talking about? What gets them going? What are the heresies or errors that people are believing? I was in the sound room loading my powerpoint onto the church computer. When I heard the church leader say, "I know I'm not suppose to mention this name of this person. I have been told I am not suppose to mention this name in this church, but I'm going to say it anyway. This person is doing so much to take "the message" to the lost."
I already knew where this church leader was headed. As a I sat there I said "Don't go there. Don't do it, don't do it". The sound guy thought something was wrong with the computer. I told him, "No the computer if fine. Just get ready!" Then he said it. "I know I'm not suppose to mention this name of this person. I have been told I am not suppose to mention this name in this church, but I'm going to say it anyway. This person is doing so much to take "the message" and is doing so much. We need to learn and be like him. The person I am talking about is Hugo Gambetta*." When he said that front of the church, I just got up from the back of the church and all calm, smooth, and collective, and went up the front and told him. "Thank you. That is all". With a look of incredulity on his face, he vehemently replied, "I'm going to get you back." And with those words, the wolf dressed in sheep's clothing was revealed. I faced a challenge. I could blow this thing up in proportion, or I could just side it and move on and deal with it head on in the moments to follow. I chose the latter. I said as if nothing had just happened. "Happy Sabbath! It's great to see you today! We are so glad you have chosen to worship with us this morning. We have a few special announcements to share with you." And we moved on, we transitioned. But that threat still lingers in my head, "Pastor, I'm going to pay you back. I'm going to get you back", as though I am an enemy of the church. But if truth be told, maybe the minister is the enemy. Not the enemy of Christ, but the enemy of Satan. Thus, it shouldn't be a surprise at all to be attacked by the Devil even in church on Saturday morning.
So what is a church pastor to do? We have either one of two options at this point. We can flee or we can fight. In relationship, we are told to fight for our families and marriages, and never to flee or abandon our spouse. Therefore I am sure we should fight for our ministry? Yet how? Should we invest in purchasing a bullet proof vest and helmet, and have an emergency exit and escape for the preacher should he be confronted by a mentally ill church member or visitor with a drawn weapon? Should a church pastor carry "pepper spray" or a "tazer gun" to fend off would be perpetrators? These are important questions. The last part in this 3 part blog will develop and lead us into some practical answers and problem solving skills.
~ Salvador Garcia
* = Hugo Gambetta is an ex-Seventh-day Adventist Pastor and Ex-Vice President of the Lake Region Conference who was and is a celebrity preacher since he is on television and preaches sermons that could correctly be labeled "Beastly preaching" without the lamb. He preaches a neutered form on Adventism, in that he shares only the Lion and not the Lamb of the Gospel. He also has lost his credentials and ministerial license, and is banned from speaking in Seventh-day Adventist Churches.
Next Blog: 3 Essentials to Survive an Attack in church: Fight or Flight? The Best antidote for a fledgeling church and antagonistic church members
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