Taking the Unpopular Stand
Jack Hayford
How our stand is received is determined more by how we treat people than how we marshal our argument.
— Jack Hayford At a convention attended by several thousand ministers and church leaders, I was scheduled to bring the second plenary message. The first speaker was a close friend, and as I sat on the platform listening to his message, I was deeply troubled. He was speaking about a prominent leader who had recently failed morally. Yet in his effort to show forgiveness and acceptance, I felt he was glossing over the biblical requirements for being restored to leadership. I was more troubled when the majority of the congregation responded with applause and amens. They were affirming the principle of forgiveness, which I, of course, fully endorsed. But they were not being led to discern the other side of the issue: this leader must, by biblical standards, enter a time of accountable restoration. I was about to follow my friend in the pulpit, and my spirit was pressed to bring balance into the situation. But how could I do that without embarrassing and alienating a dear and respected friend? Without spilling ice water on the conference? Without sounding like a Pharisee? I was at a loss. I was traveling with a pastoral staff member, who was seated beside me on the platform, and I leaned over and admitted, "I don't know if I can get up and speak." An unpopular stand is never easy but sometimes necessary: to confront unbalanced teachings, tether straying programs, address financially wasteful practices, or lead where no one has thought of going or was willing to lead before. Unlike the best-selling book title, influencing people doesn't always win friends. Like Caleb and Joshua, who were nearly stoned when they insisted on going into ...
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