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RENDEZVOUS

Where Is the Church When the Community Is in Conflict?

Director's Perspective by Jim Carlson

Many people seem to want to leave the cities and suburbs in order to live out in the country, where they might find "peace and quiet." Somehow we associate strife and turmoil with crowded areas, and expect more tranquility in the little towns and rural settings.

Not necessarily so.

A quick survey of recent issues affecting different communities in western Montana will illustrate. A new pack of wolves has been relocated into the Yaak Valley, where they will be watched closely (along with the local grizzly bear population) and afforded the protection of the federal government. Local livestock producers are not pleased. In the southern Bitterroot Valley a Forest Service sale of fire-damaged timber has created a huge issue between loggers who need work and environmental lobbyists. The timber will rot if left to stand another season. To the west down the Clark Fork River the Rock Creek Mine project has been given permission to move ahead from the government, much to the dismay of the "friends of the Clark Fork." Stay tuned for more intense developments. Nearer to Missoula the Milltown dam has been holding tons and tons of poisonous sludge from old upstream mining operations, and the group that wants to dismantle the dam is being opposed by the group that does not.

Seasonal and more generic issues also threaten to divide our communities. Every election year folks are reminded of their neighbor’s party loyalties; local candidates make ballots a very personal matter. School boards can rally behind or against a superintendent, teacher or coach, then stand by to take the wrath of those who are in the opposing camp. Often, both factions are represented in the local church. All these hotbeds of hostility are further aggravated should there be an overriding economic concern, such as the severe drought plaguing many of our areas.

A real temptation facing the rural church in these issues is to become distracted by that which is political, economic or personal at the expense of the gospel. Maintaining a Christ-centered testimony in the midst of local strife is one of the most difficult tasks of the church, requiring leaders who are sensitive to their communities while being committed to their Head. Finely-tuned navigational skills are a definite plus.

"Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone," says the old hymn. Daniel’s God-given ability to maintain high integrity and an impeccable reputation while being true to his God was the trademark of his position. The aged saint’s envious enemies realized they could never find a ground of accusation against Daniel’s character or service record. He clearly was able to represent God’s agenda in a God-less arena while earning a reputation for fairness and wisdom. While his spiritual consistency was used against him by unscrupulous accusers, in the end the Lord was honored and righteousness prevailed (see Daniel 6).

Being an agent of Jesus Christ in a community brouhaha might require that we stand alone, but in any case commitment to a heavenly agenda and dependence upon the Lord for wisdom and grace are necessary for the local lighthouse to be effective. At our conference this April, we’re looking forward to learning together how to keep the lamps trimmed and the glass polished.

Join us!