Sunday, February 6, 2022

How long should you milk the controversy?

Controversies happen in churches.

They flare up.

Feelings are hurt.

Messages are jumbled.

Time passes…

The controversy dies down.

People start to move on.


So, how long should a church keep milking the controversy?

How long should they keep mentioning it?

How long should they keep adding “in light of what we have all gone through?”

How long should should you stop awkwardly… when you would usually drop the name “that person?”


The short answer is, I don’t know.

A nice, tight, mathematical equation would be delightful.


I’ve been at a number of churches who have ridden the wave of controversy.

Some have handled it well.

Some… could have handed it better.

No matter where on the “handling proficiency” spectrum a church finds itself, one thing is certain.

Eventually, you need to let the controversy go.

You need to put the skeleton away in the closet.

Yes, learn the lessons.

Have the conversations.

Make the appropriate apologies.

Address the issues.


But… mark a mental date when you will move on.

Then, look forward, not back.

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