7 steps to take if the cartel and bullies run you out of the church

Thom Rainer Feb. 15, 2017

my saved content

VIEW AS
A PDF

A bully-led personnel committee ran Frank out of the church. They never told the pastor why they wanted him to resign. Although Jan was a very active layperson in the student ministry, a cartel of jealous church members pushed her out of the congregation.

I wish such examples were anomalies, but they aren’t. To the contrary, such incidents seem to be gaining traction. And, of course, they are both the cause and the result of the large number of unhealthy churches in America.

Dealing with the aftermath

I have written and spoken at length about this issue, but I have not yet addressed the aftermath of such bullying from the perspective of the victim. What is he or she to do after the horrific incident? Here are seven suggestions:

1. Take care of your family.That’s a tough order, especially when you are hurting so much already. But your family is in pain. They need you. They need to know all of you will be okay.

2. Pray with specificity.You should ask God for comfort, strength, and peace. You should ask Him to remove the bitterness that such terrible abuse brings. Trust Him to do it, because you can’t.

3. Find a healthy church.You won’t find a perfect church, but there are many good and healthy churches. You can’t give up on churches completely because of a toxic cartel. You need to remain in a local body of believers.

4. Move carefully before taking another ministry position.You need time. You need to take care of your family and yourself. The ministry position can come later, just not immediately.

5. Count your blessings.This saying is not trite. When we have been hurt deeply by church bullies and a cartel, it is easy and natural to focus on that hurt. Start focusing on your blessings. Ask God to open your eyes and heart to all the great ways He is working in and through your life.

6. Become an advocate for other victims.Don’t stay on the sidelines the next time you see bullying take place in a church. Stand up to the bully—or the cartel. Be a source of understanding and comfort for the victim. God can use your pain for His glory and others’ good.

7. Don’t give up.Don’t give in. Don’t give up on God and local churches and fellow believers. Don’t give in to bitterness and self-pity. Though it sounds like a cliché, you can become a better person and believer in the midst of the struggles you are experiencing.

The goodness of God

I wish we didn’t have to talk and write about such issues. I wish they didn’t exist in churches. But the greater harm would be ignoring this evil and letting it run rampant.

Bullying is evil. Cartels are nefarious as well.

Despite this fleshly behavior that is so sad and too common, God is still good. And He is greater than anything the world or the local church can throw a pastor’s way.

my saved content

VIEW AS
A PDF

Thom S. Rainer is the founder and CEO of Church Answers, and online community and resource for church leaders. Prior to founding Church Answers, Rainer served as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Before coming to LifeWay, he served at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for twelve years where he was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Alabama and earned his Master of Divinity and Ph.D. degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn More »

• Unique problems grow you uniquely (by Richard Blackaby)
• They tried to quiet Charlie Kirk—but the gospel still speaks (by Bob Russell)
• The power of an unoffendable heart (by Tom Crenshaw)
• How did Jesus deal with animosity? (by Chris Bolinger)

Free eBook

Success Unlocked: The Transformative Power of Questions

This isn’t just another leadership book—it’s your invitation to discover how Christ-centered questions can transform the way you lead and live. Packed with real stories and timeless wisdom, it shows you how to grow your influence, deepen your faith, and lead with the same life-changing impact Jesus did.

Download Now