When Faith Turns Ugly: Understanding Toxic Faith and How to Avoid It by Harris Brian;

Author:Harris, Brian;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Authentic Media
Published: 2016-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

In Conversation with Dianne Tidball

An author and pastor, Dianne Tidball is currently the regional minister of the East Midland Baptist Association in England.

What most encourages you in your work with pastors and churches?

There are toxic situations in church life and these can overwhelm us, so we do need to be reminded of the good things that are going on. The encouragements include communities small and large who understand that the Bible is the truth of God, and when they live it out see God working by his Spirit. Leading on from this, I am encouraged by pastors who have the simple yet profound priority of teaching and applying the Bible and from this see changed lives, transformed communities and spiritual and numerical growth. I am also encouraged by leaders who intentionally preach and teach biblical truth and then live that teaching out in their leadership, reflecting God’s kingdom values of grace, generosity, servanthood and hope.

I am encouraged by God’s people living out God’s love in the community in which God has placed them. Every church group is made up of people who have insecurities, differences of opinion and burdens they carry. When those flawed people learn to live in forgiveness, love and kindness as they worship God and witness to God’s salvation in Christ, that is more than encouraging: it is inspirational. The most powerful tool for mission we have today is communities living out the values of the kingdom of God.

In working with pastors my particular encouragement is seeing gifted men and women seeking to be Christ-centred. There are so many pressures to be successful, to be self-seeking and self-preserving that when those who lead do so in humility and trust in God, seeking God’s best when that is costly to themselves, it is greatly heartening.

What warning signs cause you to become concerned about someone’s leadership?

A lack of love for the people they lead is a worrying sign in a Christian leader. It is fundamental that we want God’s best for people because we love them and care for them. People will very quickly sense if a pastor is using them to build up his or her reputation and image rather than having a genuine love for the people God has called them to shepherd.

Continuing ministerial development is a prerequisite to being energized and effective in ministry. However, there are those who go to far too many conferences and are always reading books and having the latest ideas, but never actually get on with doing the leading and engaging with people. Also worrying are those who are isolationist and who don’t gather with other ministers and share burdens and challenges; who don’t keep their spiritual energy through receiving the ministry of others and being renewed.

Perhaps the most worrying sign of toxic flaws in leadership is lack of character and insecurity. Shallow character leads to self-protection, arrogance and self-preservation, which are a disaster in leadership meetings and church meetings, and in the daily support and encouragement of others. Those who

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