Monday, July 7, 2008
Week Four--July 7--Home to Harmony
What do you think about the ways in which members of Harmony Friends Meeting attempted to deal with the disruptive "contributions" of Bob Miles, Sr. during meeting? Was appointing him "Official Prayer Warrior" an appropriate and effective action? Can you suggest another approach to dealing with Bob Sr.?
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6 comments:
I think the plan to name Bob Miles "Prayer Warrior" and have him pray in solitary in the church basement was not the way to handle the situation. I thought it was rather poetic justice when the plan back fired. Though it is not very easy, the direct approach is always the best.
I have known of elders in Friends Meetings who have talked with (in the old days, they called it "laboring with") members who are heading down the "wrong road." I am also troubled by the concept of a "warrior" title in one of the traditional peace churches!
Bullies don't respond to "kid glove" handling. Being honest with him as a group (not just the pastor) would be a better way. Praying for him & trying to find true "fit" for his personality would have helped all of them.
Trying to be sneaky & get rid of him definitely didn't work, altho it was funny. The Bible says if someone has a problem, that two or three brothers or sisters should speak to that person, and then if they still refuse to change, to let them go their way. It might've been better, and less hurtful to Bob, if they could have found a gentle way to tell him, rather than ignoring him for years and then finally being so blunt. But given the personalities in that group of elders, I'm not sure if that would've been possible.
Should have been confronted earlier and offered couseling, discussion as well as participation.
Brent Pittman
I agree with Teresa about the right way of dealing with things. I think this shows, though, that these characters were afraid of confrontation. In our immaturity, we will try everything else first in order to have the outcome desired. It takes more courage to face difficult issues head on.
I was disappointed in the way they dealt with that situation and I was disappointed in their boyish, irresponsible ways on their trip to Oklahoma. No one really stepped up to say that they were wrong. They got away with all of it with a slap on the wrist (their wives not coming to their rescue; however, they seemed to be over it the next day). I just wished that author Philip Gulley would've written in an apology somewhere. They were all so sneaky and scheming.
With that said, though, these situations have shown that we are all sinful, even ministers! And we all need the grace and forgiveness that Jesus provides for us.
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