3 Ways to Stop the Naysayers
“The poor will be with you always” Jesus said, but I’m sure He could have added, the stupid vision killers will pursue you always…
Acknowledge but don’t react
As much as we would love to send to some of these to Gitmo for vision espionage, we simply don’t have that authority…sadly. But, if we give their voice weight, they will keep looking for opportunities to complain.
Naysayers and complainers don’t have a desire to help ini what they say, they are looking for a platform that will hear them and respond. It makes them feel empowered.
It doesn’t matter if you satisfy their complaint, they will find something else because they aren’t looking for a solution they are looking power. So don’t give it to them.
Acknowledge what they’ve said, be kind and gentle but don’t promise or change something in response to their complaint. If you do, it will be like Crack, they will run you down for another snort, they get high on that feeling!
Answer by pointing them to the vision
This is the best way to retrain (if possible) some of the complainers. Have a simple, but powerful vision. And when they begin to point out how things need to be changed, acknowledge what they said, but then immediately turn the conversation to the impact of the vision.
Talk about the transformation of lives yet to come, remind them of where the church is going and it’s heart.
“The music is to loud.” Really? I’ll check on that, but isn’t it great how our music makes worship more engaging for so many different people! Those are the ones that Jesus wants us to reach, I’m glad you are a part of helping those find Jesus here.
Ask them to leave
This is a last resort, but sometimes you just have to make that move. Sure, you can keep trying to keep them “happy” and there, but they’re sucking the life out of you and killing your vision. Sometimes you just have to cut loose the religious to reach the unchurched. Be gentle, but don’t leave to doubt what’s happening.
Categories: Church Leadership, Church Multiplication, Church Planting, Craveable Church, Leadership
Good ways to “apply when needed.”
Usually when I hear the music’s too loud, its the old traditional people or at midnight when you should be asleep any way. 🙂
We are there at church to rejoice & celebrate the joy that our Savior has given us. The peace that we have now knowing him. The love & Freedom from our old lives to me is a great reason to throw a party! And it’s gonna be loud!
It’s so sad how folk get side tracked and caught up in naysaying as apposed to being excited about vision and exited for the visionary. After all, it’s God’s plan and purpose for His church, the vision, not the plans and purpose of the visionary. Let us impress this upon the naysayers mind.