Last Updated on September 17, 2022
How do you deal with rejection in the church? First, understand that you will encounter pushback at one point or another. You are a leader, and this means saying “yes” to the best things for the church. However, you will also experience pushback from some church members. Whether it comes in the form of an email, text message, or snide remark, the pushback will be inevitable.
Faith
In a church, rejection can be an unfortunate side effect. Not only is it painful, but it can be the source of a lot of abuse. Whether it’s through gossip, criticism, or leadership styles, it can cause you to react in unhealthy ways. Here are some ways to deal with rejection in the church:
Firstly, you need to prepare. Prepare yourself by not reacting to rejection, but responding. Responding means acting wisely, rather than emotionally. If you react, your mind and emotions will lead you. If you respond with emotion, you’ll likely regret what you did. In such a case, you may regret it later. So, be prepared to handle rejection by developing a plan of action. Once you’ve done so, you can face the next rejection.
Secondly, when you feel rejected, allow yourself to feel the disappointment. Do not try to push yourself past the point of no return. Instead, let God heal your pain. Rejection is a part of life and he doesn’t cause it. When you give God your undying love and acceptance, you can rise above rejection. By overcoming rejection, you’ll find a new way to serve and lead your church.
Courage
The fear of rejection is an overwhelming barrier, but God can give you the strength to face the pain of rejection and turn it to His glory. There are many ways you can deal with rejection, from praying for those who are being rejected by other church members to reaching out to those who are experiencing rejection by a church member. Regardless of what the situation is, the following tips will help you deal with rejection in the church.
1. Pray 3 Times a Day
Truth
Rejection is a part of leadership and the role of a church leader is to say yes to good and no to bad. When a church leader makes changes that displease a group of people, it is possible to receive pushback in the form of an email, a text message, or a snide remark. Despite your best efforts, you will likely experience rejection. But how to deal with it?
First of all, you must learn to accept your own disappointment and move past the painful memories. This is the process of healing, where we can move away from the past and move forward. We can use this time to grow and learn. When we move beyond rejection, we can begin to experience joy and happiness. When we embrace our God-given identity, we experience a sense of fulfillment. When we embrace God’s love, we are able to overcome rejection.
Trust
You’ve heard the expression, “No one likes to be rejected,” many times and have likely experienced it yourself. But when it comes to your role as a church leader, you have to be able to say “yes” and “no” to those who might want to push you back. Sometimes, you’ll be met with coldness and hostility, or even gossip. In such a climate, rejection is a powerful force, and can even worsen if your words and actions are viewed as harsh or abusive.
When you experience rejection, it’s important to allow yourself to feel the pain and move forward. When you move into healing, you will see that you’ve been rejected and moved into a place where you can be a better person. It’s important to remember that you’ve been rejected, and God will always sustain your reputation. But when you’re rejected in a ministry position, don’t build an army of denial, and instead focus on your faith in God. Jesus, for example, never opened his mouth to defend himself or even to seek forgiveness.
God’s love
If you’re looking for the answer to dealing with rejection in the church, read the Gospels. Jesus’ message is compelling, but people lose patience when the Christian church fails to meet their expectations. Religious atrocities and mistakes have left an angry legacy in today’s society. Even Bible-believing believers wrestle with the elements of Scripture. And many non-believers are turned off by the Christian faith.
If you’ve ever felt rejected, you know what it’s like. Eventually, you can begin to resent people and see them as enemies. The sting of constant rejection can set in and be hard to shake. It can become a stronghold in our lives and we can begin to feel harmful toward ourselves in seemingly benign moments. But God’s love for dealing with rejection in the church can give us strength to endure.
Rejection is a natural part of life, and God wants us to experience it as He has intended. When we can understand and embrace the truth of who we are, we can move forward and deal with it with a renewed perspective. When we have a new perspective, we can begin to embrace God’s love for us. Rather than being hurt and disappointed by the rejection of others, we can learn to love ourselves and others with unconditional love.
Jesus also experienced rejection from his family. Even when he was young, his family thought He was crazy, and they rejected Him. But despite their rejection, Jesus accepted His rejection and pursued God’s purpose. In the same way, Joseph dealt with rejection in his family. Similarly, God’s love for dealing with rejection in the church can free us to embrace the lonelyness of singleness.
About The Author
Mindy Vu is a part time shoe model and professional mum. She loves to cook and has been proclaimed the best cook in the world by her friends and family. She adores her pet dog Twinkie, and is happily married to her books.