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Group Think — 11 Comments

    • In spite of this many are willing to stay in bondage. As Peter, they are sure that they will stand but at that moment realize that they don't have what it takes to stand firm. (I know, I've been there).

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  1. I have read most of post since I became aware of your post bro. William because I agree with most of your thoughts and I thank God for confirming my thoughts as I seek to serve Him and my fellowman. It is hard being an outcast. When you speak up, pointing to the bible, spirit of prophecies or church manual. I understand when you are treated with contempt because you don't go with the flow. Accused of not being humble because asking "inappropriate" questions. So once again thank you bro. William for posting the inspirations God has given you.

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  2. This is a practical thing in our church boards where many of the board members are made to compromise certain issues just to keep the board moving even if it's against the doctrines of the church.

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  3. This is so true and real. I have found that there are some in every group who think they should speak up but are kept quiet because of fear. This is why is is so important to speak up when convicted to do so: this gives the fearful ones courage and helps them also speak up. I have experienced this many times. So, be on the Lord's side and speak!

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  4. I found it very disturbing to know the reality that many board meetings in the church are no different than business/board meeting held in the world. I have spent many years in church board meetings only to find out that some people should never have been elected to their treasured positions. There are clicks/politics in the church that stunt the overall growth and stability of the congregation/church. Board members are elected to be the voice for the people, so speak up. You raised your hand during ordination to do so. If you loose your position so what, God will be pleased with you and so will the members who elected you. So do the right thing. Be courageous.God is with you.

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  5. "There is also no point in having many advisers if they don’t warn us of the consequences of the board or committee’s choices. Board members must realize their loyalty must belong to the mission of the group and not just to the leader of the group."

    This point really hit home for me, I have seen decisions being voted on and wondering if those who voted understand the consequences. If we are operating in God's will and being led by the Spirit, items of discussion and votes will not cause divide in God's church. We allow personal agendas and "feelings" to dictate the culture and vision of God's church. Awesome article will print and save.

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  6. Thanks for this post William!

    Sometimes silence is golden and sometimes we need to speak up. No matter how nicely a person speaks up, they may not be liked. In love, say what is right because it is the best thing to do at the time.

    One of the many times I spoke up at a board meeting was for little David. His mother was manic depressive and occasionally went into the hospital. The women at the board meeting were discussing how to care for David and they wanted to have David taken from his mother. Then a couple of them said they could care for him for a night or so while she was in the hospital.
    I said I would take him for the whole time. The poor boy suffered enough let alone move him from house to house. We took him in and made a little bed on the floor for him in our son's very small bedroom. He wet his bed just about every night. He ate the food like he'd been hungry for a long time. I taught him during the day with my son. We always remember David for the joy he experienced in having the comforts of life consistently.

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  7. Having been a board member for many years, too many perhaps, I have seen controversy over many agenda issues and I have given opinions that have been disregarded more than once. I am less liberal than others that have more influence, due to their positions and monetary
    standing. To vote the only descending vote is usually of little or no value.
    I also know that hind sight is twenty-twenty and issues do not always turn out as predicted. There is certainly value in keeping peace and love among the members rather than stirring up confrontation.

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  8. I pray for all of you, esp. those who may be struggling with courage. Always seek God's guidance before stating your views. State them w/respect for your fellow servants and w/o emotion. We tend to get more discouraged when we feel some control has been taken from us or that we're not heard. Leave it with God, it all belongs to Him anyway so do/state what is truth when you have opportunity; remember Ezekial.

    "We should choose the right because it is right, and leave consequences with God. To men of principle, faith, and daring, the world is indebted for its great reforms. By such men the work of reform for this time must be carried forward."
    EGW, The Great Controversy pp 460

    "Heaven and holy angels are working to unite, to bring into the unity of the faith, into the one body. Satan opposes this, and is determined to scatter, and divide, and bring in different sentiments, that the prayer of Christ may not be answered. . . (John 17:20,21)"
    EGW, Testimonies for the Church, vol 1, p327

    (Ephesians 6:11, 12 NIV) Pur on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the sprirtual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

    (2 Tim 1:7, NIV) For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

    May God bless you honest, heart-felt service to Him and your groups.

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  9. William, it appears that humanity is hopelessly stuck and slowly sinking in a lake of quick-sand of our own thoughts! Our reality is that none of us can exist and never think. But if as individuals, we're going to think successfully, then we need the assistance of other "thinkers (Prov 15:22)...which then puts us within the hazard of "group think"! What's a "thinker" supposed to do (don't answer--that'll be "group think"😅)?!
    I might have over simplified and created some humor around a truly existential conundrum with worldwide threat! Humans appear to be trapped somewhere between the danger of individual and group think. We think as individuals, couples, families, communities, states, countries--we think as a world. Then, we think as farmers, scientists, economists, politicians, industrialists, clerics, educators etc, along with the infinite cross-disciplinary thinking that is not optional. All the while understanding the need for getting it all right--at least mostly right, most of the time.
    I hope the "clerics" (the religious "thinking" group) have the right thoughts for elevating the lives of individuals quagmired in wrong thinking, manifested in wrong living (Mk 7:21-23). I hope "clerics" aren't consciously or unconsciously using their group-think potential building their own brand (Mk 7:2-3,5; Jn 7:46-49), at the expense of the individual (Mk 7:7; Mt 23:15). I hope someone does exist who has the real solution to our thinking mess (Jer 29:11; Isa 55:7; Eze 11:19-20).
    Today is the day of good news (Act 15:7-9)--we don't have to hope in vain--there really is such a One (Eph 3:14-21; 2 Pt 1:3-4)!

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