As to authentic “peace and unity of the church,” peace must never forfeit truth; unity must never forfeit love to any fellow believer. When it’s weaponized, either truth loses, or love loses; and frequently both truth and love lose…. The only weapon to be used in the church is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6: 17). It’s also the best weapon against a weaponized euphemism.
Some of the most innocuous words or sayings are sometimes turned upside- down, inside-out, and even into something potentially harmful or injurious. For instance, the neutral words “conservative” or “liberal” end up politicized to become reasons for enmity or animosity. The word “choice”—hopeful for one of two equally positive possibilities—currently refers mainly to pro-abortion and medically-forced death of an unborn baby.
Remember the word “gay” previously meaning lighthearted? It is now limited, for all practical purposes, to homosexuality. This is our culture and the world today—words or phrases become euphemisms for something else. Choice is milder than abortion. Gay is less blunt than homosexual. Euphemism is defined as “a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.” The world is expert in their uses. Sadly, such appropriations can and do take place in the church too.
One frequently used euphemistic phrase is “for the peace and unity of the church.” “Peace and Unity,” paints a beautiful and desirable picture. It’s absolutely good to seek it in the church. It relates to doctrine, to communion and fellowship of believers, to relationships between members, to relationships between church leaders and the congregation, and to practices in governorship in the church.
Such an exhortation might be directed to one who tends to be negative or critical. If the issues are not grave or serious, someone may speak to such a person and kindly exhort him or her to be less negative or vocal for the “peace and unity of the church.” It may be effectively used with someone who denies a church’s doctrinal position or the Bible. Someone would request that person to decide if he or she agrees with the church’s positions on those primary issues, and if not, then it would be both loving and truthful to suggest to that person to find a church with which he or she could agree. These are examples of truthful concerns.
There are times, however, when a valid concern based on truth is not the concern, but rather a legitimate disagreement or dissent on a church issue or changed direction of the church. Sadly, an exhortation for “peace and unity” can be weaponized into a euphemism that could be more clearly defined as, “You are not allowed a different perspective or opinion on the matter.” As a euphemism, it sounds nicer and softer, doesn’t it? “Dissenters in the church are often perceived negatively, but they can be the very ones on the side of truth or wisdom. They may be more discerning, possibly more understanding of unanticipated ramifications or of hidden personal motives. With many churches and denominations discarding orthodox biblical views of sin and other biblical truths, men and women who courageously dissent for the sake of truth are desperately needed. “Peace and unity” must never take priority over truth. Dissenters holding to truth must never cede to error in order to maintain peace at all costs.
But, it’s not just the cultural and societal challenges facing churches that allow some to misuse this truly biblical goal. Some are nuanced conflicts calling for serious discernment. One example relates to churches departing from traditional ecclesiastical practices or governorship to adopting the business world’s management ethos. It happens in widely diverse churches. Pastors are considered CEOs instead of shepherds. Elders surrender their responsibility to be totally involved in the oversight of the church and acquiesce to a business model where they become a mere board of directors. The question becomes, “Are lay elders loyal to a person, or are they loyal to Christ and God’s Word by maintaining an independent spirit of discernment and thoughtfulness?” Human allegiances or collegiality do not protect a church when supposed God-ordained overseers seek to please their fellow man rather than God. How are officers nominated and elected? Do the members have a choice and voice, or are the officers preselected by a few? Some complain there is more “rubber stamping” going on in some churches than prayerful, soul-searching, thoughtful selection in such elections.
Not a few godly men and women become objects and victims of this weaponized euphemism by remaining faithful and vocal to the truth. The end result is dissenters tend to be pushed out of the church on this premise. Perhaps, they remind church leaders of what the church for years had stood for. Perhaps, they resisted changes to certain liberties the church or denomination allowed. Both conservative and liberal churches are guilty of such practices that, in the end, damage “peace and unity in the church” by wounding some of its faithful and Christ’s truly faithful disciples.
When new pastors come into a church, they are hired with the proviso that they accept the church’s or denomination’s positions as clearly declared or stated. It’s a moment when absolute integrity is vital. Matthew 5: 37 clearly states, “But let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay . . .” Despite accepting a denomination’s or church’s position in order to be hired, some will seek to change what they never really agreed with. I’ve seen it happen before, and the people who believed in what the church originally declared, stated, and stood for are pushed out based on a euphemistic call for “peace and unity in the church.” In fact, they may experience blame-shifting and be accused of causing division in the church rather than those who brought division into the church.
In other cases, it can and does happen to some who reveal conflicts of interest or integrity issues that others are unwilling to admit or correct and, again, blame-shifting takes place, i.e., blaming the party revealing or seeking to correct the errors. Saving face can take priority over doing what is right. Believers can be just as sly as foxes in the world! However, in such cases, the more serious and spiritual issue not being addressed is a failure of truth and love to triumph over perhaps manipulation, dishonesty, or lack of respect, honor, and fervent love for another brother or sister in Christ. It’s important to always guard and question one’s heart.
The Apostle Peter in his first epistle wrote, “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander” (I Peter 2: 1). It refers to newborn babies in the Lord. But it’s important for all of us and, especially, church leaders. Euphemistically, using a desired positive “for peace and unity of the church” as a weapon to label or harm another falls under the terms “malice, deceit, hypocrisy, and slander.”
As to authentic “peace and unity of the church,” peace must never forfeit truth; unity must never forfeit love to any fellow believer. When it’s weaponized, either truth loses, or love loses; and frequently both truth and love lose.
Lastly, Peter’s healthiest antidote to weaponizing “peace and unity of the church” and possibly injuring a fellow believer is to “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4: 8). The only weapon to be used in the church is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6: 17). It’s also the best weapon against a weaponized euphemism.
Helen Louise Herndon is a member of Central Presbyterian Church (EPC) in St. Louis, Missouri. She is freelance writer and served as a missionary to the Arab/Muslim world in France and North Africa.