It’s nearly inevitable that all organizations, whether large or small, will experience a crisis of a certain degree at some point in their history, and churches and Christian organizations are no exception to this rule.
Crises can come about in myriad ways. For institutions considering creating a crisis plan, the leaders within must operate under the mindset of what to do “when” a crisis happens, not “if.” Although crises have been the undoing of some church bodies and organizations in the past, that is not always the case. As with any bad thing, God can use crises for the benefit of believers. Instead of fixating merely on how to prevent a crisis from occurring, leaders would do well to contemplate how they will respond when one happens.
In the infinite wisdom within the Bible, we find relevant advice for responding to crises as Christians:
1. Speak the Truth in Love
When discussing spiritual maturity in his letter to the Church in Ephesus, Paul wrote, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15, NIV).
During a crisis, it can be tempting to try and preserve one’s reputation or curb misconceptions by covering up events or telling half-truths. This verse, however, gives the time-tested blueprint used in crisis communications everywhere for being honest without being foolish: simply speak the truth in love.
Speak truth to all concerned by the crisis with the goal of enlightening them in a loving way. Take honest responsibility where wrongdoing has occurred. Avoid speaking up out of fear or with the goal to clear someone’s name or similarly, to muddy another person’s. Rather, speak the truth in love to foster respect and maturity among all parties privy.
2. Use a Gentle Answer
The first verse of Proverbs 15:1 famously says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.” This is invaluable advice for any individual, church leader and Christian business leader included, who may be responding to a crisis situation because experiencing a crisis at any level will almost always test our patience.
Crises can open the floodgates of criticism, and if we aren’t equipped to combat accusations with the mind of Christ, it’s easy to become defensive and unloving. The easiest way to help those within the crisis and all those affected remain calm is to meet every question, comment or concern with a gentle answer.
3. Remain Humble and Hopeful
Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”
God is with us through every situation, including crises; the question is not whether He will help us but if we will choose to put our hope and trust in Him. Pro tip: we should, because God’s advice is always best, His Word is always true and His promises are always trustworthy.
When we allow ourselves to lose hope in the midst of a crisis, we hinder ourselves from seeing God’s good plan to help us through it.
Our best bet for emerging on the other side of a crisis as unscathed as possible is to remain humble enough throughout the situation to seek counsel from God and those to whom He has given wisdom and hold onto hope that “he who began a good work in you will carry it to completion…” (Phillippians 1:6, NIV).
Like the wise man who built his house upon a rock, churches and Christian organizations can wisely create a biblical crisis management plan before one occurs. Having a thorough and Scripturally-sound response plan in mind is a wise measure to avoid being caught off-guard when a crisis happens.
Just as Christ commanded us to put on the whole armor of God in order to deflect Satan’s schemes, as organizations and institutions, we can ready ourselves with the necessary biblical tools of defense before a crisis occurs in order to get through them God’s way.