One of the greatest weaknesses of leadership in the modern-day church is the habit of sidelining those who disagree with us. Many leaders, once they rise to positions of influence, surround themselves only with voices that praise them and push away those who challenge them. But this is not true leadership. Leadership is not tested among those who clap for you, but among those who question you. If you cannot engage opposition, you have failed in leadership.
Theological Foundations
Throughout Scripture, God raised voices of opposition to guide His people. When King David sinned with Bathsheba, it was Nathan the prophet who stood before him and said, “You are the man” (2 Samuel 12:7). That was opposition, but it saved David from destruction. Elijah stood boldly before King Ahab and declared the word of the Lord (1 Kings 18). Paul opposed Peter publicly in Antioch because Peter’s behavior was not consistent with the truth of the gospel (Galatians 2:11–14). These were moments when leaders were opposed, not to shame them, but to bring them back into alignment with God’s will.
Even our Lord Jesus did not silence opposition. He answered questions, engaged the Pharisees, and corrected His disciples. He knew that growth comes when truth is tested by questions and even by criticism. For this reason, we can say opposition is not always a curse; it can be God’s instrument for correction.
As Augustine of Hippo noted, “The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose, it will defend itself.” Opposition often helps us release the truth of God’s word more clearly. To silence those voices is to block the Spirit from doing His corrective work.
Logical Perspective
A leader who removes critics from committees, councils, and groups is not strengthening leadership but weakening it. Critics are often the ones who point out blind spots that we cannot see. Without them, leaders become trapped in echo chambers, hearing only their own voice and that of their supporters. This leads to poor decisions, arrogance, and decline.
Leadership is not about comfort; it is about truth. It is better to have a critic who tells you the truth than a supporter who hides your weakness. Bonhoeffer, in his classic Life Together, warned against “wish-dreams” of perfect community and argued that authentic Christian fellowship must include correction, confession, and confrontation. For him, listening to others—even when they oppose us—is part of bearing the cross of community.
Social Perspective
History teaches us the value of opposition. Martin Luther challenged the corruption of the medieval church, and the Reformation was born. William Wilberforce opposed the slave trade in Britain until it was abolished. In Nigeria, voices that opposed colonial injustice laid the foundation for independence. Progress in society has always come through opposition.
If opposition is good for nations, why should the church despise it? The church, which should be the conscience of society, must not become allergic to criticism. When leaders silence critics, they silence part of the body of Christ. John Stott, reflecting on pastoral leadership, insisted that humility is the mark of Christlike leadership. He wrote, “The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power but love, not force but example, not coercion but service.” A leader who silences opposition leads by force, not by love.
Pastoral Reflection
My brothers and sisters, anyone who has critics is blessed. Do not be quick to fight them, for sometimes they are the very tool God uses to refine your leadership. They may not always speak in a soft voice; sometimes they are harsh, sometimes uncomfortable. But listen carefully—there may be truth hidden in their words.
Sidelining opposition does not build unity; it breeds division underground. It creates a false peace that will eventually collapse. True unity is built when even dissenting voices are given space to speak and are engaged with wisdom and humility.
Conclusion
Sidelining those who disagree with you is leadership failure. To embrace opposition is to embrace growth. To listen to critics is to walk in humility. To silence them is to silence the very voice that might save your ministry from destruction.
The church today must repent of this dangerous trend. Let us open our ears, open our hearts, and open our leadership to all voices, especially the uncomfortable ones. For it is often through opposition that God shapes us into true shepherds of His people.
References
- Augustine of Hippo. On the Psalms and other writings.
- Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. New York: Harper & Row, 1954.
- Holy Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.
- Luther, Martin. 95 Theses, 1517.
- Stott, John. The Contemporary Christian. Downers Grove: IVP, 1992.
- Wilberforce, William. A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System. London: 1797.
