Dear Annie: Problem couple at church

Dear Annie: My husband and I live in a small town and belong to a small church, which is struggling. I like our minister, but a lot of people do not and have left our church for other churches, including a megachurch in a nearby town. It is hard to compete with that!

But several months ago, I found out that it is not just because of the minister. A couple in our church have been running people off. They are involved in everything and are rude to other people and downright mean to the minister. I started watching their behavior, and I am just amazed that people who act this way can call themselves Christians. Their behavior is getting worse as the months go by.

We are going to be sharing a minister starting in July because we cannot afford to pay a full-time one any longer. He is already a minister at a church in a nearby town. I was hoping that would be an end to our problems, but now I am not so sure.

She wrote a post on Facebook about how they attended the church where our future minister already preaches. “Awesome message! So refreshing,” were her comments. My greatest fear – and I am not alone – is that they are trying to get in good with the new minister before he even gets to our church. I am hoping that he is smart enough to see through these people. My question is: Should someone discuss these people with him, or should we just pray and hope for the best?

- Trying to Save Our Church

Dear Trying: I’ll answer your question with another: What would Jesus do? By all indications, he would turn the other cheek and pray for this couple, showing them only mercy and kindness. Everyone is on a different path when it comes to faith and worship. If the couple are driven by ego and attention, that is between them and God. It is not something you need to worry about and resolve. These types of things always have a way of working themselves out. If they are truly being fake and kissing up to the minister, he will probably see through that.