The Impact of Crises on Congregations

By David Busic

The attacks of September 11th have had a profound emotional effect not only on New Yorkers and Washingtonians, but on all Americans – indeed on the whole world! Shepherding a community of faith through this epic event in history has been revealing. I have noticed five kinds of responses:

Head in the Sand Response. This response is to ignore what is happening around us. People have scrutinized human pain and suffering in living color, 24 hours a day, for weeks on end, and they can bear to watch no more. They suffer from a kind of compassion fatigue that has left them numb to the tragedy. They want to pretend that nothing has happened and simply want things to get back to normal.

Hunker in the Bunker Response. This response is fear. They want to retreat and take a defensive posture. They want to protect themselves and their families by hiding away until Jesus comes back. Lock the doors! Buy a gas mask! Fire up the generator! Avoid the post office!

Seek and Destroy Response. This response is rage. Appropriate anger toward the atrocity has turned to inflamed wrath. Unsure of how to vent this fury, they search for a target. Those targets end up being anyone with a turban on their head, a green card in their wallet, or anyone who disagrees with their point of view. They say they want justice, but what they really want is revenge.

Sky Is Falling Response. This response is emotional devastation and inconsolable grief. For many who were already facing a severe trauma in life, 9-11 served to push them to the brink. What was a struggle in their lives before this tragedy has gone from bad to worse. Those suffering from depression before the event now hit rock bottom. Those having marriage difficulties before the event are now on the verge of separation. The movement from personal crisis to national tragedy became a tipping point that finally pushed them over the edge.

New Beginning Response. This response is the polar opposite from the extreme measures of the others. These people have experienced the same range of emotions as all of us, but this group has chosen to channel those emotions into positive Christian responses. Consequently, these people have been given a whole new outlook on the meaning of life, the value of relationships, and the utter reliance they have upon the grace of God. They are reordering their values, rethinking their priorities, and refocusing their time and energy. They have chosen to take what was intended for evil to make a new beginning.

What makes the difference in the response someone chooses? One common denominator for those who have embraced the new beginning response is that they are intricately connected to a core community that gives them strength. Those who have decided to pitch their tent in a different camp are all a part of a crowd, but most are not integrated into a community where they draw comfort, perspective, and courage.

Those who had a core community surrounding them before 9-11, also had a group of people who were committed enough to them after 9-11 that they would not let them walk through the tragedy alone. They were able to process their questions and concerns with a loving support system.

Wanting to avoid pain is a natural response, but a lack of caring compassion is less than a Christian response. Fear is a natural response to danger, but retreating fear without confidence in God’s future is less than a Christian response. Anger is a natural response to injustice, but anger without agape is less than a Christian response. Grief is normal, but inconsolable grief without resurrection hope is less than a Christian response.

Christian community is a way of keeping the balance. We are far better in crisis when we walk with a brother and sister because the church is the community of comfort!

David Busic is the Senior Pastor of Central Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas and co-editor of Preacher’s Magazine.