Not sure how many of you have read "The Purpose Driven Life". If you haven't, I strongly recommend you to read this book at least once.
This book will help you understand why you are alive and God's amazing plan for you--both here and now, and for eternity. I am deeply inspired by the book every time I read it. The Bible gives us practical advice on "protecting your church":
(The following is quoted from "The Purpose Life")
1) Fcous on what we have in common, not our differences.-As believers we share one Lord, one body, one purpose, one Father, one Spirit, one hope, one faith, one baptism, one love. These are the issues, not our personal differences, that we should concentrate on. It was God who chose to give us different personalities, so we should value and enjoy these differences, not merely tolerate them. Remember God wants unity, not uniformity.
2) Be realistic in your expectations.
-We always want to have an ideal and better place to fellowship and worship God, and it is easy to become discouraged by the gap between the ideal and the real in your church. Yet we must passionately love the church in spite of its imperfections. Other believers will disappoint you and let you down, but that's no excuse to stop fellowshipping with them. They are your family, even when they don't act like it, and you can't just walk out on them. Instead God tells us, "Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults beacause of your love." (Ephesians 4:2)
3) Choose to encourage rather than criticize.
-God warns us over and over not to criticize, compare, or judge each other. When you criticize what another believer is doing in faith and from sincere conviction, you are interfering with God's business. "What right do yo have to criticize someone else's servants? Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right." (Romans 14:4) Whenever I judge another believer, I lose fellowship with God, I expose my own pride and insecurities, I set myself up to be judged by God, and I harm the fellowship of the church.
4) Refuse to listen to gossip.
-We all know what gossip is and we know spreading gossip is wrong, but we should not listen to it, either, if you want to protect your church. Listening to gossip is like accepting stolen property, and it makes you just as guilty of the crime. It is sad that in God's flock, the greatest wounds usually come from other sheep, not wolves.
5) Practice God's method for conflict resolution.-"If a fellow believers hurts you, go and tell him--work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend. If he don't listen, take one of others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won't listen, tell the church." (Matthew 18:15-17a) Private confrontation is always the first step, and you should take it as soon as possible.
6) Support your pastor and leaders.
-We protect the fellowship when we honour those who serve us by leading. Pastors and elders (i.e. deacons) need our prayers, encouragement, appreciation, and love. We are commanded, "Honour those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love." (1Thessalonians 5:12-13a)
In community we learn to say "WE" instead of "I", and "OUR" instead of "MINE". God says, "Don't think only of your own good. Think of other Christians and what is best for them." (1 Corinthians 10:24)
