I have given up the idea that there is an opposition-free church

“I have given up the idea that there is an opposition-free church out there. But I have gained something else — an appreciation for the gift of opposition. When it comes, I learn something about my motives. When it comes, I get to test my courage.” Thus spoke John Ortberg, pastor, teacher, and spiritual thinker, whose words carry the quiet strength of one seasoned by conflict and faith. In this reflection, he speaks not of defeat, but of awakening—the recognition that struggle is not the enemy of holiness, but its teacher. His wisdom shines like the dawn after a storm: the understanding that opposition is not a curse to be feared, but a gift to be embraced, for it reveals what peace and comfort often conceal.

Ortberg’s quote arises from his lifelong ministry within the church—a place where he once hoped to find unity, harmony, and unwavering kindness. But as he walked deeper into the life of faith, he discovered what every leader of spirit eventually learns: there is no such thing as an opposition-free community, not even within the sanctuary. For wherever light shines, shadows are cast; wherever truth is spoken, resistance arises. Yet in that opposition lies the opportunity for the soul to grow strong. The wise do not flee from conflict—they learn from it. They use it as a mirror that reflects their own hidden motives, their pride, their fear, and their faith.

The ancients knew this truth well. Marcus Aurelius, emperor and philosopher, wrote that every obstacle is fuel for the fire of the soul. So too does Ortberg echo this ancient stoic wisdom in a Christian key. To him, opposition tests both the heart and the will. It purifies motive—stripping away pretense, revealing whether one’s labor is born of love or of vanity. When others challenge or misunderstand us, our reaction reveals much about who we truly are. Do we respond in patience or in anger, in humility or in pride? Thus, opposition becomes a kind of spiritual discipline, refining the inner life as fire refines gold.

Consider the example of Martin Luther, the reformer who stood before the powers of his age and declared, “Here I stand; I can do no other.” Luther’s words shook the world, but before they did, they tested his heart. He faced ridicule, danger, and excommunication—yet in that furnace of resistance, his courage was tempered. Without opposition, his faith might have remained untested theory. Through it, it became conviction. This is what Ortberg means when he calls opposition a gift—for it gives us the chance to discover what we truly believe and whether our beliefs can stand when the winds rise against them.

Courage, as Ortberg writes, is not born in the absence of fear, but in its presence. To be courageous is to walk through the storm knowing you might fall, yet choosing to stand anyway. The soul that has never faced resistance cannot know the measure of its strength. Like the tree that grows deep roots because of the wind, so does the faithful heart find depth through adversity. Every challenge, every critic, every misunderstanding becomes the sculptor of our inner fortitude. And so, what begins as pain becomes purpose; what begins as opposition becomes revelation.

The lesson, then, is both humbling and liberating: do not seek a life without opposition, for such a life is barren of growth. Whether in faith, work, or love, resistance will come—it must come. Instead of fearing it, welcome it as a teacher. Ask what it reveals about your motives. Does it show pride? Then learn humility. Does it awaken fear? Then practice trust. Does it test your patience? Then strengthen it. In this way, the challenges that once wounded you will begin to serve you, shaping your heart into wisdom and your will into courage.

To live by Ortberg’s wisdom, one must cultivate gratitude for even the hard days. When others oppose you, pause before reacting. Ask: what is this moment teaching me about myself? Let your trials refine, not define, you. Remember that the finest metals are born in the hottest fires, and that the saints and sages of history all walked through storms before they found their peace. For in the end, it is not the absence of opposition that marks maturity, but the grace with which one faces it.

Thus, as John Ortberg teaches, learn to see the gift in opposition. Let it humble your pride, strengthen your faith, and reveal your courage. Do not seek a perfect world without conflict, but seek to be the soul that remains steadfast within it. For the one who stands firm in truth, with love in the heart and courage in the spirit, turns every challenge into a blessing—and in doing so, becomes a light that no opposition can extinguish.