When Our Church Fails Us
It is not uncommon today to hear of churches coming apart at the seams. Their increased ministries, expanding church numbers, and exciting Sunday buzz seem abruptly interrupted as members become aware of some rift in the leadership. Many haven’t seen it coming and are at a loss as to what to do as they witness the church’s life force seemingly oozing down the steps and out of their church.
Have you ever experienced this dismaying disunity? I certainly have experienced such collapses, having been to four churches in four cities in the last thirty years. I’ve been there, watching and participating as the leaderships’ faith grew through Holy Spirit strength and power. Experiencing God led to growing numbers of people finding Salvation and ministries proliferated to meet their spiritual needs. Membership numbers soared, small group numbers expanded, Spirit power was felt as one walked into the building—be it church or high school auditorium. God was palpable. Living in the Spirit became tangible. What an experience!!!
So how can any disaster befall a church when people are receiving healing, ministry, and teaching along with the warmth of fellowship? In my experience, the destruction starts with the leadership. Power is heady stuff. Charisma, over-confidence, zeal nudge out the nourishment of solitude and dependence on God. Numbers and programs become the measure of success; humility and service become delegated to others. And leadership in the church of Christ falls to the same vices as the world: adultery, alcoholism, pornography, food issues, divorce, etc. Church discipline becomes lax. Accountability goes missing.
Suddenly (or so it seems to them), the flock becomes aware of leadership strife, disunity, sin. The conflagration begins, gossip flourishes, and the body of Christ begins to crumble from the internal strife. Truth is swept under the rug and leadership flogs the congregation requesting unity and trust when they have not owned up to their own indiscretions and weaknesses.
But bitterness, resentment, and fleeing the body does not have to be. God holds His leadership accountable to the body of believers. They are not above them. When leadership presents the facts to the body, confesses their sin, and humbly seeks forgiveness, then the healing can begin, for both leadership and the congregation. Paul reminds us to 2Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace. Eph 4:2-3 (NLT)
Do not flee your bleeding church. True confession and loving forgiveness are the building stones to repair fellowship. Your prayers and your voice supporting a humbled leader will help strengthen your body of believers once again. Remember that Satan thrives on disunity. He seeks to devour your relationship with God and your love for each other. Ride the tide, and see the body of Christ repaired from the inside out as leaders again draw their power, not from their own efforts, but through Him who gives us all the strength to work in His Name.