My Church Is “Messed Up”
Have you ever heard people talk about all the problems in their churches? It is easy for Christians to get disillusioned by focusing on the problems of the church instead of the Great Shepherd. The devil is a master of magnifying the problems in the church to the point that Christians switch churches or totally step out of church. If you are one of these people, will you hear me out before you leave?
No church is perfect. The world has created this false premise that the church is perfect and filled with perfect people. Many unbelievers and some Christians have swallowed this lie. Heaven is a place of perfection with no pain, no sorrow, and no sin. One day, the church will be perfect when she is presented to her bridegroom Jesus Christ. In the meantime, we must work through problems to be more like Jesus.
Did you know that the Apostle Paul loved and served churches that were “messed up”? The church of Corinth experienced major problems with division and immorality, yet Paul loved this church with problems. Just how bad was it? I will let you be the judge.
“For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” - 1 Corinthians 1:11-13
The believers in this church were divided by personalities and fighting with each other. When churches worship the people who lead them rather than the God who saved them, they are living in idolatry. In a day when many social media preachers are seeking followers, we need to be encouraging people to be unified in following Jesus. If your church is divided by personalities, don’t give up yet.
“But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” - 1 Corinthians 6:6-7
There were legal disputes among church members.* Imagine sitting in a service where a man on one side of the auditorium has taken a man to court on the other side of the auditorium. That would be very awkward. Christians are supposed to be able to sit down and solve problems, but when they can’t, what should they do? In this passage, Paul taught that our rights are not as important as the cause of Christ and God’s testimony. Is there a legal mess brewing in your church? If so, don’t walk away yet.
“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.” 1 Corinthians 5:1
Sexual sin was tolerated in this church. A man was doing the unthinkable and having a sexual relationship with his stepmother. To make matters worse, the church did nothing about it. Unfortunately, sexual sin has been tolerated in the church today. Stories of the immoral acts of preachers, church staff members, and church members make their way around the world twice before the Gospel can get its shoes on. Paul had to lift his voice to not only rebuke the guilty parties, but a church who tolerated it as well. If there has been sexual impropriety in your church, stand for the truth and help your church.
Christian, if you have been hurt by division and strife or sexual sin in the church, know that Paul experienced the same disappointments. He watched people that were dear to him make some horrible decisions. If you choose to walk out of church never to return, just remember that you are choosing to do something that Paul DID NOT do.
Don’t worship a man, but worship God alone. Follow the Word of God even when it is difficult. Deal with sin in a biblical manner.
What happened to the church of Corinth? Did it fall apart? Thankfully, there is a book in the Bible called 2 Corinthians. God helped a “messed up” church. The members listened to God and kept going. You and your church can too.
* I believe this is referring to civil matters, not criminal matters like domestic violence and sexual abuse where one is breaking the law.