Did you know that church can be a dangerous place? Yes, it can be! It can be dangerous for you and others, if anyone comes to church with a chip on their shoulder and a hardened heart full of bitterness and criticism. The church would seem like the last place you would find danger, but alas, Christians are Satan’s prime target and the assembly of believers is where he works the hardest to cause divisiveness and pervert our faith. That’s why God has placed the health and security of His flock in the care of men appointed to serve as leaders.
Elders, pastors, shepherds... are charged with caring for and nurturing the flock of God. In addition to leading and teaching, elders are charged with protecting and guarding the flock of God under their care (Titus 1:5, 9; 2:15; John 21:15-19). Therefore, it logically follows that it is critically important for leaders to know who is in attendance and membership within the congregation. There are obviously many practical reasons for this, but the most important is to protect the flock from potential spiritual harm. Such danger always starts with one person
So, the logical question that might be discussed among the elders and preacher... “Who is the most dangerous person at your church?” In considering that question, don’t necessarily take aim at a particular individual, but think about a type of person.
Certainly, an unbeliever who doesn’t fluently speak the truth of the Bible, can be quickly known to a congregations leaders. Identifying people from doctrinally anemic backgrounds is fairly easy to do, as they will continue for a time to reference their incomplete and flawed theology in Sunday school classes and general conversation.
These types of people, newcomers, are not the most dangerous people that attend a church. In fact, I would suggest folks like these are seekers searching and need all the love, care and support you can give them as they struggle to unwind what they have been taught and accept the new truths they’re hearing and learning.
The most dangerous person at your church is the apparently “smart guy” who is unteachable.
‘Unteachable,’ means that such a person has it all figured out. He is the classic... “Don’t confuse me with the facts, I know what I believe” sort of person.
This is a person who seems to have a lot of biblical knowledge. He or she can quote scripture, paint the big picture and effectively argue points. Very often, they are quite involved in church fellowship activities and appears to have things together. However, this sort of person is dangerous because of a reason you would not think applies...they are unteachable.
Let me give you some reasons to consider and ponder as to why and how such a person is dangerous to the welfare of the flock. From here through the next "five" points, I will refer to this person in the masculine as “he”.
1. He Is Gospel-Eclipsing. The great commission has learning embedded in it (Matthew 28:18-20). This means that being a disciple is being one who is always learning. Therefore, to have it all figured out is to deny who you are as a life-long disciple of Christ. As Christians, we have to be humble people who are learning... this includes everyone from elders, preachers to our children.
2. He Is Critical. If this fellow is not being moved, tempered and humbled by the Spirit and the Word, then he is likely gathering “bullets” to shoot at leaders. He sits quietly during the sermons and teachings only to pick apart everything like a Monday morning quarterback. His unteachability looks the exact opposite of what James teaches: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:20-21) Don’t misunderstand what I am suggesting... this is not a repudiation of constructive criticism. We all desperately need that from time to time. That being said, the focus here is on the difference between constructive and destructive criticism. One is good and beneficial (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and one is harmful without benefit for the building up of the flock.
3. He Is Divisive. This is dangerous for the church in that such malcontent behaviors and actions will invariably bring division (Titus 3:10). This type of boiling pot eventually spills over, and when he does, the attitudes and actions of such a person hurts congregational unity and jolts the security of the flock.
If you’ve been in the church for any length of time, you’ve seen divisive behaviors cause division in the body, and its usually a result of somebody being unteachable. This type of thing has a long legacy. No one seems to forget such things... grudges are born and nurtured over time... the root of bitterness finds fertile ground in many who are hurt by the actions of one divisive person. Consider how Diotrephes liked to put himself first and stir up division. How did he do this? He did not submit to the teaching of the Apostles (3 John vv. 9-10). He was unteachable. It was “his way” or there would be no peace.
This was obviously dangerous for his own soul but also for the body of believers. Just like Diotrephes had influence in that congregation, so too the unteachable fellow no doubt has influence in the local assembly. The influence of an unteachable person is a recipe for division.
4. He Is Joy-Robbing. A church that is teachable brings its leaders joy. A church or church member who is not... robs them of joy. It’s that simple (Hebrews 13:7, 10). Again, if you’ve been a leader of God’s flock, you can personally attest to the fact that this is true.
5. He Is a Time-Waster. The unteachable guy is one who takes up pastoral leadership’s time with lengthy discussion and possibly arguments. The unteachable fellow just keeps resetting the same issue over and over again. He can find anything to nitpick and be critical about. So in this sense, he is a waster of time. Or, as Paul might say, the labor is in vain (Philippians 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 3:5).
You know this... we have a mission to accomplish... preaching and teaching the gospel and converting souls to Christ. Elders don’t enjoy fighting the jungle of tangled webs created by such persons. Wasting time dealing with such people in the congregation saps energy and dampens enthusiasm, especially among leaders.
So what do you do with such people?
Pray for them. Forbid it that elders become callous and unmoved themselves as they deal with this person in what seems like an uneanding struggle to help him. The desire is for growth in the gospel. Therefore, pray (Colossians 1:9-14; 2 Peter 3:18).
Minimize their influence. Elders should always be careful about who is appointed to serve in any capacity within the congregation. In this case, it would obviously make sense not to put someone like an “unteachable” person in a teaching or leadership role. His attitude and personal agenda could be devastating to those he could influence.
Watch them and the sheep. If this person is a baptized Christian, then they must be loved and cared for too. The elders must do this while guarding and caring for the flock.
Lovingly aim to teach them. Keep on keeping on... These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. (Titus 2:15).
Confront when and where necessary. When there is sin involved, Jesus is clear (Matthew 18:15-18). This type of thing weighs heavy upon elders, preachers and church members alike. Therefore, even mere consideration of such things should cause us to pause, evaluate our own hearts, and pray that the Word of Christ dominate our hearts (James 1:20; Colossians 3:15).
The heartfelt desire of church leaders, is that all believers and seekers assemble together with a heart that is open to God, with a desire to worship and to pray and to hear the truth of God's Word and apply it in their lives. If you come to church and want to be a part of the body of Christ and want to serve the Lord, then church will be an oasis for you. It will be a place of refreshment. It will be a place of blessing.
The “unteachable” person will always be a challenge, but they need not be debilitating to leaders. Treating such a person in love, setting boundaries defined by the truth of Scripture and protecting the flock will accomplish one of two things: (1) the person will find humility and submission, turning away from their unteachable confrontational ways and submit to Christ and His Truth, becoming a value member of the congregation; (2) or, they will leave and go somewhere else and continue in their attitudes.
In either outcome, leaders will have protected the flock in their care.
