Sometimes we have to face the reality of a sickness
before we are willing to seek treatment. Please read the next sentence
carefully... One of the greatest sicknesses in our churches in America is
disunity. Indeed, many of the problems we think we have are really just
symptoms of the breakdown of unity in the church.
The early church in Jerusalem thrived because it was
so unified. Acts 2:47 says: “They were praising God and having favor with all
the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved…”
The phrase “having favor with all the people” refers to those on the outside
looking at the people of the church… the inside. They saw a selfless and
unified body and were attracted to it.
So what are some of the key reasons we are seeing the
breakdown of unity in our churches? Consider these reasons and contemplate
whether these things are happening in your congregation.
1. Gossip. Church members
talk about one another instead of talking to one another. Paul calls church
members who gossip people “filled with all unrighteousness” (Romans 1:29).
2. Actions cloaked in darkness.
I once heard of a church personnel committee and a few church staff members who
“conspired in darkness” to fire their preacher without ever meeting with him
first or giving him reasons for his dismissal. Then they refused to respond to
church members who were asking questions.
3. Failure to confront church bullies.
Some church members seek power in a church they can’t get elsewhere. They are
devious and dangerous. They must be courageously confronted and if necessary
removed from the fellowship.
4. Self-serving church members.
Some church members insist on getting their way for everything from worship
style to the order of the worship service. Biblical church membership, however,
is selfless and more concerned about others and bringing glory to God.
5. Lack of prayer.
A church that does not pray together is likely to fragment into special
interest groups. I know of a church
where gathering for group prayer is like pulling teeth.
6. Fear of confrontation.
Too many church members would rather sweep problems under the rug than deal
with them. I know of one church where two deacons were known to be having
extra-marital affairs. No one wanted to deal with it, so it was ignored.
7. Adopting the hypercritical spirit of culture.
This reality is especially true in blogs and social media. I’ve seen
elders/pastors attacked publicly on Facebook in “darkness.”.
8. Low expectations.
Many churches have no clear guidelines on what it means to be a part of the
body of Christ. If you expect little from members, that’s exactly what you’ll
get. And some of them will use their idle time to gossip, criticize, and tear
down.
9. No church discipline.
The majority of churches have no process for church discipline, or they have a
process in place in theory only. Sin is
never dealt with.
10. Churches known more for what they are against
rather than what they are for. This negativity becomes
pervasive in the congregation and destroys church unity.
11. Fear of losing members.
A church can be held hostage, plagued by a spirit of divisiveness by one or two
member. No members are courageous enough to confronted the person(s) because
they don’t want to lose members or offend feelings.
12. Failure to be evangelistic.
A church cannot be both evangelistic and divisive. Divisiveness usually wins.
13. Power groups.
Sometimes the bullies in the church get allies to form power groups. They may
be informal groups, or they can be formal groups like elders, deacons, staff,
or personnel committees.
14. The silent and fearful majority.
Do you think it is not always good to know the truth? Such a statement is
unbiblical and symptomatic of members who let evil exist because they are
afraid to confront it.
One of the greatest problems in our churches is the
breakdown of church unity. It is insidious, debilitating, and destructive.
Paul urged us “to walk worthy of the calling you have
received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one
another in love, diligently keep the unity of the Spirit with the peace that
binds us” (Ephesians 4: 1-3).
Jesus said in John 13:35: “By this all people will
know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The breakdown of church unity is one of the most
critical problems in our churches today. The question for all of us… Are we
part of the problem, or part of the solution?
