Some Signs a Congregation May Be in Trouble
by Rufus Clifford III
via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015
Parents are constantly warned to be aware of signs that their child may be on drugs, alcohol, or depressed. Society spends thousands of dollars informing parents on how to detect these signs in their children. Have you ever considered whether it’s possible to detect when a congregation is in trouble? Can some signs let leadership know if a congregation is heading down the wrong road? I have seen some over the years, and I pray, just as parents do, that we will heed them and take action if needed. Let’s notice some of these signs.
No Personal Work Being Done
The local church, in any given area of the country, has a great responsibility to teach the lost and bring folks to Christ. The Holy Spirit tells us “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (I Timothy 3:15). Whenever I am told by a member of a local congregation, “Oh boy, we are really having trouble here,” I always ask, “Say, how many Bible studies do you folks have in progress right now?” Most always, without exception, the answer will be “none!” You see, the Devil knows if he can get a group to stop looking “out” for lost souls, that will lead to only one thing! They will begin looking “in” at each other. When this happens, there will always be trouble on the horizon for that group. So when you see this sign in your congregation, take action quickly, or trouble is sure to follow. Sadly, so many congregations have taken the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and made it the Great Omission!
No Sense of Personal Responsibility
This is another sign that a congregation is headed for trouble or already in trouble. I see this often in congregations without elders, but it is possible in congregations with elders. To detect this sign, ask, “What are you doing to help the work grow here?” Usually, the answer will be, “Well, I used to do a lot, but no one else seems to care, so why should I?” I believe there is one passage of scripture that sums up how every Christian’s mentality ought to be, whether there are elders in the group or not. The Spirit through Paul says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23-24; cf. I Corinthians 15:58). Most congregations that are in trouble have very few folks with this frame of mind. Notice that the Holy Spirit tells us that our reward will come from the Lord and not men. Notice also that the person with this attitude is “serving the Lord Christ” and not themselves! When a congregation is in trouble, every member should first examine his own frame of mind to see if his thinking is right, and if it is not, correct it immediately. Sadly, so many Christians have the “let somebody else do it” mentality -- sad for them and sad for that congregation.
No Real Love for God
This sign may come as a surprise to many, but when I hear of a congregation in trouble, this always pops up! To detect it, ask, “How are the brethren treating each other right now?” The answer will almost always be, “Well, there is a lot of gossip and backbiting taking place, and many are no longer talking!” The Holy Spirit tells us how this problem can be remedied. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). I never cease to be amazed at folks who claim to love God, and yet they won’t even show love for their own brethren in Christ. The apostle John addressed this problem (I John 4:20). We must understand that if we cannot love those whom we can see, then this shows we have no real love for our Heavenly Father, whom we cannot see! Friends, love for God and love for man embrace the whole of true religion.
Let’s always be watchful for these signs, for the Devil knows them well. Determine not to let him win in your congregation. Remember, he doesn’t win when there is trouble; he wins when we fail to correct the problem!
