Why Churches Die

by Mike Riley

The following are this writer's observations over forty years as to why churches die. I’m certain that we can all relate to at least one of the categories listed below:

Churches Die at the Tables of Compromise

When the church fights worldly influences such as sin and false doctrine — asking no quarter nor giving any — it prospers. In years past, while brethren bore scars and lost a spiritual battle now and then — they did not lose the war. A two-edged sword was in their hand, and on their side was a divine defense none could penetrate (Ephesians 6:10-17). However, compromise opened the gates and sheathed the sword of the Spirit. The appeal to “Let’s not dispute with people or hurt their feelings” caused many problems. That appeal is the cankerworm and caterpillar that devours any church — until it is at last dead, stripped of its courage and faith.

Churches Die of Indifference

All churches lose members through death or moving away. However, indifference or spiritual laziness revises the directory and waits only for move-ins and births. No effort is made to restore the fallen as Scripture demands (Galatians 6:1-2). No seed is sown (cf. Luke 8:5-15; I Corinthians 3:6-9). No one conducts home Bible studies (Acts 5:42). There is no zealous pursuit of souls (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 15:4-7). That church will gradually, eventually, and ultimately die (Revelation 3:1-6).

Churches Die from Misdirection

They adopt worldly religious ideals. They see the church as a social reform agency, a general benevolent society, or a recreational institution. Its spiritual mission is all but forgotten (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; II Timothy 2:1-2; 4:2). The harder they incorporate these worldly ideals, the more worldly the church becomes. Ultimately, it is a grotesque caricature of the Lord’s church as described in the New Testament.

Churches Die from Apostasy

hey are content to open the doors three times a week, have a meeting once a year, and paint the building when it begins to peel. They go in circles, constantly wearing the ruts deeper and deeper. They press without a real goal, running on the treadmill until the church dies (Hebrews 3:6-12; Hebrews 6:4-6; cf. II Peter 2:1-2; I John 4:1).

Is the Death of a Church Inevitable?

Is such a death, as described above, inevitable? Must the Lord’s work be wasted? No, not at all! The Lord has a spiritual prescription to prevent such a death:

• “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us” (II Timothy 1:13-14).
• “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (II Timothy 4:2 ESV).
• “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (I Timothy 6:12 ESV).
• “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (I Timothy 4:16).
• Preach “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).

Brethren, may we have the faith, the zeal, and the backbone to take this spiritual prescription.