The Death Of A Local Church

by Micky Galloway

In the beginning let me state that I do not believe that the Lord’s church is going to be destroyed from the face of the earth, or even from American soil. God set up a kingdom that cannot be destroyed (Daniel 2:44; Hebrews 12:28) and God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18). Though the church can never be destroyed, a local congregation may die or lose its identity. John wrote the words of Christ, “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead” (Revelation 3:1).The local churches that Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Luke, and Timothy established and labored with have long ceased to exist. From personal observation, churches all over the country meet in buildings that would seat 200-300 people and in time past were full. However, now just a few (25-30) are rattling around in these huge buildings.

Hear the familiar story. First, a few Christians desired to start a local congregation in a given area. Zeal, enthusiasm, and conviction characterized their diligent work. Perhaps they met in someone’s home, a school, etc. Then they obtained a more permanent meeting place. They became recognized in the community, visitors came, several were baptized and growth seemed to abound. But then, complacency set in and they become content to rest on past victories and accomplishments. Preaching became weak, evangelism in the community ceased, baptisms declined, the weak were not encouraged and exhorted, they fell by the way side. Many of the members ceased to attend regularly and their reasons became excuses.

There is need for personal examination (cf. I Corinthians 1:26; II Corinthians 13:5). Perhaps there are warning signs in our personal lives; areas where we can improve, that will result in the strengthening of the local church.

Of course there are some things we cannot change. We cannot prevent the loss of the “old heads.” Death is a reality. Peter said, “Wherefore I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things … And I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified unto me” (II Peter 1:12-14). Joshua said, “I am going the way of all the earth” (Joshua 23:14). Often we cannot avoid job transfers or moves. We read of the tearful departure of Paul from the Ephesian elders, “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken, that they should behold his face no more. And they brought him on his way unto the ship” (Acts 20:36-38).

There are, however, some things that can be prevented that contribute to the death of a local church. Let us consider a few.

Failure in the leadership. We must work diligently to develop and maintain qualified elders, preachers, and Bible class teachers. This takes time, training, and preparation. Elders are to watch for our souls (Hebrews 13:17).This necessitates preparation and foresight. “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). Preachers are to “preach the word …” (II Timothy 4:2).

Loss of Evangelism. We must reach others with the gospel. It is the “power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16-17). Nothing else will work! Paul’s admonition to Timothy guarantees the gospel for each generation. “And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (II Timothy 2:2). After a church is established in one community, there are other communities. As a result of Paul’s work in Ephesus, all Asia heard the word (Acts 19:10). Thessalonica had sounded forth the word of the Lord, “not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth” (I Thessalonians 1:7-8).

Loss of those baptized. Jesus said to the apostles, “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them …” (Matthew 28:19-20). The cares and pleasures of this life are an ever present danger (Luke 8:13-14). Those who are new Christians are especially vulnerable. Encourage the brethren (I Thessalonians 5:14), be hospitable (Romans 12:13), restore the fallen (Galatians 6:1), etc. All this takes time. Let us never become too busy for these things.

Poor attendance. Believe it or not your attendance is one element that measures the health of a local church. You are important to the future of the church. We are warned not to drift, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away (from them)” (Hebrews 2:1). Slack attendance doesn’t generally occur suddenly. Beloved, we need each other! “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting (one another) …” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Don’t neglect attendance!

Poor choice of friends. Though Jesus associated with sinners with the objective of saving their souls (Matthew 9:10-12), His closest friends were the disciples (Matthew 12:46-50; John 11:1-5; 15:14). The more we are separated from our brethren, the more likely our love for them will grow cold. “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (I Corinthians 15:33). A serious problem exists when we would rather be with worldly people instead of our brethren. We are little encouragement when we see each other only at worship.

Lack of discipline. According to Webster, discipline involves two things: instruction as well as correction, chastisement, or punishment. The church in Corinth was admonished to withdraw from an erring brother in order to save his soul and then Paul reminded them, “A little leaven, leavens the whole lump” (I Corinthians 5:1-5). Social acceptance of sin results in lack of militancy, watered-down preaching, entertainment, and feel good religion. Accepting into fellowship those who are practicing sin will destroy us. Remember, leaven imported from another congregation will destroy a church just as fast as the home-grown variety.

Breakdown of the family. Brethren, we are destroying the church from the inside out. Though specific statistics differ, in 2012 a family law firm reported that in America, there is one divorce every 13 seconds. That’s 6,646 divorces per day, and 46,523 divorces per week (see this article on the Internet: 32 Shocking Divorce Statistics). Why do we have an issue on marriage/divorce/remarriage in the church? Many in the church have no regard for what the Lord said (Matthew 19:3ff). We break all the rules for a happy home and then wonder why communication ceases, love fades, bitterness invades, we give up to be miserable or believing we have the right to be happy, we divorce and “move on” with little or no concern about how it will affect our children.

What can I do? Look in the mirror (cf. James 1:23-24). Talk to someone who is not a Christian. Talk to those who are weak. Study your Bible every day, strengthening your own faith (cf. Romans 10:17). Pray frequently and fervently every day (cf. James 5:16). Pay attention to the announcements, make some calls, write notes, be busy, “forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58). What will be the future of the church here?