When the Church Fails

I run into so many people that stay away from church because of a prior experience that left them bitter. Some have been hurt by the church, its members, or even its leaders. Getting those who are hurt and lost back into the church is a difficult task, but I believe there is healing that can take place. I think there needs to be a basic understanding of the church and how it operates. You see, I love God's church. And I have a heart to see people healed from pain (not just physical), and restored into the kingdom, through the process of spiritual formation. But for many, the pain of a failed church experience holds them back. This leads me to the question.....what do you do when the church fails?
The first thing that we must understand is what we mean by "The Church". The church today is simply made up of people, humans, God's creation. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, we as people have been flawed. Because of this we must realize that the church is made up of flawed people, and problems will happen. It is never a matter of if, but when. We see this in the leadership of the church, as illustrated in Acts 15:37-40;

37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

We see here that the leaders could not agree on everything. This event was probably the first denominational split of the church. The one thing to realize is that THIS IS OK. God is okay with this because he knows what is going to happen. We see in the above passage that the leaders separated, but as a result the Word of God spread in multiple areas. When Stephen was killed in Acts 7 the followers were terrified and they fled to different parts of the globe. This resulted in many different nations and territories hearing the Word of God and becoming Christians. God always makes things work together for His good (Rom 8:28).

Small disagreements in doctrine can also cause us to separate, but God knows this as well, you see we are all flawed in some doctrinal way. Again, Acts 15 shows this:

Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

This was the doctrine in question, and some of the followers (think church members)of the Pharisees answer in this way with their position:

5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

Now imagine if this was a doctrine that you believed and your church decides to explore going a different direction, one that hasn't been explored before as it relates to these gentile Christians.

So then Peter stands up and gives his position on the matter:

11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Paul and Barnabas then agree with Peter and even give examples of how God has changed the lives of Gentile believers just the way they are, without being circumcised. (I encourage everyone to read the entire chapter)So who was wrong and who was right? I am sure we can have a great debate with points on both sides, but what is the bigger picture here? We must know that these arguments will last until Christ comes, that is why Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 2:2:

2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

This is the basic message of the church. Often people have been hurt for doctrinal issues or disagreements, or because flawed people failed us. But when we remember that the cross is the reason we worship and celebrate, the healing process will begin. We must know it is okay to disagree, leave a church, and to go where God leads you. In Ephesians 4:11-16 it says:

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Each church is made to reach different types of people. This verse in Ephesians tells us that God has gifted his leaders differently, but each of them serve the same purpose, to prepare God's people for works of service. We may respond very well to one leader, but struggle with another. The latter verses of this passage tells us that as believers we shouldn't be like immature infants who are easily swayed and confused. This is the spiritual formation piece that I feel we need to equip our congregations with. We must "speak the truth in love" in order to grow "up into Him", meaning for formation to take place truth must be told and understood, presented in love of course. Simply being hurt by the church because we would not accept truth is a different case altogether. However, those who accept truth and love Christ but hate the church must realize that Christ is calling you back to the church. It is in church that we have fellowship with other believers, we have spiritual growth, and we have community in worship. Let's not let flawed people stop us from enjoying the church, it is Christ we follow, not people.