Is the Church Dangerous?

My husband and I took a long drive to south Texas this last weekend for an anniversary trip.

Let me start by saying – Can you believe it’s been 8 years of marriage? I remember sharing with my blog readers when we first began dating and how you all walked with me through the mess. You walked with me as I learned to trust again after the devastation heaped on me in my first marriage. You were there to witness our vows via Facebook live. You walked with me through the messy of our first hard — really hard — few years of marriage. You’ve been with me as we turned a corner and walked into the beauty of redemption. Oh, there’s so many things you don’t know, but it is truly God’s grace that we stand happily and triumphantly on God’s grace that has carried us through!

But, I digress.

While on the road, we were captive to some incredible conversations, one of which centered on people within church leadership. I was telling my husband how the church I attended when I lived in San Antonio had actually closed its doors. This church wasn’t a small, rural church. It was a thriving church of 3000 in a nice area of San Antonio.

Because my ex-husband was on staff briefly, I know many things about this church. I know some of the toxicity that existed behind the scenes. I know about moral failures within the leadership. I know what happened when another church came to talk to you. I know a lot–the good, the bad, and the ugly.

And it breaks my heart.

The truth is I see so much of the world in our churches. I hear individuals talk about how damaging the church has been. I read the stories about abuse and how it is swept under the rug. I hear individuals talk of how the teachings of the church have held them captive for so many years. I’ve heard individuals talk of how they’ve left the church but somehow held onto their faith. And I’ve heard others talk about how they’ve walked away from the church completely.

And I find myself asking the question: Is the church dangerous?

Here are some sad truths:

There are evil people in the pulpits. Not all pastors are evil. Most pastors are not evil. Most pastors entered ministry with pure motives. However, there are those who hide behind their ministry persona and use their position for evil.

There are ministers who use scripture to manipulate. Again, I do not believe most pastors are in the pulpit to manipulate or abuse their positions. However, what better place for a manipulator to hide?

There are ministers who are using their positions to build power and ego. Many individuals build their ego through their career, by climbing the ladder. It’s easy for a minister to do the same. As the church grows, so does their ego. They get their value from the size of their ministry.

Churches have the ability to damage people deeply. I’ve experienced the pain of the church. Whether it was the comment from the pulpit about “divorced people” while I was walking that painful journey or the individuals who blamed me for my husband’s affair, false characterizations hurt. And, often the teachings can keep people trapped in the very circumstances God wants to free us from.

Churches often shun the very people they should be loving. The divorced. The hurting. The abused. The oppressed. And yet these are the people who are the least likely to feel welcomed. Read James 2. It’s right there.

So with all of these issues in the church, is the church dangerous?

I offer an uniquivocal NO!!

The church is not dangerous. But sometimes those who wear the name of Jesus proudly are.

Think back to Jesus’ time. Jesus saved his harshest words for the religious folks, the Pharisees. They paraded around, pridefully letting everyone know they were the teachers of the law. They were the ones who made–and enforced–all the religious rules. They used scripture to control people, to determine who could be justified and enter God’s presence. And they heaped rules and burdens on people, keeping them in bondage.

Yet Jesus came to set us free!

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

And what is truth?

It’s Jesus!!

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6

But I want to warn you that living for Jesus is dangerous! It’s dangerous to the status quo life. It’s dangerous because it will cost you your comfort. It’s dangerous because He will ask you to give up your life for Him. It’s dangerous because He calls all believers to risk it all for Him, to test Him and see if He will be faithful! (Spoiler alert: He will be faithful!!)

Living for Jesus is anything but boring. It’s a life of adventure that starts and ends with more than we could ever ask, hope or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). It’s a life that is full and abundant (John 10:10). And it is a life of complete freedom!

So what do we do with the church?

Use discernment. I am so sad that I even have to talk about it, but the truth is we must use discernment. We must ask Holy Spirit to open our eyes to anything that might not be glorifying God, to anything that might be damaging God’s heart more than drawing people to Him.

Go deep with God. We cannot know God if we aren’t intimately communing with Him. We cannot discern His will if we aren’t alone with Him regularly. We can’t hear His voice if we aren’t taking time with Him daily. Make your relationship with God your number one priority.

Learn to think critically. I attended a church where the pastor was the final say on all matters of doctrine. Should I live with this man before marriage? Ask the pastor. Can women be ministers? Ask the pastor. Should I get divorced? Ask the pastor. I would not want to carry the burden of that pastor for any amount of money! Instead of digging into scripture and understanding the context, church members simply ask the pastor. Don’t be that person. Dig into scripture. Ask the tough questions. Consider each passage in light of the full revelation. Listen to all kinds of pastors and teachings, but make sure you are digging in and getting to know the heart of God and letting Him lead you into all truth.

Don’t throw out the entire institution because of a bad apple. The local church still brings value. From like-minded community to encouragement to support for the oppressed to a light in the community, the church is God’s institution. We must find ways to weed out the bad apples, but don’t do away with it all because of a bad experience.

Be the Church. We are called to be the church. The church isn’t a building, but it’s the people. Be a light to a dark world that is desperately in need of a Savior. Live your life in such a way that others see you are different.

Different in a good way.