An Exodus from the Church
I recently ran into old friends who had moved on from their church. They had been involved in music ministry but their contributions were deemed inadequate. In disappointment and frustration, they left but never joined another church. Sensing their disappointment, I quietly said, “Our worship will be the death of us”.
It’s not just the music. These friends are part of a long list of Christians I’ve watched exodus from churches due to differences with leadership. It seemed agreement couldn’t be reached on whether, where or when they could or should participate in ministry. There have been those who were deemed “inappropriate” for platform ministry or just not considered capable of ministry. Sometimes their ministry desires just don’t align with leadership’s views.
The problem isn’t limited to music or worship styles but extends to virtually any ministry visible in church or central to the leadership’s vision. We can’t seem to resolve our differences and many feel exiled from the body as a result (in truth, many are by leadership).
There’s a troubling pattern. Many don’t move on, but move out. In leaving their church, they take the extra step to leave church all together. It’s striking how often it’s happening with Christians I know. Watching the exodus is like watching death by a thousand paper cuts. It’s like euthanasia overseen by our leaders.
A Question of False or Impure Motives?
After countless years in churches, it’s apparent church has always suffered some inflexibility, if not rigidity in its ministry views. The “rules” of worship have become so rigid they seem almost manipulative. There are only certain songs “suitable” for worship. They must be uplifting, encouraging and “peppy”.
It is the same with our sermons. There are certain topics suitable for preaching and others that must be avoided at all costs. It all appears manipulative, designed to foster growth in church attendance even if accomplished at a cost of congregants and relationships! No one seems to see the irony!
One has to ask how this happened. Part may be that there is a growing disconnect between pastors and the world around them, with those we minister to. But there’s more to it. Pastors and leadership are unwilling to speak on difficult or sensitive topics. It’s a strategy that is subtly deceitful. We won’t level with people why they can’t serve, and if one asks, they’re certain to get a less-than-honest answer.
It’s one thing not to give unsolicited, critical feedback for fear of needlessly hurting others. It’s another thing to withhold the truth so leadership doesn’t look bad. It seems at times pastors are more interested in protecting their “image” than honesty. It’s particularly strange in church where everyone is supposed to prize honesty! But we all seem willing to play along, considering these deceits to be harmless “white lies” that protect others.
It’s so Much Worse than the White Lies We Tell
What’s more distressing are the blatant lies our leadership tells. We’ve covered a number of them: Trump is the new Cyrus, Life begins at the moment of conception, God will protect us from Covid and God can use an evil man for good.
Many think these have their source in subtle distortions. But consider prosperity doctrine. God wants you to be rich and the way to be rich is to give your money to church leaders who promise you God will repay you . . . because they won’t! That’s not a subtle distortion given Christ’s warning against the rich getting into heaven (Matthew 19:24). Our rich church leaders apparently think there’s a large “loophole” in the needle that allows their caravan of camels to pass through!
Or how about remarriage after divorce? It’s not like our leaders have missed Christ’s claims that it’s adultery (Matthew 5:32: 19:9). If you want to understand its New Testament significance or Old Testament basis, check out the links above.
Or have you heard that teetotaling is an essential part of Christian witness? Apparently Christ and the Apostles could have been far more effective witnesses if they hadn’t drank! Many of our lies and deceptions require scriptural contortions so gross they should be obvious. What’s not obvious – but should be, is that these lies are driving people from the church!
No One Should be Surprised by the Lies in our Churches
The prophets had a lot to say about the lies our leaders tell. Isaiah 9: 14-16 says, “So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail . . . the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.” Or Isaiah 59:4, “No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.”
It was the leaders who had responsibility to assure justice. Isaiah goes on to say, “our sins testify against us . . . rebellion and treachery against the Lord . . uttering lies our hearts have conceived. So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance . . . Truth is nowhere to be found” (vss 12-15).
Remember all the “prophets” that were all predicting Trump would win in 2020? Consider Jeremiah 5:31, “The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way”. False prophets telling lies was a frequent complaint of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 9:3; 14:14; 20:6; 23:25, 32; 27:10, 14-16; 28:15; 29:9, 21, 23, 31), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 13), Zechariah (Zechariah 13:2-5) and Hosea (Hosea 12:1).
It’s why the New Testament speaks so often and so frankly about false teachers and prophets. 2 Peter 2 is a great example. Most have read it but somehow we fail to see that Peter was speaking about the leaders of the church – those who taught!
Emboldened by our Lies, We can’t see the Consequences
Some might conclude from my complaints that I’m simply a malcontent. But our lies are an indicator of church health. Consider where all the lies come from. They’re either coming directly from church leaders or enabled and supported by church leadership.
Who is preaching prosperity doctrine, lying that God will make you rich if you give? It’s church leaders. They are the promoters of this lie. They’re getting rich . . . at our expense! They are bringing disrepute on the Gospel, making it more difficult for us to win the lost.
Who was pushing “God would protect us from Covid”? Our leadership. Remember all those “false prophets” of the internet who were spinning conspiracy theories? The “Christian” doctors saying Covid was no worse than the common cold, that Covid was only dangerous to the elderly and they were going to die anyway, that mRNA vaccines might modify your DNA? Did you notice how often they “proclaimed” their lies from church pulpits with the head pastor in full agreement? Did our church leaders ever hold them accountable when their words proved false?
Or what about “life begins at the moment of conception” when Scripture states God knew us before we were in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5) and He chose us before creation (Ephesians 1:4)? Am I to believe not one of our Christian leaders over the last 40 years has seen these verses? Sorry, but it’s just not credible. But it is appealing. We can practice family planning without guilt that we’re depreciating life or preventing life while demonizing those who also practice family planning, but by a method we disagree with.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m totally opposed to abortion. But I’m also against stripping others of their God-given free will especially when our case is based in lies. Overturning Roe v Wade will not end this war. El Salvador may provide the best view of where this war goes next and if so, it will really reveal perverse motives.
Finally, consider the lies that “God can use an evil man for good” and “Trump is the new Cyrus”. Only people in the church would argue God can use an evil man for good. Again, who’s pushing this lie? Our church leaders, of course. Who are Trump’s strongest supporters? Evangelical Christian leaders. They all lined up to endorse him, some even trying to sell that Trump was a good Christian. Remember “Donald Trump lives a life of loving and helping others as Jesus taught in the great commandment”?
Remember how many Christian leaders supported the idea of extending Trump’s term in office because of his impeachment? That’s right. Impeachment shouldn’t shorten his term . . . but lengthen it. There’s a pretty obvious lie! They’re still supporting the lie that the election was stolen and no amount of factual truth will change their view. They are stubbornly unrepentant.
Even after Donald Trump attempted to subvert the election and overrule the voters with lies, they still support him. Name me a church leader who has turned against him? Even Mike Pence, who likely knows more than most regarding Trump’s corruption and lies still won’t stand up and truthfully tell Christians and the American public the truth. He’s attempting to deceive Christians that Trump did great things while refusing to expose about his lawless, corrupt character.
Now our government is full with Trump-like liars who deliberately use bald-faced lies for political gain, many blatantly supporting election subversion. And if Trump runs again in 2024, our church leaders will pay him obeisance with even more outrageous lies and return of the false prophets who prophesied he’d win in 2020.
And none of this – absolutely none of this would have happened without the church. For all the evil that followed and will follow, none bear more guilt than the church and its lying leadership. With all these lies, it’s no wonder so many are leaving the church! Expect many more. Our church leaders will be the death of us!