This may potentially be a sensitive topic. It may also motivate you to take a closer look at things, and behaviors. It may also, in what Christian terms call, convict you a little bit…

I have regularly attended and served in church for many years now. I have held a variety of leadership positions in a few different denominations and non-denominational churches. I adore being in community with others of faith. It is also biblical to gather, learn, worship, serve, grow in church, while taking that knowledge out to share it. All in an effort to make disciples whom make disciples. However, there is no perfect church, as there is no perfect person. We are all sinners saved by grace. We all make mistakes, experience regrets, and fail. Therefore, so do churches. So does that mean you continue at a church when you realize it is broken? Or that the message is not sound, or biblical? Do you continue to give of your time, talents and treasure all the while realizing that the Holy Spirit is convicting you to speak up about it?  Of course not. Allow me to share these 7 signs it may be time to respectfully address it, proactively change it, or move on.

1.) If your church spends more time and money trying to entertain you and become more of a Social Club than a biblical sound teaching and leading church, that may be a problem and a sign.

2.) If your church invests a majority of it’s messages being critical or making fun of other denominations, church’s, Christians, or those in our out of church, that’s likely a problem and a sign.

3.) If your church prefers to mass market and advertise what they do for their city, the country, others countries; while they have members or regular attendees unable to afford necessities due to loss, illness or injury while sobbing alone in the corner or back pew of the church, that’s likely a problem and a sign.

4.) If your church says to you that they do not want you at, in or be involved at their church if you are not committed to tithing or going above tithing, that is likely a problem and a sign.

5.) If leadership cannot accept constructive criticism by wise members of their congregation, or regular attendees, and seem to become quickly defensive, or retaliate in words, gossip, rumors or worse by actions, then that’s most likely a problem and a sign.

6.) If your children, who normally love and have been nearly raised in church, begin to feel uneasy, not even wanting to attend your church’s children’s church, then that may be a problem and a sign.

7.) If chronic gossip, back biting, or unmerited / unnecessary favoritism is occurring, or regularly acceptable, especially by leadership, then something is very broken,  that’s a problem and a sign.

If this post is making you uncomfortable, maybe “cringe”, or you are experiencing most of these rather often, then its most likely time to respectfully address it, make immediate efforts to proactively change it, or expeditiously move on.

If you would like to read bible references to any of these, please feel encouraged to ping me.