Chapter nine

Why the church is breaking

From my observations, I have realized that the church is gradually losing ground because we are not building on the right foundation. Below are the main reasons why the church is breaking. Knowing the reasons for the church's failure will help us properly solve the issues.

 

1. The church is slacking because of weak leadership

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

Ezekiel 34:2-4

When church leadership turns away from the direction of the Holy Spirit and instruction of the Holy Scriptures, the church becomes vulnerable to the wicked, as we can see from the Holy Scriptures (Ezekiel 34:2-4). Some church leaders only think about themselves. They forget the flock and focus on their well-being.

Instead of helping the weak members, the church leaders forsake them. When church leaders govern the church with hatred, anger, selfishness, fear, greed, and manipulation, it breaks fellowship.

Sheep are meant to be loved and cared for. We don’t maltreat the flock. It is the duty of the shepherd to protect the flock from wolves and predators. If the church leadership fails to feed the church with the right spiritual food, the members will die spiritually, paving the way for the enemy to scatter the flock.

 

2. The true love of God is missing

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Revelation 2:4-5

The love of Christ Jesus is unconditional, while the love of the world is conditional. We (the church) are expected to love one another with the love of Christ Jesus. We must express the love that shows no partiality. One thing I have observed is that most “Christians” do not show the real love that Christ Jesus commanded us to exhibit.

Most churches have no time for newcomers (visitors) and new converts. In some churches, too, they will reject you if you are financially poor, especially if you are a newcomer. Most churches cater only for the rich members and wealthy visitors.

Most often, the church will look at visitors' dress and shoes before attending to them. If the visitor is poor, the church will disregard the person. However, if the visitor is financially strong, the church attends to the person.

The church has lost its identity. The church is imitating the systems of the world! The rich have their group. The middle class has its own group, and people with low incomes have theirs. In most churches, you can never be a leader until you have a car, a university certificate, or a recognizable asset.

Most churches accept only rich people. If you are not financially and intellectually strong, you cannot fellowship in most churches. The church has left its first love. Like the early church, they lived in the love of Christ. There was nothing like the poor or the rich. Everybody was one irrespective of their financial, social, and educational status.

Most of today’s church practices worldly love. It’s a give-and-take love. The church only shows love if you can offer something profitable (most often money). The church only expresses love if it can take something from the sheep. We have forgotten that the church is a place where the broken-hearted, the weak, the lost, and the rejected come to receive the love of Christ Jesus.

However, if the same church fails to show love and drives these people away, how can it stand? The church is a mixture of sheep and goats. Definitely, you will find evil people within the body. It takes light to eliminate darkness. If the unbelievers come to the church and we fail to show the love of Christ Jesus, they will return to the world. If we fail to love one another, the church will break.

 

3. The power of God is weak

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Timothy 3:5

One virtue that revives the church's faith and attracts unbelievers is the power, signs, miracles, and breakthroughs of God. Most of our churches rarely experience the hand of God. Some pastors even perform fake miracles to attract people. If the church only preaches without the manifestation of God’s power, the church will break.

I may sound contradictory because I stated in the previous chapter that miracles shouldn’t be the foundation. Get me right, I am not contradicting myself. What I stated in the previous chapter is that miracles without repentance are bad.

Miracles are very important, and I will stress that in the next chapter. People often come to church to solve a particular issue, and one of the problems is their spiritual lives. Some people need divine healing because doctors have declared that the disease is beyond medical control. Some people, too, are going through spiritual attacks. They need the deliverance of God. If these people come to church to hear the pastor's sermons and nothing happens in their lives, they will not be encouraged to come again.

 

4. Invasion of false preachers

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:15

Christ Jesus warned us of false preachers who claim to represent God. These wolves in sheep's clothing teach false doctrines and perform deceptive miracles to attract people. The sad truth is that the teachings of false preachers challenge the word of God. Secondly, it creates conflict in the body of Christ. Some people even lose faith in the church when they find out that the pastor has been deceiving them.

Most often, false prophets give fearful and strange prophetic direction to take money from people. Some ministers also use dark psychology to manipulate the church. Others also use demonic powers to control the church. Because of this, people fear coming to church.

Some people even condemn the church because of the activities of these fake pastors. Some “pastors” fornicate with the church members and sacrifice the members for rituals. These evil practices discourage people from fellowshipping with the church. Meditate on these Holy Scriptures for wisdom keys.

 

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Acts 20:29-31

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Matthew 24:11-12

 

5. Rampant false doctrines

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons."

1 Timothy 4:1

Our mind is like an engine. It controls almost every organ of the body. Any information our mind receives, it processes and stores it in the brain. When people keep hearing false teachings, they come to accept them as truth, especially if they come from someone they trust. Naturally, people love ministers of God. They believe that the pastor teaches the right thing.

However, that’s a half-truth. A pastor can teach false doctrines out of ignorance. Some pastors intentionally teach false doctrines to control the people. In this case, the pastors who teach the true sermon that emanates from the word of God face opposition from false pastors and their members, creating conflict within the body of Christ.

Any pastor can come up with a revelation that is not inspired by the Holy Scriptures or the Holy Spirit. Because that pastor has followers, they will trust his revelation, vision, or teachings. But because those teachings do not agree with the word of God, those who know the truth will challenge that revelation.

When this happens, it creates conflict in the body of Christ. For instance, some “pastors” preach that we should not engage in spiritual warfare because Christ Jesus has defeated the devil. Some pastors also teach that we should engage in spiritual warfare because the Holy Bible commands us to engage the enemy.

In some churches, too, the pastor teaches that we should not pay tithes because it is an Old Covenant practice. Some churches also teach their members to pay tithes because it is in the New Covenant.

In some churches, the pastor teaches the members not to pray in tongues because it is not from the Holy Spirit. Some churches also teach their members to pray in tongues because it's scriptural. These are a few doctrines that most churches agree on and disagree on. If the church continues to teach personal experiences, visions, and dreams that lack a foundation in the Holy Bible, the church will continue to disintegrate. Meditate on this Holy Scripture.

 

And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Mark 3:24-25

 

6. The loss of the fear of the Lord

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

It takes holiness, love, prayer, and faith (the Word) to keep the church. If we don’t have a reverential fear of God, the church will break. Holiness, love, and faith are like engines within the car (the church). When the engines break, the car breaks. Unfortunately, we live in a generation that cares only about itself. Selfishness has infiltrated the church, making it lose. The church is a family, and we are supposed to have one heart and Spirit.

When sin and selfishness abound in the church, it kills the Spirit. When sin dominates the church, the enemy gets the upper hand. When sin overshadows the church, the Holy Spirit cannot dwell in that contaminated, defiled environment. When our hearts are full of jealousy, hatred, anger, rejection, bitterness, and pride, it empowers demons to fight against the growth and unity of the church. Meditate on this Holy Scripture.

 

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

James 3:16

 

7. The spirit of pride within the body of Christ

Discipleship is gradually losing its roots in the church. For the church to stand, it must have a strong spirit of discipleship. The church is led by the pastor, who is also known as the shepherd of the flock. The members in the body are sheep, while the pastor is the shepherd who takes care of the flock. The flock is supposed to submit to the shepherd, and the shepherd must have the father’s heart to care for the sheep.

However, this is not the case. In most churches, when a member receives a gift of the Holy Spirit, he rarely submits to the church's authority. The pride in most churches is creating a spiritual orphanage in the body.

The sheep (members) who are supposed to submit to the (shepherd) spiritual fathers are roaming about seeking recognition and fellowship. Another issue is that social media has made it easier for people to become popular. Because most gifted people don’t want to submit to church authority, they break away from the church to set up a new ministry.

I know there are abusive shepherds (church leaders) who do not groom the sheep and gifted people. As a sheep, if you find yourself in this situation, seek the face of God for direction. If you are convinced that the Holy Spirit is directing you to leave the church, leave peacefully. However, if the Holy Spirit tells you to stay under the authority of that leader, stay there because you are there for a specific reason (Study the lesson of David under the leadership of King Saul in the Holy Bible). If spiritual fathers take good care of the sheep, the spirit of sonship and fatherhood will grow. However, if the spiritual fathers abuse their authority, it destabilizes the church.

 

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Malachi 4:5-6

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

John 14:18

If the spiritual fathers fail to groom the sons with the word of God and love of Christ Jesus, the church will break into smaller groups. If the sons do not stay humble and receive the sound wisdom from the fathers, the church will continue to break into smaller groups.

 

8. Prayer has been replaced with activities

If you analyze the early church, you will find they had days of prayer. Most of them often prayed every Wednesday and Friday. Prayer is one of the foundational pillars of the church. I remember meeting a prayer leader at one of Ghana's prominent churches on a Sunday morning service. He said that the church meets online to pray. He further stated that they meet every two weeks on the church premises to pray. This means the church physically meets twice in a month to pray. I said to myself, "Where is the church heading?"

Some churches have scheduled all prayer meetings online. Online prayers are great. However, we shouldn’t replace online prayer with real prayer. Most often, people do not fully concentrate during online prayers.

While praying with your electronic device, a notification from your social media application can pop up. If you are not highly disciplined and spiritual, you can stop praying and switch to social media, which will distract you from the prayer meeting. Network issues can hinder prayer participation. The electronic device may encounter technical issues, which could distract from the prayers. It is so frightening that most churches no longer pray because of online sessions. The fire of the Holy Spirit is dying because we have replaced prayer and fasting with programs.

 

…he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Luke 18:1

Pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

…we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Acts 6:4

Christ Jesus and the Apostles commanded us to pray consistently. However, we have neglected prayer. When the church fails to intercede consistently and rightly, it will become weak and powerless. When the church becomes powerless, the enemy will infiltrate it.

 

9. Weak evangelism and follow-up

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28:19-20

Christ Jesus commanded us to go out and teach all nations. After winning them into the kingdom of God, we must baptize them. Frankly, I love evangelizing, especially when I’m with students. The Lord keeps blessing me because of evangelism. Christ Jesus knows the power of evangelism. That is why He is commanding us to preach the gospel.

We are to teach the world to follow the teachings of Christ Jesus. The sad news is that most churches have failed. Instead of producing disciples, we are producing converts. After preaching the gospel to the unbelievers, we must follow up on them. The sad truth is that we only preach to them and pray with them to give their lives to Christ Jesus. We do not intercede for them or follow up after they give their lives to Christ Jesus.

We leave these converts to grow on their own. When this happens, the enemy snatches them. Most churches do not engage in evangelism or talk of doing follow-up. They leave the evangelism to a small section of the church called the evangelism team. If you analyze the group the church has tagged as the evangelism team, you will realize that most of them rarely engage in evangelism. The few people in the evangelism team cannot reach more lives for Christ Jesus. It looks like everybody wants to stay in their comfort zone. The church is not willing to sacrifice its comfort zone to reach more lives for Christ Jesus.

If the church fails to sacrifice its comfort zone for the lost souls, the church will die. If the church does not teach that sacrifice, suffering, loss, and pain are part of Christianity, we will continue to live in convenience. When the church keeps living in convenience and refuses to go out and fetch the lost and encourage the weak members, the church will die.

 

10. Worldliness inside the church

…be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2

The church is in the world, but this world is not our home. Most of today’s churches have imitated the world's corrupt systems. For instance, the church has compromised to attract the world. Talk of fashion and materialism. Today, you will hardly see the difference between a Christian and an unbeliever.

Most churches have become fashion centers. Meanwhile, Apostle Paul states that we must not conform to this world but be transformed by the renewal of the mind. The church has adopted the worldly style of worship and praise. Our worship and praises have become entertainment, paving the way for the Jezebel spirit to infiltrate the body of Christ. If the church keeps imitating the world, it will fall. Meditate on these Holy Scriptures for more wisdom keys.

 

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1 John 2:15-17

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

James 4:4

 

11. Fear of preaching the truth

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2 Timothy 4:2-3

It is so pathetic that preachers these days fear losing church members. Most preachers love to preach the gospel of convenience. I have stated this in the previous chapters. However, let me emphasize it here. Most church leaders are afraid to preach against sin. They hide behind the shelter of grace. Some even preach that once saved, you are saved forever.

Preachers these days fear that the members will not give offerings and tithes if they preach the truth. These preachers desire popularity and money. Meanwhile, the Holy Bible commands us to rebuke, exhort, and reprove (See 2 Timothy 4:2, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Do you know that the first message our Savior and Lord Christ Jesus preached was repentance?

 

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4:17

If the church fails to confront sin, the church will break. Ungodliness will be acceptable because no one preaches against it. When we don’t preach against ungodliness, the people will become ungodly and corrupt the church, since they are the majority and leaders.

People will become comfortable in their sin, paving the way for the enemy to dominate the church. The church will be full of spiritual babies and carnal Christians because they only receive meat (gospel of convenience).

The pastors who are supposed to give bones to the believers so that the church can stand the season of persecution, opposition, and temptation are rather comforting the dead church. If we only preach the gospel of convenience, the church will return to the world when trials come their way.

 

12. Division and lack of unity

The rate at which Christianity is dividing is alarming. Today, we have Pentecostals, Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, Baptists, Anglicans, Nontrinitarians, and numerous divisions. Each denomination has its doctrine, faith, and religious culture. The church has become a competition, especially within the charismatic churches.

 

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:10

Apostle Paul knew that disunity could break the church, so he wrote that we should speak and teach the same thing and that no division should take place in the church. If the church continues fighting each other, there will be confusion, competition, complaints, and conflict within the body, ultimately leading to the destruction of the church. I know there are wolves in sheep's clothing who teach and practice false doctrines. For these wolves and their followers, we must rebuke, correct, and pray for their deliverance because the Holy Scriptures command us to deal with them.

 

For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Titus 1:10-13

…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Ephesians 5:11

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:15

We must rebuke the wolves in sheep's clothing with the Spirit of wisdom and love. We must not deal with them with the spirit of jealousy. We must correct their false doctrines. Attacking each other out of jealousy and pride will create conflict, which will ultimately break the church. I encourage you to download and read my book, Darkness Within the Light, for a more profound revelation.

 

13. Spiritual laziness among believers

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Philippians 2:12

Another seed breaking the church is laziness and idleness. Many believers do not have time to study the word of God. Some Christians rarely fast and pray. Most Christians depend entirely on pastors for spiritual food. Meanwhile, it is our responsibility to feed on the word of God.

 

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

1 Peter 2:2

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:8

It takes a strong Christian to stand and resist the enemy. However, weak Christians fall in the season of trial and temptation. When Christians are weak, the church becomes weak. When the church becomes weak, it will fall. Meditate on this Holy Scripture.

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16

 

14. Commercialization of the gospel

It is no secret that the world views the church as a business center. Some pastors sell prayers. Some prophets charge for prophetic directions. Some pastors demand money before they will talk to you. I know that some “Christians” are wicked to the core. Most Christians do not give to pastors after they preach, pray, and solve the problems of the members. Most people say thank you and leave the pastors to struggle.

There are cases where pastors can help and pray for a Christian to break through financially and spiritually. However, these Christians will not remember the pastor. I know it hurts, dear pastor. God has a way of providing. Commercializing the gospel is not the way out. Selling prayers and spiritual gifts is unbiblical.

 

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Matthew 10:8

Praying for the sick to receive their healing is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Raising the dead is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Helping the church receive its breakthrough is a gift. God gave those gifts to us freely, and we must freely give them out. The fact that most Christians do not help the pastors who support them in prayer does not mean that we should charge them. God has a way of providing. The Holy Spirit will touch the hearts of people to bless you when you do it freely from your heart. Charging others for prayers, healing, and deliverance opens the door for unbelievers to destroy the church. The baby Christians can be discouraged and stop the church.

 

15. Ignoring broken people

Most churches neglect those who have backslidden. The church also ignores financially weak people. I have stated this in the previous chapter. However, let me emphasize it here. Most churches rarely have time for those who are poor and in pain. You will be surprised to learn that the church often does not follow up with members who do not attend meetings. Some people fall sick, and the church never visits them because they are poor. This habit is gradually destroying the church.

 

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:35–40

If the church keeps neglecting the poor and weak, it will die. If the church only concentrates on the rich, the church will lose spiritually mature ones. If the church fails to follow up on the lost and weak sheep, the church will break. Meditate on this Holy Scripture.

 

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

James 1:27