The Crumbling Church

I have been sensing things about different churches. But I was careful not to be judgemental, or jaded. I prayed that I see with the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Yet, is it just me being cynical or seeing the crumbling beneath the facade?

I am talking about different churches below.

The church carrying the old wineskin feels lethargic. The old wineskin purported shed for the new wineskin remains old. It is patting itself for the many programs and events it is organising but lost sight of just soaking in His presence. Oh, Martha.

And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV)

The church is lopsided.The leadership dominated by mainly male pastors, if not all, hardly demonstrates the mother side of God and seldom introduces the female perspectives of God to the church. The female has quietly been the pillar of support in churches. Talk about the gender ratio of church attendees, servers, and especially, prayer warriors.

So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Judges 4:9 (NKJV)

The church feels stagnated and disconnected. The body of Christ is held together by just one body part, but all parts feel disconnected. Slowly, the body of Christ feels lifeless and fruitless. However, Jesus is the true vine that holds it all together.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

John 15:1 (NKJV)

The church feels hyped and empty. It looks good on the outside, but empty on the inside. The marketing team polishes the surface well. The church somehow reminds me of Hillsong and a little of City Harvest. However, I struggled with this discernment the most. That’s because I know this church has been doing a lot of good work and lives have been changed here, the testimonies I heard were not from strangers. I wondered if I was wrong because of that. Just as I was feeling doubtful, a video by the church brushed the doubts a little more away. It was about what the church has been doing, and it’s more of a victorious rather than a sorrowful video. But at the end of the video, my heart was heavy and I felt so upset. I had to stop myself from bawling and felt nauseated. I am getting nausea even as I am writing this episode down. Was I disgusted by the hype? Or the disguise? I am not sure. I am quite sure I was feeling sadness over the body of Christ out of love, not out of judging the leaders.

So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

Revelation 3:16 (NKJV)

Like humans, there’s no perfect church.But is there an imperfect church that loves our perfect God wholeheartedly, unashamedly, steadfastly? An imperfect lover of God. I know that in my heart and some prophetic declarations have mentioned —

churches mainly filled with tares

will crumble away for

churches mainly filled with wheat.

These emerging churches might still be imperfect but they are lovers of God. If you know of one such church, let me know!

‭But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Matthew 13:26, 30

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