“For this reason many of you are weak, and sick, and a number sleep.” – 1 Cor. 11:30
Strange occurrences of God’s sovereign providence sometimes go overlooked or misunderstood, but they often carry divine messages for His churches. Commonly mistaken for coincidence or chance, we don’t always recognize the Divine significance behind so-called “coincidences” in church life. Someone once said that “A coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” In His letter to the church at Corinth, Paul clears up one important aspect of this.
Somehow the Apostle got wind of a pattern of sickness and death in the Corinthian church. It seems “many” in the congregation began to fall ill and drop like flies. Under the insight provided by the Holy Spirit, Paul reveals the Divine Hand behind their mini pandemic. Their ill-health was a sign (if they had eyes to see it) of a deeper problem, a problem God was not willing to overlook: their church Body was divided, and they took communion as if nothing was wrong!
It is not the Corinthian church’s offense I want to focus on though, because we see strange providences happen regularly within churches today. And, in the process of working to bring healing to congregations, we at Blessing Point can testify to several examples:
- A congregation finds that their church building has been a money pit through the decades. They periodically sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars into it out of necessity. Built in 1912 it resembles a Grecian temple, a style out of sync with its denomination’s commitment to simplicity and peace. This building was constructed under extremely contentious circumstances. Their “glorious” (and very expensive) structure became a symbol of something God was not willing to overlook until they repented of their foundational flaws. And so, He made it a continual drain on their finances.
- A strange providential event unfolded in a white congregation during a Sunday morning service. While the pastor was preaching, a large, muscular, well dressed black man entered the sanctuary and proceeded to walk up the center aisle. He ascended the platform and put his arm around the preacher’s shoulder while the minister continued to preach. The deacons sat frozen in their pews, not knowing what to do. After the service, the man left, never to be seen again. At first glance, one might interpret this event as God drawing attention to racial issues in the church. But that was not the case. Instead, witnesses to the episode felt the unexpected guest was an angel extending protection and encouragement to one of God’s shepherds in a church with a long history of abusing their pastors (including the one in the pulpit).
- Then there was the strange tale of the church with the rusty steeple. This church sat high on a hill overlooking a business district below. It had all the location advantages a ministry could covet. But atop its edifice stood a very rusty, ugly steeple. It was orange and brown with patches of white paint. No matter how many times they painted the steeple, it would rust through again. Come to find out, the church had a history of bad dealings with others, including the steeple company whose blueprints they stole to construct their own steeple out of steel instead of the expensive aluminum that the steeple company bid on. God expressed His unhappiness with their bad testimony, ripping this company off, by making a providential “point”. He kept the steeple rusting and ugly, a visible symbol to everyone who looked at this church on a hill, until years later when the story emerged, and the church repented and made things right with the steeple company.
- A few Sundays ago, I visited a church and upon entering was slapped in the face by the strong smell of mildew, not an uncommon odor among churches with long histories of sin and unhealed congregational wounds. We have seen it numerous times. I can’t say that every church that smells like mildew has a bad history, but I can say that, if it does have a bad history, this “Body” odor often hangs in the air. Perhaps all the things we sweep under the rug in churches begin to stink after a while. Some God-arranged providences beg not to be overlooked. A continuous bad odor will do that, though it is amazing how churches actually get used to the nasty smell.
If it were not for Paul’s explanation to the Corinthians about why people in the church were weak, sick, and dying, or for the fact that God uses symbols throughout the Bible to speak to His people, you might think I was making this up. I assure you I am not. There are other examples I could share.
All occasions of God’s strange providence have things in common. They tend to be obvious, impactful, out of the ordinary, and often painful. That is how God works to get our attention. He hopes we will notice these unusual events and seek His face about the message they carry.
Have you witnessed any such “strange providences” in your church? Or have you been overlooking them without seeking God’s face? Significant providential events in your church, strange though they may seem, are worth pondering and praying over. They may unlock why your church is facing setbacks or why frustration and pain has replaced fruitfulness.
Mark Barnard serves with Blessing Point Ministries which works to heal churches from painful internal crises. He is the coauthor, with Dr. Kenneth Quick, of The Eighth Letter: Exploring Jesus’ Letters to the Seven Churches and Discovering What He is Saying to Yours.