Ecclesiastical Epidemiology

When people learn what we do at Blessing Point Ministries, working to heal ministries with painful histories, they regularly ask us, “What problem do you see most often in churches?” It is hard for me to answer because each church has its own unique spiritual journey. But there are some common themes. These themes form an “ecclesiastical epidemiology” (a study of common sicknesses in the bodies of local churches that have infected the Church as a whole).

We could sift through the New Testament epistles for signs of corporate ill health and apply them to the larger Church. But I believe that Jesus’ letters to five of the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 describe the predominant diseases all His churches would face through time. Interestingly, the unhealthy contagions we witness in our work with hurting churches parallel the infections Jesus spoke to in those first century churches.

Overly Tolerant Churches

Worldly tolerance of all things sinful has wormed its way into local churches. Whether it flows from excessive empathy, fear of lawsuits, or weak-kneed leadership, the neglect of church discipline is rampant. Ignoring sin in the church is one of the devil’s most successful strategies to hamstring ministries. For, if he can infect a church body with sin and get leaders to turn a blind eye to it, as Paul said, the sin soon “leavens the whole lump” – spreading confusion and distrust through the congregation. Jesus does not overlook this negligence by church leaders, and He will put a church under His discipline for its failures to deal with ungodliness.

Is there something in the water that North American church leaders are drinking that has caused this epidemic of sexual sin? It seems every week there is a new batch of moral failures among well-known church leaders. Once again, we note that the two churches in Revelation 2-3, Thyatira and Pergamum, were infected with sexual sin. Jesus knew immorality had contaminated those congregations. He called them to repent of it. And, if they did not cleanse this defilement, He would act. Many churches fail to realize that their current problems hearken back to an unhealed wound or wounds caused by moral failures, particularly among leadership.

Churches That Lose Their First Love

There is probably no more haunting criticism of a church than Jesus’ rebuke of the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7). He told them that they had “lost their first love.” When we consider the previous heights of their ministry, Jesus’ critique is tragic. They were a “church-planting church,” responsible for starting many other churches in Asia Minor. The church had Timothy as their pastor. They received Paul’s letter to them, one of the most loved epistles in the New Testament. Yet, somehow, after just forty years, Jesus made it clear that their devotion had waned. It had faded to such an extent that He threatened them with the removal of their lampstand from before Him if they did not repent! That doesn’t mean they close—they can keep going for centuries! —but that Christ will no longer be their present, operating Lord. They become a “religious club” instead. When confronted with their history, many modern churches sense they have lost their first love too.

Lukewarm Churches

Who can think of the phrase “lukewarm” without thinking of Jesus’ rebuke of the Laodicean church in Rev. 3? Jesus was outside knocking to be let back in this church! While inside, the congregation felt they were getting along quite well without Him, their wealth proof of blessing. They functioned, without being spiritually functional. Such churches have gone so far down the path of spiritual obsolescence that they think submitting to the scriptures sounds like an odd and old-fashioned idea. And, just like the church at Laodicea, they do not see themselves the way Jesus sees them. 

Name Churches

We live in a day when every church seems to want to make a name for itself. North American “name churches” are often multi-site, multi-staff, with multiple worship teams. Churches with “names” have been around since the book of Revelation was written. Jesus told the church at Sardis, “you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Rev. 3). Looking behind the scenes of some “name churches” is like pulling back the curtain in the Wizard of Oz, you discover a very different reality usually consisting of attitudes and behaviors that would make Jesus gag. These often get publicly revealed to the embarrassment of God’s people everywhere. If such churches do not maintain their inward spiritual health, let alone guard against spiritual pride, these “name churches” soon become churches in name only and dead in every other way.

Other Viruses in the Church at Large

There is more to learn about ecclesiastical epidemiology.  Studies could be made of systemic illnesses that include repetitive church splits, adopting worldly leadership models, pastors who cause pain, churches that abuse their pastors, issues of prejudice, and financial improprieties. Sadly, these kinds of spiritual diseases have negatively impacted ministries across Christendom. This has led led to the cessation of vital spiritual functions in the Church at large.

Church leaders must become proactive and courageous to address these illnesses in our church bodies before our lampstands are removed.

Mark Barnard serves with Blessing Point Ministries. The above article is taken from the soon to be released revised edition of Diagnosing the Heart of Your Church. Learn more at blessingpoint.org.