What Killed the Church?

Thoughts from the book "Autopsy of a Deceased Church."

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I have a little book in my office by Thom S. Rainer titled Autopsy of a Deceased Church. His book is based on an article he wrote with the same title. What I’ve written here uses his book as a springboard for my thoughts.

How many of you know of a congregation of the Lord’s people that was thriving 30, 40, or even 50 years ago that has dwindled to just a few people or has maybe even closed the doors?

While this article won’t dive into everything that may have happened - and some things may be outside of a congregation’s control - it will consider ten things that kill a church and hopefully cause us to examine the church of which we are members closely.

The following ten things are warning signs - red flags - that, if ignored, will eventually kill a church.

Spiritual Complacency.

Decline in the church is usually a gradual thing. In fact, it can be so slow it might be hardly noticeable to longtime members.

But think back 10, 15, 20 years - how many members did the church have? What work and service was the church involved in then that the church isn’t doing now?

Week-to-week complacency can be hard to spot. But when you look at things years or decades at a time - the effects of complacency can stand out like a sore thumb.

After the nation of Israel returned from captivity, they started on the temple, but they grew complacent and allowed the temple to sit unfinished for a decade. And God called them out for their lack of concern about what was truly important.

"Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: 'This people says, "The time has not come, the time that the LORD's house should be built." ' " Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways!.."You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the LORD of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.  (Haggai 1:2-4, 9)

God didn’t like complacency among His people then, and He still doesn’t like it today.

The Past and Tradition Became the Standard.

Not all change is good. In fact, some changes can be downright sinful. We are commanded to cling to God’s word and not turn from what He says (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

But sometimes, problems arise in the church not because of false doctrine - but because people are unwilling to let go of the past or their traditions have been exalted to the same level as God’s word (Matthew 15:1-9).

I think we owe a certain level of respect to the past and those who went before us. But we cannot live in the past.

Churches sometimes refuse to make changes that would benefit the church because that’s not how they did it in “the good old days” (again, I’m not talking about changing what God has said).

Maybe we need to hear the same thing God told Joshua - “Moses is dead. Now you go forward and trust Me” (Joshua 1:1-2).

A Refusal to Look Like the Community.

This doesn’t mean the church ought to accept whatever the world says is alright. We live in this world but are not “of this world” (Philippians 3:20-21). The way we live ought to reflect that fact.

This point refers to whether the church tries to reach the people in the community where the church building is located, and where the members of the church live.

Over several decades, the community around a church building will likely change quite a bit. Maybe at first, the church building was surrounded by primarily middle-class rural families. But as the town grew, the community changed. Maybe more minorities moved into the area. Maybe the community's economic situation changed - for better or worse.

Whatever the case - the community changed over time.

As the community changed - did the church still go out into the community to help and reach lost souls with the gospel? What is the church doing with their opportunities to help the people in their own community (Galatians 6:10)?

An Inward-Focused Budget.

One of the ways you can know what a church cares about is to see where the money is going.

There’s nothing wrong with using money to pay a preacher (1 Timothy 5:18) or to use it to take care of the buildings and grounds. But if contributions start decreasing - what are some of the first things to get cut?

Usually, it’s the outreach into the community and mission efforts. The money spent by the church starts to continuously creep inward.

The church started using their money to keep the members happy rather than funding the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. It’s a symptom of a heart problem - caring more about self than others.

Disobeying the Great Commission.

Jesus commanded His disciples to take the gospel into the world.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16)

Thriving, healthy churches of Christ have the Great Commission at the center of their lives while dying churches have “forgotten” our Lord’s command.

The excuses why we don’t take the gospel to our communities are usually all the same.

• “People just aren’t interested in the gospel anymore.”

• “Our community is different than most.”

• “That won’t work here.”

Obeying the Great Commission requires steadfast prayer and tremendous effort from the Lord’s people. And you know - it’s just easier and more comfortable for us not to do it. And if the church grows, it might push us out of our comfort zone - after all, that new family might take my seat!

Churches that disregard the Lord’s authority and want things easy and comfortable for them will die.

The “Me, Myself, and I” Problem.

Christians are supposed to have the “mind of Christ,” which includes unselfishly considering others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3) and looking out for the interests of others (Philippians 2:4).

Jesus is our perfect example of putting others before Himself - He died for us in our place (Philippians 2:5-8). A healthy church of our Lord is one that puts God first, others second, and self last.

When church problems arise around things like, “It’s too hot,” or “It’s too cold,” or “I don’t like such and such decisions,” you know the church has a severe problem on hand.

When the church demands that their own preferences take center stage, the church begins a death march.

Un-Christlike Leaders.

Godly shepherds who shepherd the Lord’s flock should receive all the honor and praise we can shower upon them. The Lord has promised “the crown of glory that does not fade away” to faithful shepherds of His flock (1 Peter 5:4).

But if the church’s leaders do not meet our Lord’s qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11), disaster will come upon that church. Selfish, wicked, weak leaders are condemned all the way back in the Old Testament in passages like Ezekiel 34.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11). He was motivated to do God’s will and to do what was best for the sheep. Christlike leaders of the church will follow His example.

Prayer is an Afterthought.

One of the things the first church devoted themselves to was “prayer” (Acts 2:42). As you go through the book of Acts, you will see numerous examples of Christians coming together to spend time in prayer.

Prayer is supposed to be a lifestyle for God’s people.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

But prayer sometimes becomes an afterthought - or it’s merely a quick opening and closing to the church's worship.

Among other things, prayer demonstrates the church’s dependence on God (Matthew 6:9-13). A church that treats prayer as merely an afterthought shows a lack of trust in God Almighty.

A Forgotten Purpose.

Have you ever stopped to consider what your purpose is as a Christian? Or what the church’s purpose is?

The church in Philippi understood their purpose - it was the gospel.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now… (Philippians 1:3-5)

They supported Paul’s ministry in the gospel. They lived the gospel. They taught the gospel.

The gospel of Christ is the purpose of our individual lives as Christians and the life of the church (1 Corinthians 15). A church that has forgotten their purpose is a dying church.

An Obsession with the Physical Buildings.

What is it that consumes the energies and finances of the church? What rises to the top of the agenda of leadership meetings? What are the sorts of things the people most often bring to the leadership’s attention?

If the answer to these questions is the church building and property, the church has lost focus on what truly matters.

If the church has a building or property, it needs to be cared for and reasonably maintained. But this ought not to be the focal point of the church. All these things will be gone one day anyway, so obsessing over the things of this world shows a misplaced focus.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

We ought to be good managers of the things God has given us. But these things must not distract us from the things of eternal consequences.

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The church is described as the Lord’s bride in Ephesians 5:22-33. Paul emphasizes the Lord’s loving, sacrificial care for His church.

We ought to love the Lord’s church as well.

If things aren’t what they should be in the church where we are members, we shouldn’t ignore the problems but should lovingly, kindly, and patiently consider what ought to be done to renew the church’s focus on our Master and the mission He gave us.