Dead Churches

 BY Argie Simonis

When Paul writes his second letter to Timothy, he refers to the last days and speaks of people who will be 

" lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God..." 2 Tim. 3:2-4

Observing today's society, we see how timeless these words of the apostle Paul are. The sad thing is that the church today is no exception to this picture and this is where I would like to focus. I understand how easy it is for a person without Christ to fall into these traps, but when this happens to a great extent within His own church, it causes me great concern.

The key to understanding the problem is in the next verse:

"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Tim. 3:5 

Paul here refers to these religious people, whose religion is simply a "form of piety." There is no reality or truth in this.

Paul advises us to avoid such hypocrites. The question is, what do we do as believers? Should we avoid those who deny the power of the Gospel? There are millions of Christians living in "dead" churches in the hope of changing them.

What is certain is that there are no perfect churches or perfect people. There is certainly room to extend grace to brothers and sisters in Christ, but there is a fine line between "acceptable" and "intolerable," that is, where there is no room for compromise. This "intolerable" is what I believe Paul advises Timothy when he says "avoid them."

In the Book of Acts we read:

"And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus." Acts 19:8-9 

Here we see a specific example from the life of Paul, who, while in Ephesus, "separated the disciples" from those who denied the Gospel. There are other instances where Paul asked his disciples to stay away from ungodly people:

"Now I beseech you, brothers, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them." Rom.16:17 

"But now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortionist; with such an one no not to eat." 1Cor. 5:11 

"Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." 2Thes. 3:6 

"Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself." 1Τim. 6:5 

As long as the people of the synagogue were open to receive teaching, Paul remained and shared the Gospel. But when they started to oppose him and speak evil of him, he left taking his disciples with him.

So what is Paul's message regarding us?

The synagogues in Paul's day allowed both members and visitors to minister (Acts 13: 5).

In most churches today only the pastor (and in some the "special priest") have this privilege, so church members do not have the opportunity to contribute or influence to the extent that Paul could do back then. From what I see so far, it really takes a miracle for change to come to such a church. And this change comes only from the pastor or the person in charge and not from the ordinary members.

If you feel that you are a member of such a "dead" church, Paul advises you to leave and go where you can be fed, and nourished and grow by the Word of God, where you can  contribute to the spiritual growth of other people and bear fruit.

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