Ten Ways to Destroy a Church

Going through some boxes, I found the following article, with excerpts by George W. Knight. It's about ways to destroy a church. Perhaps you've observed these at one time or another in a church you visited or, perhaps, your own. Over the past 40+ years of being and serving in numerous churches, my wife and I have seen more than a few of these ways being present. My purpose for listing them is to show what the devil uses to destroy churches, and, being aware, use this as a self-checklist to better serve God through our own church.

I don't know when the original article was published, however the points are timeless, regardless of age. The article is entitled, Ten Ways to Destroy a Church:

1. Don't come

2. If you do come, always arrive late.

3. After every service let it be known, loud and clear, that you "didn't get anything out of the service."

4. Never accept a job or leadership position in the church. It's much better to stand on the sidelines and criticize.

5. Let it be known that you visit other churches about half the time, just to show your pastor and fellow church members that you don't need them.

6. Make all the leaders do all the work and blame them if it isn't done right.

7. Sit in the back of the church, talk with others, and never sing or participate.

8. Never give money.

9. Never encourage the pastor or leaders.

10. Be sure to point out any faults of your church to guests. They might never notice these faults without your help

If you see one or more of these where you attend, what can you do to change what is to what can be?

Why Tithe? (part 2)

Today I want to talk about where to tithe. The answer is really pretty simple: tithe where you are being fed. Naturally speaking you don't eat at Sonic, then pay at McDonald's .It's the same spiritually  Who's your pastor? Where are you going to receive the Word, serve, and fellowship with people of similar interests? Go where you are challenged to grow up in Christ, In a previous post (Who's Your Pastor?) I stated that everyone needs a pastor, period. If you don't have one, ask God to show you where you can get involved, through prayer, giving, and service. There's a place for everyone, including you. So the tithe gets paid through the church where you're being fed spiritual things on a regular, consistent basis. Offerings may also go to support the local church as well as reputable ministries.

Since most pastors are on a salary, set by a board of some kind, most pastors have little-if any-control over how much they make.  Pastors are usually underpaid. For what most pastors do the secular world would likely pay much more. What pastors do is beyond a job. It's a calling, often involving sacrifice on the part of the pastor, spouse, and children.

My wife and have traveled in ministry, usually staying in the pastor's home. As most of the works were pioneered by the pastor and his family, no one I preached for was living "high on the hog". Thank God for pastors who are willing to pay "dues" and loving congregations who faithfully tithe as an act of worship through their church. It's a winning combination, that God always blesses.

If the church is not in a position to support their pastor, he and/or his wife gets a job to provide for their family. This is often true in pioneering a new work: it takes time for the finances to grow to where the pastor and his family can be fully supported.

Your tithe is important to your church and pastor, for all the right reasons. As everyone honors God with their tithes and offerings God's work will get done-and everyone will be blessed.

Are you one of those who faithfully tithes? If not, where is God leading you to "hook up"?

What have you learned today about tithing that you didn't know before? How, when, and where can you apply what you've learned?

Why Tithe? (Part 1)

"Why tithe?". This question has been probably been asked of most pastors-including myself-since Bible times. The question of tithing has been discussed, debated, even divided churches over this subject. Today's post may or may not persuade the non-tither to change; however that's not my purpose. My purpose today is to give some open, practical reasons for tithing. Let's start with this: Tithing is for our benefit, not God's. God doesn't need money; He owns it all. As the late Corrie ten Boom once said: "God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and all the potatoes underneath them. Heaven has a street of see-through gold (Revelation 21;21). God doesn't need your money-no matter how much you make.

Your church, however, needs money to accomplish the plan God has given to the pastor. It costs money to have a place to meet. It costs money to run utilities. Volunteers can do only so much. Utility companies , on the other hand, want real money to provide gas, electricity, water, and telephone service. Things like insurance, property maintenance, and supplies add up. Since God isn't raining money out of Heaven, money for operating costs is going to come the old-fashioned way: through people. People like you and me honoring God with our hearts, mouths, and wallets/purses.

What is the tithe? The tithe means "tenth", the first 10% of your income. Tithing is like gravity: it'll work for anybody. Tithing is mentioned throughout the Old Testament, the Gospels, and Hebrews 7:8. Abraham tithed 430 years before it was part of the Law. Hebrews was written to Christians, not Jews. Are you tithing? If not, then are you really trusting God with your finances?

Where should one tithe? Tomorrow we'll talk about where to tithe. No places will be named;  just a look at what the Bible says about the subject. Plus a true story of tithing you don't want to miss.

If you tithe, how much has faithfully tithing benefited you? Your family?

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about tithing, but just hasn't made the decision to do so?

Who's Your Pastor?

Everyone needs a pastor.  Yes, Jesus is the Head of the Church, made up of those who have believed in Him. Jesus is also, according to Hebrews 13:20, our Great Shepherd. At the same time God has set pastors (shepherds) in the Church, according to Ephesians 4:11. Pastors are often referred to as 'under shepherds', who are shepherds under Jesus, our Great Shepherd. Pastors are father-like, leading the growth and development of a group of like-minded people called the local church. Within THE Church there are many local churches, each under its own pastor. Large or small, there's a church for each person to attend and get involved in. People just like you and me. Who's your pastor? Who do you receive Biblical counsel, encouragement, and balanced teaching of God's Word from? If you just lost your job, a family member needs prayer or you need someone to stand with you in faith, who's going to come visit you in your hour of need? Your favorite TV preacher? Don't count on it. They may read your letters, but they're not coming. Why?

Because they are not your pastor. One reason many people are in trouble is that they don't have a pastor. Just having a pastor won't solve everything, but having one will help keep you from being scattered, thus becoming prey to every wind of doctrine-and there are a lot of them being taught. Matthew 9:36 records Jesus as being moved with compassion because multitudes were scattered, as sheep having no shepherd. I don't want to be scattered, do you?

If you have a pastor, be thankful. Support that pastor in prayer, encouragement, and faithful giving to God through that church. Need a pastor? Ask God to show you who and where that person is. Set aside gender, color, and education for someone with the right character and calling to lead and feed you in the things of God.

Who is your pastor? How helpful is it to you to have a pastor? What difference can you see in your life by you having a pastor?