It seems to be a popular trend right now for some pastors to criticize the church, especially churches other than their own. Conferences are being held for the sole purpose of pointing out the faults of other Christians. I have heard several messages recently that focused on how wrong other churches are. The blogosphere is buzzing with accusations of false doctrine.
While it is our responsibility to expose theological error and to correct heresy, there is little to be accomplished by targeting one another.
Before we put a bull’s eye on a church, let’s be reminded of a few important truths:
The church is the Body of Christ. (I Corinthians 12:27)
The church is His Bride. (Revelation 19:7)
The church is His Body. (Ephesians 5:22-23)
The church is His Flock. (I Peter 5:2)
The church is His Building. (I Corinthians 3:9)
The church is His Household. (Ephesians 2:19)
The way I see it, Jesus takes the Church very personally. He loves the Church and gave Himself for it. If you go against the Church, you are going against God. We don’t want to do that. What God does to those who go against Him and His church? “But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.” (II Peter 2:3b)
My point? It is best not to mess with something or someone whom the Lord values very much.
Rather than criticizing each other, our time would be better spent:
Praying for each other.
Preaching the Good News of Jesus.
Building up the Church.
Fighting our enemy, the devil.
Removing the log from our own eyes. (Luke 6:42 “How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”)
One final point: When we turn on one another, the devil is thrilled; his job gets easier. What do you say we make his job harder?
Thoughts on Life and Leading 