STOP HATING ON THE CHURCH

In recent times, there seems an increase in online posts by self-proclaimed 'special ministers' actively attacking Churches across various denominations worldwide. Deep within, I know better than joining forces with them since I believe such actions lack divine backing whatsoever!

Out of hatred for the church, some persons attribute the failures of our political leaders to the church. I wonder how the church of Christ is responsible for unemployment, insecurity, bad infrastructures and other problems bedevilling our country.

Instead of holding politicians responsible for their inability to fulfill their promises to the electorate, these church-haters attack pastors. When they see a church embarking on a building project, they make statements like: "Why can't they use that money to build industries that will create jobs"? Hey! job creation is the work of industrialists and political leaders not the church or pastors.

I think these church critics should exercise some discretion. In all my adult life, I have not seen any advanced country where people point fingers at the church for unemployment, insecurity and other societal peoblems. Don't demand from your pastors or the church what you should demand from your political leaders.

Due to this wide spread animosity against the church from online bullies, we now have many out-of-church believers who prefer to 'worship' online with their new found preacher. Unfortunately, a significant number of these church-haters operate under pseudo-ministries, which espouse falsehoods, attacks, and diatribes against the church.

They lure unsuspecting individuals into an isolated spiritual wilderness where they are disconnected from congregations that offer fellowship and spiritual sustenance. I am a stickler for proper pastoring and this cannot be done remotely.

The scripture admonishes us not to forsake our meetings with one another, as some do but instead encourages us to support each other in preparation for His imminent return (Hebrews 10:25 NLT).

The Church is God's divine plan; He has no alternative blueprint for salvation. I am aware that painful and sad experiences of people with some pastors and churches made them turn their backs against the church.

However, this does not justify taking sides with Satan against God's chosen instrument - His Church. If you have developed hatred towards the church or all that it represents regarding what God is doing through her, then you cannot be used by Him.

Christ declared that upon
the rock, he would build his church such that even all powers of hell could not conquer it (Matthew 16:18).

Any ministry or minister contrary to the teachings of Christ's Church will eventually fail because we must beware of those who pit themselves against sound doctrine and leadership within churches.

No matter how intellectually gifted they may appear or how impressive their theological arguments might seem, God is against their actions. God will not support someone or a ministry that aims to bulldoze what he is building.

God never scatters His own institutions; although there may be pseudo-churches here and there globally, true followers should embrace any opportunity available in every local assembly where they can learn more about him without subjecting themselves unnecessarily to hateful debate and attacks on social media platforms.

While acknowledging that no human organization is perfect per se, Christ remains committed as a perfecter of his Church by washing her continually while purging impurities thereof until she becomes spotless before Him (Ephesians 5:27).

Why stand up against what He is shaping? Today many like Saul attack churches indiscriminately without realizing they are fighting a lost battle ultimately destined for failure. Please, do not join them. In history, all enemies of the church failed.

I want you to love the church and what Christ is doing in and through her. No church on earth is perfect but our joy is that Christ is perfecting us daily.