Mac Brunson - Why Churches Die: Diagnosing Lethal Poisons in the Body of Christ

Dedication

The authors would like to dedicate this book to all
the churches they have served through the years:

Mac served:

First Baptist Church of Damascus, Greenwood, South Carolina
South Norfolk Baptist Church, Chesapeake, Virginia
Green Street Baptist Church, High Point, North Carolina
First Baptist Church of Dallas, Dallas, Texas

Ergun served:

Manchester Baptist Church, Manchester, Kentucky
Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Vincennes, Indiana
Wood Baptist Church, Wood, North Carolina
Central Baptist Church, Aurora, Colorado
Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Virginia

Introduction

Church Would Be Easy Without People

Church would be a whole lot easier if it were not for the members.

It was an honest admission by a leading evangelical pastor, but quite frankly, it took us by surprise. The man had served some of the largest churches in our denomination, but in a weary moment, he admitted that in his heart of hearts, he hated pastoring.

Perhaps this statement is a bit strong. Perhaps it is better said that he loved the calling, but the tangential bureaucracy of modern church life drove him crazy.

The spats over bulletins.

The arguments over the color of choir robes.

The quarrels concerning parking lots.

The disputes over committees, deacons, and sermon length.

You get the point. It is a sad secret that many pastors secretly resign every Monday. They lie in bed, debating internally whether to get up or hide under the mattress.

Interestingly, many church members go through the same internal war. They faithfully attend church but quietly rue getting up on Sunday. They drag themselves to the building and attempt to invoke a smile that serves as a facade. The silliness and sinfulness that consumes many churches drive Christians to survive church.

These same machinations also cause many Christians to avoid church altogether. That is the purpose of this work. To identify the diseases that besiege local churches, excise the poisons, and bring church back to the biblical model joyous and encouraging.

The Biblical Standard of One Another

Does the previous sentence seem too Pollyannaish to you? Is it unrealistic to desire to want church to be a place of spiritual edification? Not according to the biblical record. Throughout the New Testament, the biblical authors call local churches to specific action. One of the most enlightening studies is to examine the biblical teachings concerning our responsibilities to one another. Notice we are called to:

1. Be in agreement with one another.

Romans 12:10: Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor 16: Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

2. Pursue that which builds up one another.

Romans 14:13: Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another, but instead decide not to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother's way 19: So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.

3. Accept one another.

Romans 15:5: Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you agreement with one another, according to Christ Jesus 7: Therefore accept one another, just as the Messiah also accepted you, to the glory of God 14: Now, my brothers, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.

4. Show courtesy to one another.

1 Corinthians 11:33: Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

5. Carry one another's burdens.

Galatians 6:2: Carry one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

6. Tolerate one another.

Ephesians 4:2: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love

7. Forgive one another.

Ephesians 4:32: And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you.

Colossians 3:13: accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must [forgive].

8. Submit to one another.

Ephesians 5:21: submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

1 Peter 5:5: Likewise, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

9. Admonish one another in wisdom.

Colossians 3:16: Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.

10. Comfort one another.

1 Thessalonians 4:9: About brotherly love: you don't need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another 18: Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:11: Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing 15: See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

11. Promote love and good works in one another.

Hebrews 10:24: And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works .

12. Love one another.

1 Peter 1:22: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart .

1 Peter 4:89: Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

1 John 3:11: For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another 23: Now this is His command: that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as He commanded us.

1 John 4:7: Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 11: Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 12: No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.

It Is Harder Than It Sounds, Isn't It?

Looking over that list, one could easily become depressed. So many people attend church to be seen, to make connections, or to attack one another. Often it seems that the majority of people who profess to be Christians do not act as Christians. The situation appears to be dire at best, hopeless at worst.

However, can it be that we are focusing on the worst among us? Is it not part of human nature to obsess over the negative aspects of church? Let us share a poorly kept secret among pastors. In most churches, we stand at the back door and shake hands, using a secret handshake. We take your right hand in ours, place our left hand on your elbow, and we then proceed to pull you out the door! We do this for any number of reasons, including the fact that a large number of people are standing behind you, and they are looking at their watches while you spend an hour telling us about your sick goldfish.

We are also aware that it is difficult to stand in the line. The church member is trying to think of something to say that does not sound trite and clichd. Usually, the member says something gracious, such as wonderful sermon or lovely day.