10 ways to kill your church – Part 2
Akin-John Francis Bamibola
Fault-finders can always SPOT a problem, but they never SOLVE a problem. They are definitely church killers.
• Never accept a leadership role or responsibility.
Many people have a “renters” mentality when it comes to church; they take no ownership.
When you rent an apartment, if something breaks, you call the landlord to fix it. Since you don’t own it, you have no obligation to fix it. There are too many people renting pews (and some pulpits).
It’s far easier to criticise than to mobilise. As Seth Godin says, “No one has ever built a statue to a critic.” If we want to make a difference, we have to accept the responsibility to lead—whether formally or informally.
Leadership is not about position; it’s about productivity. A congregation full of followers is on life support and is getting ready to die.
• Get mad if you’re not appointed to a leadership position.
So many people in church are focused on titles. They want to be directors, deacons and dignitaries, and when they are not appointed to a position, they begin to stir up trouble.
This is a manifestation of deep-seated pride, and pride is one of the most dangerous killers of all.
• Never give your opinion in a meeting…wait until AFTER the meeting.
A surefire sign of a church that is on its deathbed is one that has major “meetings-after-the-meeting.” You know, where no one voices their honest opinion or offers useful insight during the official meeting, but are quick to huddle in a corner or the church parking lot after the meeting to harp on how “it ought to be done.”
There are chalk lines all over church parking lots outlining exactly where the murder took place.
• Do nothing more than absolutely necessary.
Show up, go home, but don’t be an active, engaged church member. It’s hard to reach “the least of these,” when we’re only doing the least we can do.
The sad reality, however, is that most people who only want to do the least, love to criticise those doing the most! They howl about how the church is being run by a clique, when they never offered or took initiative to get any work done.
They just stand on the sideline and watch the church die. At the very least, they are an accessory to the murder.
• Hold back on your giving to the Lord.
It takes money to do ministry, especially to do mercy ministry for the underserved in our communities. Tim Keller says, “Mercy ministry is expensive.” When we hold back on our giving to the Lord and His work, we are limiting the work that can be done through the local church.
Additionally, since there are operational costs associated with a church or ministry, a lack of giving can lead to the church being foreclosed, laying off staff and other adverse results.
Some people say, “Well, all the church wants is money.” The same can be said of Walmart, yet they keep taking their money there! While I do not discount that there have been those who have abused and misused the church for financial gains, there are thousands of churches serving in their communities who are dying because of a lack of finances. When we stop giving, we are killing those churches…and the countless lives they touch daily.
• Don’t reach out to the unchurched.
The primary purpose of the church is to introduce people to Jesus. The people in the pews must take ownership of that responsibility and become “mini-churches” that reach out to the unchurched every day of the week and bring them to the Lord’s House to be discipled.
Churches need regular and consistent “transfusions.” When new people are brought into the church, they bring new life and vibrancy. They ensure that the church doesn’t get stuck in the old way of doing things. They bring fresh perspective, and they help keep the church alive. Don’t kill your church! Go and bring in some new people today.
These are the 10 ways to kill a church.
Dr. Bola Akin-John
International Church Growth Ministry
akingrow@yahoo.com 08023000714
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