It’s popular nowadays to criticize the Church. It’s filled with hypocrites and bullies. I admit, it’s true. And every time I hear a story of someone who was hurt by the Church, I can’t help but be heartbroken for them.
So it’s popular for millennials and bloggers to turn their nose up at the established Church. Are you one of those people?
As pure as your intentions might be, you put yourself in a dangerous position when you do this. You’re putting a wedge between yourself and Jesus, and you’re opening yourself to a wave of criticism coming back to you. Let me explain.
I have a friend. It doesn’t matter how friendly or loving I am to this friend… If I criticize his wife, he won’t have anything to do with me. He chose his wife carefully. He gave up his liberty for his wife. He gave a piece of his life to his wife. And when I reject her, I ultimately reject him. Together, they form one person. I can’t have one without the other.
Was it a mistake that the Church is called the Bride of Christ? If that’s how Jesus feels toward his Church, do you think we can get by being “tight with Jesus” while rejecting His Bride? I don’t think so.
My wife is a piece of me. When you reject Carolina or criticize her—even if she does something I don’t agree with—you still reject and criticize me. I give my life for her. You’d better not touch her.
And when we criticize anyone—no matter how justifiable our criticism is—we plant seeds. Seeds of criticism grow into fruit. And it’s fruit we’ll ultimately eat.
Are you prepared for your criticism to come back to you? Are you prepared to eat the fruit of the seeds you plant?
We are the Church. We are the Body of Christ. I don’t wound my left hand with my right hand.
Neither will I ever knowingly wound one of my brothers or sisters in Christ. I’m not prepared to eat that fruit. And I’m not prepared to reject Jesus’—sometimes nasty and ugly—bride. She’s loved by Him, so She’s loved by me.
There is criticizing the church just to criticize and there is pointing out weak spots and opportunities for growth. Two different things that are often assumed synonymous. For instance I love the local church and have a very positive outlook on the bride, but she is not always in the best shape. There are things we can do better. Too many sit around and describe the church how they would like it to be, but not acknowledge where it actually is.
@Scott, you’re right – but when you’re offering said criticisms for growth – you have to make sure you really understand the root of what’s happening and the people that are serving. You need to have the authority to say what you’re saying.
Sadly, many sit in criticism of the church with a false sense of understanding and authority.
Spoken like one who has “been there, done that”. It is easy to know how it ought to be done until you are the one doing it.
Excellent article. Since the church was established as local and autonomous, the only criticism we need express is that which we can personally participate in remedying, since we are the church. Criticising what we don’t participate in or cannot positively influence is pointless.
Great point Carol. Be part of the solution.
WooHoo. Well said, Jonathan!
Additionally, those who criticize “the church” somehow imply they are separate from it. “The church”, “they”, “those people”, “she” or “it”. But certainly my words of criticism do not apply to me.
It takes no spiritual insight to see problems in the church – any pagan on the street can make a list of real and perceived weaknesses. Every lost person knows just how Christians should behave.
It takes gut to say, “I have found the problem – at least the only one I need to concern myself with – and it is me.” The church is not a mess – I am. And so is every member of it. That is why Jesus came seeking us. If we weren’t messed up he would not have invited us to join since He only came to seek and save the lost, the messed up – like you and me.
Again, Well said.