Being in the preacher world I am well acquainted with bad things happening to good churches.
Division; immorality; financial difficulties; unhealthy leadership; strife and friction; ungodly agendas; even false teaching are among the bad things that often happen.
All are devastating. All are hurtful. All threaten to undermine the work of God’s kingdom. All happened to churches we read about in the Bible.
Just pick one: Corinth? Rome? Ephesus? Galatia? Colossae? They were all familiar with bad things.
Allow me to pick one–Ephesus–and roll with that. We know quite a bit about this church. The first-century historian, Luke, details its riotous beginning in Act 19. The apostle Paul shares a rather emotional moment with its leadership in Acts 20. Later he pens letters both to the church and his protégé, Timothy, who was serving there (listed in the New Testament as Ephesians, 1 & 2 Timothy). The apostle John is thought to have written his three short New Testament letters while in Ephesus. And then this congregation is the recipient of one of the seven letters written to churches by Christ as recorded in Revelation 2:1-7. In terms of information about them—we have a broad context.
A broad context of bad things happening.
Bad things not only happened to the Ephesian church, but were first predicted to happen to them (see Paul’s statement in Acts 20:25-31). Ouch!
Turns out Paul was right—what he foresaw happened and it was bad. Unhealthy leadership with ungodly agendas did a number on this fledgling body of believers. Read 1 Timothy in particular, and you will start getting the picture. It is a picture of bad things.
To counter these bad things Paul sent Timothy. After Timothy got there and saw just how bad things were, Paul had to write a stay-there-and-do-the-job-I-sent-you-to-do type of letter. Hey, I have been a preacher at a good church when bad things were happening. Believe me when I say Timothy needed this kind of encouragement!
Of course, Paul gave him specific advice on how to handle the various bad things occurring, reminded him that he definitely was the man for the job, and encouraged him to keep his own nose clean as he sorted through the mess.
It is worth noting that in the midst of all of this instruction and confidence building, Paul uses the exact same phrase twice to preface a major point. It is:
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. (1 Timothy 1:15 and 4:9)
Interesting. Various ideas have been floated out as to exactly why he turned this phrase, but I like to think it is one of those okay-now-listen-up-because-what-I-am-about-to-tell-you-matters-a-little-bit-more type statements. It is similar to when a parent calls the kid by his full name. Now it is time to pay closer attention!
So, what was this crucial information Paul wanted to share and how does it help good churches currently dealing with bad things?
It all has to do with Jesus.
In both contexts Paul follows his preface with strong affirmations about Christ, forgiveness, and hope. Could there be any more important information or any better way to counter the bad things while leading the church to a healthier place?
It all has to do with Jesus.
When bad things happen to good churches just double-down on the Christ! It may sound over simplistic in the always complex consequences of the bad things, but no surer foundation exists upon which to rebuild.
Bad things have a way of distracting; of bouncing off in all directions; of creating confusion in such a manner that we lose sight of the blessings of Jesus. He gets lost in his own church! The bad things discourage us; disappoint us; and divert us away from him and the hope he promises. They create a debilitating fog that clouds the joy of Christ, which prevents him from being exalted in his church.
Little wonder then in his letter directly to the church in Ephesus, Paul’s prayer was for them was “that you may know him better” in order to more fully realize the hope Christ offers by having the “eyes of your heart…enlightened” (see the entire context of Ephesians 1:15-23).
Discouraged because bad things are happening at your church?
Fix your eyes on Jesus more than ever! Get to know him even more. Teach, preach the forgiveness and the hope found only in him. Exalt Christ! Not only will he provide you the strength (right, Timothy?) to navigate the bad things; he will create the healthy focus enabling your church to rediscover the good things.
He was the answer to the Ephesian church crisis.
It reminds me of what Paul “resolved” only to know while dealing with the bad things in the Corinthian church. It was all about “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2) When it truly is all about Him, bad things will not defeat good churches. They will hurt. They will disappoint. They may even discourage for a season. But better days are ahead. That is the essence of the hope Jesus offers.
Remember that letter Jesus wrote to the Ephesian church recorded by John in Revelation 2:1-7? Hear what he says to them then:
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance… You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Wow! Seems like the bad things were in their rear-view mirror. They did not allow themselves to be defeated. This good church overcame the bad things in his name!
If (and God forbid) bad things ever happen to your good church, cling to Jesus!
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10)
Danny Dodd