SIGNS OF A SICK CHURCH (3)

0. Introduction

a) Can the church you attend or the religion you adhere to be SICK? How can you tell if they are self-defeating and what can you do about it? There are three primary characteristics of a sick (self-defeating) group. This brief article will discuss each one of these.

1. The Fear factor

a) The third and final characteristic of a sick church is that it encourages fear more than courage and even love. When was the last time your pastor or minister encourage you to do great things for others? A true godly group appeals to your love so that you are motivated to feed those in need, clothe those who are in want, visit and take care of the sick and do good to your neighbor (Luke 10:29-37; Mark 12:28-31).

b) We simply must not fear showing the love of God to others made in his own image. When Jesus comes back to earth the second time he will praise or rebuke people based on what they did in this life. 

i) 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in . . .'

ii) 41. Then shall He also say to those on the left, 'Depart from Me, you cursed ones . . . 42. For I was hungry, and you did not give Me anything to eat; I was thirsty, and you did not give Me anything to drink . . .' (Matthew 25:34-35, 41-42) 

c) Why would church leaders use fear to motivate those they serve? It is because humans motivate themselves far more out of fear than love. Fear of a loved one hurting themselves might drive us to run faster than we would out of love. There are countless stories of people who attend a church or fellowship for fear of not being protected from the trials of the Great Tribulation. Others are told they must conform to church policies and decisions or else terrible consequences await them. Again, how sick!

d) The Bible appeals to a person's love and courage as a means for serving and becoming like Christ. 

i) fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable . . . And the God who gives us peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)  

e) Beware of any church, fellowship or even religion that appeals to fear. The only 'good" fear is that of God.