Church Persecution from Within?

"In my honest opinion one of the big problems we have today in the church is that we are all so comfortable. We don't really know who the real believers are vs. those who claim Christ but have no intention of living for Him when they get uncomfortable.

Other countries who experience what we traditionally think of as persecution know who the enemy is. Our persecution comes from individuals who verbally claim Christ yet persecute the church from within."
-A Pastor's Wife

These thoughtful words were written in response to a question posed to minister's wives about whether or not they can be close friends with people within the congregations where they serve. That is an interesting subject, and important to me right now, as I navigate through hurt, strained and lost friendships, though mine are not within the church, but within my extended family. However this dimension of the subject is not what I'm focusing on right now.

What I'd like to explore today is the notion that the Western Church is suffering from persecution from within. I find this an a very interesting concept. For discussion purposes here, I would define traditional persecution as radical harm done to a group of people who hold to a differing belief system. By radical harm I mean serious threats and actual violence, and loss of basic human rights to the persecuted group.

Is the church really persecuted by people who are within the church, calling themselves Christians, yet do not genuinely follow Christ with their actions? There are numerous warnings in the New Testament regarding such people. We are encouraged to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing who would do harm to the flock. There are mentions of those who taught heretical doctrines being dis-fellowship-ed. There is also an account of someone who was in a flagrant sin (sleeping with his father's wife) being dis-fellowship-ed. This was all to keep the Gospel message on track, so that others would not be led astray. It also served the purpose that hopefully the estranged one would grasp the reality of their sin and desire to leave it behind and return again to a right standing with the Lord and His faithful followers.

How do we tell the difference between a person who is indeed a wolf, and one who is simply a stumbling or weak Christian? I make that distinction because hopefully a weak or stumbling Christian is moving toward spiritual growth and maturity. The scriptures say we'll know a tree by it's fruit. That would lead me to conclude that we can tell by the consistent actions of an individual whether or not they are real or genuine. I say consistent because everyone has times and instances of stumbling. In the life and heart of a true Christian those should be rather isolated incidences and become fewer and farther between as time goes on. Scripture also teaches that a "humble and contrite" attitude show repentance. True repentance is change: A change in character, priorities and actions.

What types of people characterize the majority in our churches? Are our churches full of those who seem to only have a marginal commitment evidenced by a life of compromise? Or, are our churches full of people who are growing and changing, perhaps stumbling a bit here and there, but otherwise are truly a 'light' evidenced by good works? Jesus gave a parable about a field that was planted with wheat. During the night an enemy came and planted weeds among the good wheat seeds. Later they both grew together and Jesus said it would be sorted out at the harvest time. I suppose then that this is nothing new. However, it does seem more pronounced these days. Perhaps the fact that the Western Church is not under persecution influences the proliferation of half-hearted or disingenuous Christians. The threat of real persecution sifts those who are ardently committed from those who care little.



I think that the persecution from within is an interesting notion but not quite an accurate description for what is going on. I think what we are seeing is complacency and laziness and "the little foxes spoiling the vine." We are seeing a gradual spiritual decline, it's corrupt, distasteful, and so very sad, but I cannot call it persecution from within. Persecution denotes a radical subjugation and imminent danger. Our lazy Western spirituality is a gradual slide down a slippery slope. God, I hope we wake up.
Was there ever a time when the church was more good than bad? It seems so to me.

When It Comes To Children In Church We Have An Organic Approach

I had a spiritual awakening and became a Christian while I was pregnant with my first child. I toted my baby along with me to every church service, revival, bible study I could. I even brought him with me on home and hospital visits, probably a little unadvisedly, but he’s none the worse for it. When he was fussy, I did all kinds of things to distract him. I gently and firmly eased him into realizing that he could play quietly in church, but if he was going to be disruptive enough to make me have to take him out, it would not be fun. I used positive and negative reinforcement. So when I had other children or had occasion to help our with friends' children in church, I applied the same principals, suiting things to the different personalities of each child. Anyway this whole notion of children and church got me thinking of a word that is very popular today, “organic.”

Organic - 2. developing naturally: occurring or developing gradually and naturally, without being forced or contrived 3. intrinsic: forming a basic and inherent part of something and largely responsible for its identity or makeup

I am not an extreme advocate of home-schooling, attachment parenting and co-sleeping, however, I see the value and the lessons we can learn from those concepts, and I respect them. The older children get, the more they naturally grow apart from their family. That is how we humans develop and become independent. Conversely, the younger children are, the more they benefit from being close to their parents through the course of daily life. In the younger years they learn and observe, as by osmosis, at their parents' side, as they are gradually launched toward independence.

We believe there should be a certain amount of age-specific spiritual training for children separate from the greater church services. It seems that the popular mode of operating for most churches is to divide everyone into their age-specific and life-centric little category and then put them in that small group to learn. There is some value in that, and there are times when those kinds of classes are necessary in a church. Many people will not even attend a church that does not have a nursery, or a singles group, or other kind of group that is very specific to them. I think that is a shame. If our pattern is to be like Jesus, and His Disciples, and the First Century Church they began, then we must realize they built a church community where everyone came together. Jew and Gentile, men and women, young and old, rich and poor. Recall that even Jesus’ disciples wanted to keep the children separate, but He corrected them and told them to bring the children to Him right along with everyone else. That was a pretty radical idea at the time.

Some people hold the opinion that it's boring and inappropriate for children to be in church. Many parents are frazzled by a stressful week. When they arrive at church and their children act typically or even misbehave (as all children do at times), they’d prefer to have their child in another place. They’re sensitive to how others will feel about being disrupted, and perhaps they’d like to soak up the service without distraction. I can understand and relate to that. When parents need a break, as they surely do sometimes, it is the job of their friends within the church to run interference for them and help with the children. We need to pinch hit for one another. We need to understand that children will be a little immature and even noisy in service at times. They can be distracted and taken outside or to another room if necessary. Children will learn how to act in church and other places like restaurants, the more often they are taken to those places and taught, encouraged and expected to act accordingly.

Parents (or whatever other adult fulfills that role in their life) are their children’s first and most important teachers, and it seems the most natural thing to us when children are with their parents as often as possible. Togetherness as a family or community is a rarity today, everyone is busy and working and playing in different places. Children are with caregivers and coaches, and we almost expect the few hours of church we have together each week to be another time the baby is in the nursery, the toddler is in the 2-3 year old Sunday School Class and the teen is in youth group. Again, I am not saying that those various classes aren't valuable and don't have a place. I'm just saying that in our church, separate time is limited. Most of the time we encourage you to keep your child with you in the pew. You’ll be close to your child guiding by example and gentle encouragement, modeling what it is to be a Christian worshiping and learning in community with other Christians. That is why I say that when it comes to children, our ministry takes an organic approach.


Above picture from U.S. National Archive Photostream.

March 2, 2009...Already?!?! Notes

I am still having small residual effects from that nasty bout of the flu. I feel better but have a bit of a cough left.

Several co-workers have been sick, so I have been working more than my slated hours to help fill in. I enjoy my new job, it’s a blessing and a ministry to the children. Some days are a challenge with troubled children. Two of my three after school students (siblings) lost their father last December. My other student’s Mom does not speak English fluently, so the primary responsibility for helping with homework is upon me.

We are having several visitors this month, and are looking forward to our time with them all. Big Daddy loathes going to go to Key West, but I think it will be fun to see and do some of the touristy things. Frankly I’m glad we’ll have the opportunity (excuse!) to do so while showing our visitors the sights.

Last night we had an unusual but good service. I feel the Lord gave me some words regarding the church and the ministry. The first was regarding where our church was at now, and the words He gave me were: sweet, rebellious and scattered. Regarding where the Lord would like us to go, I felt He said: faithful, “till the ground” and strident. Interesting, so I am thinking and praying on those things. I’m thinking that the second definition of strident is more apropos to the church ministry, although Big Daddy is a loud and demonstrative preacher.

I continue to read my yearly Bible plan, Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell and Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon. I am enjoying all of them. I went into Velvet Elvis being skeptical, and not liking it much at first, but currently I think it’s not too bad. There are good things and things that make me uncomfortable. I’m going to think on it for awhile.

Our church had a fabulous rummage sale on Saturday. I know we felt busy and stressed getting it all together, but it turned out swell! It was a fun day of fellowship for the workers, and a success that will put nice dent in the church's bills.