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Why Churches Die

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Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles

The following are observations of this writer over a period of forty years as to why churches die. I’m certain that we can all relate to at least one of the categories listed below:

1) Churches die at the tables of compromise — When the church fights worldly influences such as sin and false doctrine — asking no quarter nor giving any — it prospers. In years past, while brethren bore scars and lost a spiritual battle now and then — they did not lose the war. In their hand was a two-edged sword, and on their side a divine defense none could penetrate (Ephesians 6:10-17). However, compromise opened the gates and sheathed the sword of the Spirit. The appeal to, “Let’s not dispute with people or hurt their feelings,” caused a multitude of problems. That appeal is the cankerworm and caterpillar that devours any church — until it is at last dead, stripped of its courage and faith.

2) Churches die of indifference — All churches lose members through death or moving away. However, indifference or spiritual laziness just revises the directory and is only waiting for move-ins and births. No effort is made to restore the fallen as Scripture demands (Gal. 6:1-2). No seed is sown (cf. Luke 8:5-15; 1 Corinthians 3:6-9). No one conducts home Bible studies (Acts 5:42). There is no zealous pursuit of souls (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 15:4-7). That church will gradually, eventually, and of a certainty die (Revelation 3:1-6).

3) Churches die from misdirection — They adopt worldly religious ideals. They see the church as a social reform agency, a general benevolent society, or a recreational institution. Its spiritual mission is all but forgotten (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; 2 Timothy 2:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:2). The harder they work at incorporating these worldly ideals, the more worldly the church becomes. In the end, it is but a grotesque caricature of the Lord’s church as described in the New Testament.

4) Churches die from apostasy (Hebrews 3:6-12; Hebrews 6:4-6; cf. 2 Peter 2:1-2; 1 John 4:1) — They are content to open the doors three times a week, have a meeting once a year, and paint the building when it begins to peal. They go in circles constantly wearing the ruts deeper and deeper. They press without a real goal, running on the treadmill until the church dies.

Is such a death as described above inevitable? Must the Lord’s work be wasted? No, not at all! The Lord has a spiritual prescription to prevent such a death:

  • “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us” (2 Timothy 1:13-14).
  • “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2 ESV).
  • “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12 ESV).
  • “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (1 Timothy 4:16).
  • Preach “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).

Brethren, may we have the faith, the zeal, and the backbone to take this spiritual prescription.

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