Many Churches Today Cannot Help True Believers on Their Healing Journey
Because they don't know how
I honestly don’t know what’s going on with the churches these days. It’s all about growth, but never about healing.
It’s no different from the world.
When broken people go to church to seek God, usually what they find is a playground to carry out the same dysfunction they came in with.
Church can feel like their home—only that’s not how it is supposed to feel when an unbeliever walks in—in a broken mess.
Some of the most unhealthy people go to church, and instead of healing and becoming holy, they become more and more conceited.
Sick people can’t help sick people. The blind can’t lead the blind.
“Oh, Orla, you’re being so critical, Christians are meant to love each other and stick together. What will unbelievers think?”
On it goes - just like a dysfunctional family that never discusses anything. Protect the family (church), and never say anything bad about us.
You are bad if you say anything bad about the church (family).
And if you do, you must be gotten rid of.
You see, an unhealthy church needs unhealthy people to keep it going.
If mature healthy believers join the church and start asking questions, the rest will huddle together to guard the status quo.
Why Don’t They Help The People Grow in Holiness?
The simple answer is that they haven’t gone through the process themselves.
So, what are they doing then?
It’s no different than what Jesus said about the Pharisees. They are teaching from the Scriptures, but they are not applying the teaching to their own lives.
How bizarre, eh?
Yes, but it’s true. So for a season, you can actually stay in an unhealthy church by listening to what they preach, even if they are not practicing it themselves.
Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites, and it is no different today.
Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees
“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
—Matthew 23:1-28
The church is broken and many leaders have not entered into the holy place themselves, so please, protect yourself at church!
Keep searching until you find a group of sincere believers and then you will grow spiritually. The Holy Spirit will guide you.
Thank you for reading!
Órla
This is spot on. Thank you for putting this into words. My husband has been a pastor/minister for about 20 years. We’ve seen this play out in real time over the years. He recently resigned from his position of pastor of 12 years and this definitely plays a part.
Clearly stated and profound. Thank you!