Every church has problems. Look at the Corinthian church. Some members got drunk during communion, and others refused to come unless their favourite preacher was speaking. One man was even having an affair with his stepmother (take a look at 1 Corinthians 5:1). Sitting with you in church on Sundays are some very messed-up people. Maybe you’d even describe yourself as one of them. But God keeps working with us, because He sees our potential value to His kingdom. After writing about gossipers, complainers, the lustful, and the greedy, Jude ends his short book with these words: ‘Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault’ (v. 24 NLT). In Acts 27, Paul was travelling on a ship with a centurion and a group of soldiers. When they hit a storm, the ship’s sailors tried to escape in the lifeboats. But Paul said to them, ‘Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved’ (V.31 NIV). When we don’t like something about our church, it’s tempting for us to react in the same way and leave. But maybe God’s put us there for a reason, and wants us to ride out the storm. That doesn’t mean it’s always wrong to leave a church, but we need to make sure our reasons for leaving are scriptural rather than self-centred or based on personal preferences. If you find your church has problems, don’t be the first to leave. Be the first to say ‘Let’s pray for our church; let’s do what we can to improve it and keep it working for God’s Kingdom and glory, in line with His will.’

What Now?

Make a regular time each week to pray for your church. See if you can get others from your church to join you.