I just heard that another church is fighting. They are voting whether or not to get rid of their pastor. It seems he confronted a prominent member about his sinfulness. The member gives a lot of money and the rest of the church would rather accommodate the sin of the prominent member than to stand up for righteousness. It's a whole lot easier to get rid of the pastor than to replace this member's money.
I already know how the story will be told about the town. They will say that the pastor was not a gracious forgiving person. They will say he was judgmental; and everyone knows the Bible says we shouldn't judge. (Actually, it doesn't. Read 1 Corinthians 5:12) The church needs a more caring and loving man.
Meanwhile, the devil laughs. He enjoys church fights. He loves churches who take their attention off of the Lord and place it on themselves. He loves churches who use their prayer meetings as opportunities for gossip. He relishes churches who are prideful about their missions giving but care very little about reaching people for Christ personally. He is excited about churches who applaud themselves for correct doctrine but fail to know that God is all powerful and present.
The devil laughs at anemic churches. He laughs because they think their problems are marketing or each other. He is so amused to see that the members lack love for one another. He knows that he would be defeated if they knew he was the enemy. He laughs when churches attack their own.
Either God laughs or the devil laughs with delight at the actions of a church. Which is it at your church? Who's laughing?
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
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