You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self- control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT)

I came across this passage by accident while looking for another one. I honestly don’t think I had really seen, or paid attention to this passage before. But when I came upon this, in light of some recent events it seemed to become really clear to me. I’m not sure what concerns me more. How true this passage really is, or how infected the church has become with the behaviors described. Make no mistake, the church is infected at all levels, from the highest ranks of leadership, clergy and lay people alike, down to the lay person occupying the pew.

It’s time we begin to ask some hard questions in the church:
Is the pastor burying his head and overlooking obvious sin in the lives of his board members? Is the church board overlooking obvious sin in the life of their pastor? Is the congregation holding the board and the pastor accountable? Is the pastor really preaching the word, or is he picking and choosing who he wants to preach to according to who he is angry with that week? Or is he preaching a sermon that just makes the people feel good because he doesn’t want to offend anyone with the truth? Is the pastor a bully? Are there members who bully the pastor? Are we parents ensuring that our children are truly being grounded in the word of God, and ensuring that the people we encourage them to follow and listen to are proper Christian examples? Are we as parents setting the examples ourselves that our children need to see?

Sadly, it’s not limited to any one church or denomination; it has infected all of our churches to some degree. The real difference is how a church, including everyone, from the layperson in the pew, to board member, and right up to the pastor deals with the infection. Too often, I think we overlook these very serious problems because we’re afraid of offending someone. Or it’s just easier to go along so we can get along. And in the home as well as the church, we don’t want to fight with our children, or risk making them uncomfortable, so we let their happiness dictate our choices.

Sadly, I must confess that I have been guilty of overlooking serious problems in the church and in my own home. Not addressing issues immediately in my home, because I was afraid of the risk of divorce, cost me my family, and I still ended divorced. Even worse is that it has cost my children in ways I can’t begin to describe, or even imagine. Fortunately, my God has overcome my own stupidity and fear and through His power, and my loving parents and family, my children are safe and, my family is intact.

Not addressing the issues in my church has also had some very detrimental effects. Now, before I go on I have to say, I have been blessed to have been a part of some great churches with some wonderful pastors throughout my life. Sadly I have also been a part of a couple churches, at different times, where sin was allowed to come in and undermine God’s Word; Where selfishness ruled and egos ran high. In both cases I kept my mouth shut, because I didn’t want to rock the boat or upset my pastor, and because I was afraid. In both cases I was not only a church member, I was also a board member. In both situations, the pastor was actually the root of the problem, but wanted to blame the problems on the board, or previous boards, or the congregation, or previous pastors. They were too proud to admit their own weaknesses, let alone admit that they might actually be capable of committing sin. In one case, the church doors were shut and the church officially closed not long after I left. In the second church, I continue to pray for the pastor and the church, because it really will take God getting a hold of people and them getting a hold of God in order to for anything to change for the better. It’s a sad day whenever a church closes its doors. It’s even sadder when it is caused by sin that had infected the church and fear that infected the people.

Please understand, I am not saying it is always the pastor’s fault. I have also known of congregations who bully the pastor, and refuse to confront sin.  I have heard horror stories, where congregations and church boards were so full of pride and egos, and hate that if Christ himself were to physically walk through the doors they still would not listen.

I have a few suggestions to help fight these infections:
First make sure you yourself are immunized. Make sure you are truly listening to God and keep yourself close to Him. Ask Him to examine your heart, and to point out anything on you that is of a wicked, sinful nature. Make sure you rely on Him to guide your life so that you are living a life pleasing to him.
Second, laypeople, pray for your pastor, and your board members, and pastors and board members pay for those in your congregation. In other words, people, pray for each other.
Third, be willing to pray with your pastor. Regardless of how sanctified he or she may be, your pastor is only human and needs your prayers to uplift him or her.
Fourth, when God is telling you that something is not right, pay attention. And begin to pray about it.
Finally, where there is sin, regardless of who, it must be confronted. It must be done lovingly with a goal of redemption. But it must be dealt with. If you simply overlook it, like any infection it will spread. Just as an infection left untreated in the human body, can kill the body, sin infection in the church will kill the church, as well as an untold number of souls.

A final thought: I wonder, when we refuse to confront sin, if we aren’t just holding the gates of hell open for others and inviting them to make that their eternal destination.