The Lord warns us to watch out for church members who will sabotage our church’s unity from within!
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17)
Here are 15 warning signs to watch for.
1. They seek leadership positions to attract attention and react angrily when others are recognized instead. (3 John 9-11)
2. They effectively rally support for their own causes. (Proverbs 16:5)
3. They oppose any issue unless it benefits them directly. (Proverbs 23:6-7)
4. They flatter the pastor and leaders publicly but secretly undermine them among members. (Proverbs 20:19)
5. They openly criticize ideas that are not theirs. (Proverbs 17:11, Luke 6:45)
6. They often claim, “People are saying…” to spread rumors. (Nehemiah 6:6-8, Ephesians 5:9-11)
7. They intentionally distort the truth to gain support. (Proverbs 24:1-2)
8. They struggle to discuss what Christ has personally done in their lives. (John 4:14, Hebrews 3:12-13, 1 Peter 2:1-3, 2 Peter 3:18)
9. They care for others only as long as they find them useful. (Ezekiel 33:31)
10. They criticize others’ faults but don’t see their own sins or need to reconcile with God. (Mark 2:17, John 9:39-41, 1 John 1:8)
11. They rarely participate in services, prayer meetings, or outreach. (Hebrews 10:25, James 4:2)
12. They prioritize money over outreach. (Mark 14:3-9, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, 1 Timothy 6:10)
13. They are unteachable and clearly refuse to acknowledge their need to change. (Proverbs 12:1, Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 26:12, Zechariah 7:11-12)
14. They often boast about their past achievements, but their recent efforts are minimal. (2 Chronicles 32:13-16, Proverbs 27:2, James 4:16-17)
15. They take it upon themselves to critique the pastor’s sermons and leadership. (Proverbs 23:9, Hebrews 13:17)
Every church has its disruptors. Once you recognize them, God tells us to “avoid them.” Remember, where God is, there is unity; where others promote themselves, disunity will reign.
If you find yourself identified by the characteristics above, know that Christ’s church is not about you. Through God’s forgiveness and victory, you can change to bring glory to Him.