The way Jesus defines the church is amazing. He says in Matthew 16:18 that the church is to be a community so strong that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." But to say that all churches today are that vibrant would be an overstatement.
The local church is a vital part of Christ's ministry on earth. While churches are unhealthy, the gospel becomes like the best classification of gasoline put into an old dilapidated car -- it should run but not as good as it would if placed in the tanks of sports cars.
We want churches and ministries to be like supernatural "sports cars" by being the ministry that Jesus wants us to be. In order to do that, we must be quick to remove dysfunctions in our ministries. Here are five signs of a dysfunctional ministry and how to fix them.
Lack of an honoring culture. 1 Peter 2:17 says, "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." A healthy church will be one where honor is given, not taken. Leaders, volunteers and members of the church must be quick to honor one another's gifts, talents and strengths. As we honor God, we will in turn honor others as well.
Valuing results over relationships. Many churches want better doctrine, flawless worship services or smarter teachings, and often at the expense of stronger relationships. The church exists primarily as a community of saints before it is an organization. It is a family in the spirit before it is an institution. God values people, not systems. That's not to say that we throw system out the window, but as we value people more, they will help build the system with leaders.
Leaders wanting perks over sacrifice. A church with reserved parking for deacons, pastors and ministry heads is barely a good sign. Jesus said in Luke 22:26, "But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves." God is calling serious servant leaders, not entitled bosses.
No value for the unchurched. Jesus values the lost, and we are to value them, too. When a church is empowered by the Holy Spirit, we become instant witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The gospel was meant not only for the saved, but also for those who are still to be saved.
No empowering of upcoming leaders. A church that constantly is on the lookout for the next preachers, worship leaders, apostles, church planters and evangelists is one that thinks long-term. The church will still be around long after we are gone. The question we must ask ourselves is, "Who's going to take over when I'm gone?"
