Seven Reasons Why Churches Eventually Fail

Seven Reasons Why Churches Eventually Fail

All ministries seem to have a shelf life. It doesn’t have to be that way, but it most often is. The failure that comes at the end does not discount the great accomplishments for Christ over a long history of faithful ministry. However, our desire is to see Christian ministries—especially churches continue to prosper spiritually and in their effectiveness for Christ for as long as possible.

One way to persevere in effectiveness is to consider the messages to the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3 and hear the warnings directed toward them. Here are seven reasons that church eventually fail.

Work becomes a priority over love.

To the church at Ephesus Jesus says,

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Revelation 3:4-5

The Ephesian church was the key historical church in all of Asia Minor. It was a hardworking congregation that was committed to doctrinal and moral purity. I am sure most, at the time of John’s writings, considered the Ephesian church the steadfast leader among the churches of Asia Minor—maybe even over all churches except Jerusalem.

Yet something had changed in the church. They had left their primary motivation for ministry. Jesus said that the two great commandments were to love God with our entire beings and then love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:37). They were continuing to do the right things, but by 95 AD or so, they were doing it for the wrong reasons.

The passage does not identify their false motivation. It could be tradition, pride, a sense of spiritual superiority, blind duty, fear, or even something else. What they had lost was love. Love for the Lord Jesus Christ and the resulting love for one another. Jesus had told the disciples that the world would recognize their genuineness by their love for one another (John 13:35).

Without Holy Spirit generated love, the church can continue for a time, but it will eventually fail.

Fear overtakes faith during persecution.

To the church at Smyrna, Jesus says,

Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10).

For the church at Smyrna, persecution was coming. There is no criticism or condemnation for the church. There are words of encouragement to be victorious in the time of trial to come. And that trial clearly is in the sovereign plan of God for them.

But the words that are often interpreted as encouragement include two commands. Do not fear and be faithful unto death. The church often prospers under persecution, but not always. Some are overcome with fear and abandon their faith. The only way to prevent this is to make sure that we  are truly God’s children to start and then walk in close fellowship with the One who allays our fears and enables us to remain faithful. The fearful church is a failing church.

The church body tolerates immorality among its members.

This is the problem at Pergamos.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. ¹⁵ Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (Revelation 2:14-15).

Pergamos was a church that was standing for purity in doctrine but not in practice. This was a church that had endured horrible persecution. One of their members, Antipas mentioned by name here , had been martyred. And yet, they were in grave spiritual danger.

Like the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 5:1-8, they had not practiced church discipline. We are tempted, in the name of love, to overlook grievous sin on the part of professing believers in the church family. Churches that ignore fornication, adultery, homosexuality and other clearly identified sins—and some today actually embrace such lifestyles–are headed for destruction. We should help people get victory over such sins, without endorsing sinful lifestyles.

Embracing immorality will inevitably lead to the failure of the congregation before God. In fact, Jesus says that such a church will not only lose its blessing, but that also Jesus will personally fight against a church that dishonors his name in this way (Revelation 2:16).

The church tolerates moral and doctrinal corruption in its leaders.

Thyatira takes the sin of Pergamos a step further.

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:18-23)

Churches can look very healthy on the outside and seem to have a lot of visible success and still have corrupt leadership. Sadly, we have seen this in all kinds of congregations, regardless of denomination or theological position. There is rampant hidden hypocrisy at the top of the organization. Not only will those leaders be judged, but all the followers that continue in the same corruption will be destroyed as well.

Such churches can be saved if they are willing to deal with sinning leadership, but that is often very difficult in situations where the leaders seem to hold unshakable power. However, Jesus has a way of wresting power from corrupt leaders and giving faithful followers the opportunity to purify the congregation.

The church is dead and does not know it.

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. (Revelation 3:1-3)

Historically, churches like this often die through doctrinal corruption. Leaders deny the fundamentals of the faith. Eventually the congregation is made of up people who attend church on Sunday but have no real true faith in Christ. Maybe there are some believing members praying for revival, or a preacher burdened for a professing, but lost congregation. This was the state of Churches in the Americas and England prior to the Great Awakening, and in other revivals throughout history. The people in these churches did not just need to stop sinning, they needed the new birth. Often there were people praying for revival in these churches.

The church fails to hold its clear distinctions.

I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. (Revelation 3:8, 11).

The commendation of the church at Philadelphia is that they have kept the word of the Lord and have not denied His name. They have an open door, sovereignly given them by God. He commands them not to voluntarily give up what they have—we assume this could happen through submission to those of the synagogue of Satan (Revelation 3:9) or denying the name of Christ through false doctrine. This church needed to remain faithful.

The church abandons its dependence upon Christ.

And now he speaks to Laodicea.

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (Revelation 3:15-18).

Many consider the problem at Laodicea was lukewarmness—basically a way of saying they were repulsive to Christ. But lukewarmness was the result not the root of the problem. Jesus identifies the problem clearly. This church had a misguided sense of self-sufficiency. They saw themselves as no longer desperately needing Christ.

A church that does not see itself as ultimately needy, does not see itself accurately. The days of falling on their faces before God to ask His favor, seek His blessing, and beg for His mercy are gone. Prosperous times give the illusion of self-sufficiency. This church needs to repent and return to Christ for true spiritual blessing that He only gives—and He must constantly give. A church that is not constantly begging God for His daily blessing is a church that is nauseating to Him.

May Christ keep our churches healthy.

Audio version of this post: Seven Reasons Why Churches Eventually Fail