A Plea to Church Cynics

A Haiku Deck Slide

The church has its problems, the main ones are called, “you and I.”

But the church is the beautiful, blood-bought body of Christ on earth.¹  It is the most important work on the earth, because it is focused on saving souls for eternity.

Yet the church is often attacked by cynics who have a negative view of the church.  The church cynic always has a list of problems with the local church and brotherhood at large.

• The church should sing better.
• The church is too bound by traditions.
• The church is dying because of hypocritical attitudes.
• The church’s preaching is not connecting with people today.
• The church leaders are poor in vision.

We all know church cynics, and have been them at times!  Most of us preachers turn into church cynics every Sunday night!!  I fear that too many young people of the Millennial generation are church cynics, but also many older people have become bitter church cynics.

Here is my three-part plea to church cynics.

1. Choose to do something about the problem you are complaining about!  It is easier to see a problem than to fix a problem.  Most church cynics are sitting on the sidelines of the church and complaining.  The cure for cynicism is getting involved and making a difference.  I really like the message of Matthew West’s song “Do Something.” (Here is the video link.)  It is about a man who was complaining about all the problems to God asking him to do something when he heard God say, “I did, I created you.”
2. Remember the church is God’s body and Christ’s bride, so though it is not perfect in its human form, it is to be valued,  esteemed, and loved.  We can handle personal criticism when we know the person truly loves us.  I think this principle should apply to the church as well.  Church leaders, and maybe even God, take criticism from church cynics much better when they truly love the church.  Love for the church should be demonstrated in action and a clear willingness to put the good of the church above ones’ own good.  The church is not to be treated like a restaurant when you have a bad experience, or a store manager when you got poor customer service.  We don’t just take our business elsewhere.  The church is your family!  The church is God’s sacred body that has such great value that Christ died on the cross to purchase it!  Cynics need to fall in love again with the church. Paul got pretty frustrated at the failures of many of the congregations he established, but he always had an incredibly high view and love of the church!
3. Look for the good that is being done, while trying to understand the reasons for the present church system and actions.  My last plea for church cynics is to look at the good being done in the local church.  See the impact being made upon the hurting, the love between brethren, and the teaching of the Word of God.  Often times church cynics get upset about a church system in place.  Why are the announcements before the worship (I much prefer them afterwards.)   Why do we announce song numbers, when all the songs are on the screen?  Why do the elders not share this decision with the church sooner, they must be hiding something?  Why doesn’t the church help the needy?  These questions all involve the church system and the local environment.  The cynic needs to try and understand why things are done the way they are done.  Often there is a valid or good reason.  It is only through understanding, that the cynic can appropriately complain and seek change.

I guess all of us can be church cynics from time-to-time, but this three-part plea helps me and I pray it helps others when they are cynical of the church.

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¹  Acts 20:28′ Ephesians 1:20-21; 5:22-33