Flawed or Foolish

When you become a parent, you learn quickly there is a big difference between childish actions and foolish behavior. One set of behaviors is frankly to be expected no matter how well-behaved a child may strive to be. And one set of behaviors is potentially very destructive, either short-term or long-term or both. 

One mindset which needs an adjustment in our conversations is the sentiment “all churches are flawed.” This is of course a true statement this side of heaven as we all navigate a fallen world. 

But there is a huge, huge massive difference between flawed behavior from a church and her leaders and foolish behavior from a church and her leaders. Often, with people who carry significant church hurt around, the subtle assumption they feel from others is they need to let it go because all churches/leaders are flawed. But for most who carry heavy church hurt around with them daily, they’re not nitpicking a flawed moment, leader or church. They have usually suffered directly from consistent, foolish behavior and the consequences that accompany such behavior.  Adding to the pain, is the reality the institution usually wins out and they are left to sort through their hurt, confusion and the consequences of others’ foolish behavior alone.

Church leadership is hard. I’m naturally sympathetic to church leaders. I’ve been one and I hope to be one again. I know what it’s like to get bit by sheep when you were only trying to lead humbly. I also know how often church leaders are thrust into situations which don’t have clear, easy paths lighting the way. Yet, they don’t have the luxury to wait and Monday morning quarterback. Instead, their decisions get scrutinized by hundreds. And often, they do make mistakes, even sin amidst the heavy weight of leading an institution. Church leadership is hard. We as churchgoers must expect our churches/leaders to mess up and sin from time to time just like as parents we must expect our kids to behave childishly as they grow up.

But foolish behavior from our churches and her leaders is never to be accepted unless there is humble contrition, repentance and effort to make amends. 

Yes, it’s true some churchgoers need to extend grace more consistently for flawed behaviors. 

It’s just as true more churchgoers must speak out against the foolish behaviors they see within their church and her leaders.

Foolish leadership is creating crises within evangelical churches everywhere. There is a systemic-wide epidemic of moral failures piling up. There is even more of an epidemic of consistent foolish, institution-preserving, sheep-injuring behavior church leaders are perpetuating under a church body who should be speaking up.

How can you tell which type of church you are at? How do you distinguish between the two? Here's a list to help you discern:

• Flawed churches are quick to listen to and humbly consider the pain they may have caused others.

• Foolish churches are quick to defend their actions and minimize the pain of their sheep.
  
  

• Flawed churches don’t hesitate (when appropriate) to confess their sins corporately and with specificity.

• Foolish churches manage their sins privately and speak with generic platitudes which are always true (eg, we could have done some things better or communicated more clearly).
  
  

• Flawed churches live out Ezekiel 34:11-16.

• Foolish churches live out Ezekiel 34:2-6.
  
  

• Flawed churches have beautiful stories of healing, understanding surrounding them.

• Foolish churches have piles of dead bodies strewn all around and behind them.
  
  

• Flawed churches refuse to manage information, believing the body deserves to know everything there is to be known.

• Foolish churches relentlessly manage information, believing the body incapable of handling the full truth.   
  
  

• Flawed churches never silence or shame their sheep.

• Foolish churches seek a variety of ways to silence and shame their sheep.
  
  

• Flawed churches train their members to pursue all fellow church members with a 1 Cor 12:25-26 mindset.

• Foolish churches train their members it’s gossip and divisive to discuss any matters that don’t directly involve them, even when it is true. 
  
  

• Flawed churches care more about the health of the sheep than the appearance of the institution.

• Foolish churches care first and foremost for the institution and its appearances than the sheep they been charged with shepherding. 
  
  

• Flawed churches are slow to label others and their behavior.

• Foolish churches are quick to label others as divisive or gossips.

Yes, all churches are at best flawed. My prayer is you find yourself at a flawed church today. Or my prayer is one day you help plant a flawed church. Flawed churches are beautiful.

Foolish churches are so destructive. Not all sin is equal (https://www.gotquestions.org/sins-equal.html). 

Types of sin matter to the Lord. Degrees of sin matter to the Lord. Consistency of sin matters to the Lord.

The Lord cares deeply what happens to His sheep. Protection of an institution at the expense of His sheep will not stand in the day of judgment. 

The sweet promise to all those who have been deeply hurt by foolish churches and foolish leaders is that Jesus Himself is coming to search for you (Ezek 34:11, Jer 23:3-4, John 10).

Until then, Lord, help me be a part of a flawed church.