Church Red Flags
Not all churches are equal, and not all ministries are the same. While some are healthy and vibrant, others are spiritually harmful. Here are some red flags to identify a church that is heading in the wrong direction, and how to take actions against them.
Red Flag: It’s all about that one church
If the people of a church start to talk as if they are the only true church and every other congregation, denomination, and style of worship is unbiblical, that is a red flag. Local churches should be kingdom-minded, meaning they should think of the advance of the Gospel and the glory of God above all. When a church prays for other churches in the area, praises local pastors, and encourages people to work with Christians of varying denominations for outreach, that is a sign of health.
Red Flag: The pastor acts as if he is infallible
If the pastor thinks he alone has the insight to teach the Word and make decisions for the church, that is a red flag. If he discourages people from listening to sermons from anyone else, visiting neighboring churches, or reading Christian books, be wary. If he lacks humility and never admits to mistakes, take caution. It is healthy for a pastor to encourage people to read classic devotional books, listen to edifying podcasts, and attend Christian conferences.
Red Flag: No one talks about their sin
If the members are overly critical of sinners, and don’t see themselves among them, that is a red flag. Endless tirades against the sexual promiscuity, moral decay, and spiritual depravity of our culture, with no recognition of their own sinful hearts misses the point of the Gospel. A church that doesn’t see their own sin is a church that doesn’t celebrate grace. The Gospel shouldn’t produce cynical people. Pastors should encourage people to regularly see themselves as redeemed, no better than anyone else and forever celebrating God’s amazing grace.
Red Flag: Secrecy is expected of members
If most meetings are closed meetings, and lots of cliquey conversations happen in corners of the church facility, that is a red flag. Are the finances of the church a big mystery to which only a select few have access? Are sins swept under the rug? A church that has nothing to hide is a healthy church. Churches will make mistakes, even grave ones at times. Leaders who confess openly the church’s failures and give opportunity for people to ask questions are healthy leaders.
Red Flag: The church has a bad rep
If the people in the community, including other local churches, have nothing good to say about the congregation, that is a red flag. “Unfriendly. Isolated. Unwelcoming.” Of course it is true that some in the community may misrepresent the church, but if this is a consistent refrain especially from long term local leaders, something is likely off. The good news is a bad reputation can be replaced with a good one. People have short memories, and if a church starts to become biblically faithful, welcoming people, and serving the community, in short time the community’s opinion will change.
Red Flag: Nobody prays or evangelizes
If a church seldom opens meetings in prayer, hardly ever talks about unbelieving family and friends they are trying to reach, and never asks others to hold them up in supplication, that is a red flag. Is anyone getting baptized? Are there any kids running up and down the halls? Are there any teenagers sitting in the pews? I want to be careful here, the fruit of ministry is out of our hands. There may be seasons when a church doesn’t see a single conversion and the children’s ministry is empty. That said, if this is the norm, people should be praying their hearts out for it to change.
A red flag is a warning, not a judgment. If you see some of these red flags at your church, the answer is not necessarily to abandon ship. Start by praying. Then follow that up by leading by example. Begin to have some open healthy conversations with people. Those red flags may disappear faster than you think. God has a way of making dead and dying things alive again.
Rick Harrington is a pastor at First Baptist Church - Haverhill in Massachusetts and the Provost of the (upcoming) BCNE Multiplication Center. He is the author of the books "How to Find a Church: Seven Steps to Becoming Part of a Spiritual Family" and "The Weight of Preaching: Heralding the Gospel of Grace".
