It is entirely possible for a group of God’s people to die. Near the end of the first century our Lord told the church at Sardis, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” Rev. 3:1. Out of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation, only this congregation and the church at Laodicea seem to be lacking in outward foes, but they both had inward trouble to deal with. They were not plagued by emperor worship, the Jews or the Nicolaitans. Viewed externally, the church at Sardis looked peaceful and acceptable, a model church—but from the Lord’s viewpoint it was spiritually dead. The truth is that the church was so life-less that it was not even worth attacking. Like some that Paul spoke of, they had “a form of godliness but denying its power” 2 Timothy 3:5.
“This church has the reputation of being alive, but the Lord sees it as it actually is—dead. Apparently this church, like the one in Ephesus, had begun with enthusiasm and a burning zeal for Christ and truth, but now it was dying of ‘dry rot,’ an internal deterioration. As the widow who gives herself to pleasure ‘is dead while she liveth’ 1 Tim. 5:6, so this church had sunk into spiritual inactivity, possibly to the level of the world, while yet maintaining an outward impression of love and piety. This describes many churches today that have a reputation of soundness and activity, but inwardly are decaying and dying.” Homer Hailey, Revelation: An Introduction And Commentary, pp. 144, 145.
There are congregations throughout this country that are every bit as dead as the church at Sardis. Like Sardis, some of them have good reputations and a great past. They assemble every Lord’s Day and observe the “acts of worship” described in the New Testament Acts 2:42. Sometimes they point back to the past and take pride in the fact that some “great” preachers used to work with them. But, like in The Wizard of Oz, you can pull back the curtain and see them for what they really are: spiritually dead.
In our society when a dead body is found and the cause of death is not immediately known, the county coroner will order an autopsy. An autopsy will not only give the immediate cause of death, but will also list the “contributing causes” of death. In this article we are going to do an autopsy on a dead church and look at the immediate cause of death and some contributing factors.
Over the past twenty years I have had the opportunity to preach in meetings with many different congregations—some of which were dead and did not even know it.
In local congregations seldom is the “cause of death” easy to see. Most of the time it is not a single item that killed a church—it was a combination of several things that brought about their demise. I think of several congregations I know of that used to have large numbers of people assemble together every Lord’s Day, but now struggle to keep the electric bill paid. As an outside observer it seems to me that all of the “dead” churches I know have several things in common, and it is these elements that I want to examine here. Some of these elements might be classified as “causes” and others as “effect.”
Neglect Of Bible Classes
Bible classes are an expedient way to teach the story of the Bible. In Bible classes teachers can adapt the material they present to the age level and understanding of the students in their class.
Preaching from the pulpit cannot be as specific, since in the same audience you might have college graduates sitting alongside of high school drop-outs, babes in Christ sitting beside well-grounded Christians, those who diligently study their Bibles daily sitting by some who won’t open their Bibles again till the next Sunday.
Some congregations conduct their Bible classes in a hodgepodge manner—teachers are allowed to teach what they want whenever they want. It is not that they are teaching error, but as a whole the students are not being given the “whole counsel of God” Acts 20:27.
Some of the Bible class books brethren use are nothing but fluff, even though they were published by well-known brethren. It is not that they contain false doctrine—they do not contain any doctrine! This is why the brethren here in Zion have invested a great deal of time and money in developing our teaching program. Our teachers prepare all of their own class books and teaching material. The church here owns three copying machines to keep up with the demand for printed matter. Yes, it would be “cheaper” and easier to purchase printed class books, but, as everyone who has ever taught anything knows, the teachers who prepare their own material get the most out of a class. The brethren here believe that saving our children is far more important than saving a few dollars.
When a congregation neglects the Bible class program, it produces untaught Christians.
Where will future elders, deacons, preachers and teachers come from, if not from a local congregation? The future of every congregation is in their own hands, not in some college operated by our brethren cf. 2 Tim. 2:2.
Visitors to our assembly who have children usually want to see our classrooms. If they see nothing but neglect they will go elsewhere if they care about their children. (Continued Next Week)
by David Padfield
