6/23/2026 Weekly Bible message

church criticism

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 1:01

Hello and everyone, everyone. Welcome to the weekly Bible podcast where we put the mission of Jesus above everything else. I'm your host, Mark Williams, and today we're tackling tackling a hard but necessary conversation. We are talking about the criticizing of certain churches and leaders. You've seen it online, you've heard it on in conversations. Someone posts a problem in a local church, maybe leadership issues, a scandal, a style they don't like, or a doctrine doctoral agreement disagreement. And the response comes fast. If you're criticizing the church, you're not a real Christian. We're supposed to be for the kingdom of God. Is that true? Are critics automatically fake believers? Or are they more of a nuisance? Today we're diving deep into scripture, church church history, and the heart of unity. By the end of this episode, I pray that you have clarity on how to handle criticism, whether you're giving it or receiving it, by staying fiercely committed to the kingdom. Let's pray. Father, open our hearts to your word, remove dis division, and replace it with love for your bride, the church. In Jesus' name, Amen. Jesus prayed in John 17, verses 20 through 23. I do not ask for these only, but I also for these who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. Unity isn't optional. It's evangelic. When the world sees Christians tearing down each other, especially local churches, it gives them special it gives them ammunition to dismiss the gospel. Paul reinforces this in Ephesians 4 1 through 6. He says, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy worthy of the calling, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body. We are one body. Attacking the church from within with a spirit of tearing down can grieve the Holy Spirit. Some examples are in Corinthian, the Corinthian church divisions, Paul rebukes factions in modern parallel jumping on social media to air dirty laundry instead of handling it biblically. One key point we can get out of that is legitimate concern is different from a critical spirit critical spirit. The Bible condemns the latter. See uh you know in Titus 3.2 and Philippians 2.14. Here's where it gets nuanced. Not all criticized uh criticism is anti-kingdom. The prophets constantly criticize Israel's worship and leadership, yet they were deeply committed to God's people. Jesus flipped tables of the temple in John 2 and called out the Pharisees in Matthew 23. He loved the institution enough to purify it. Paul publicly opposed Peter when he was wrong in Galatians 2:11 uh 2, 11 through 14. Um in Revelation 2.3, Jesus himself criticizes specific churches Ephesus lost first love, Thira, tolerating false teaching, and Losida being lukewarm. Distinction to make the critical spirit, condemning, mocking, self-righteous, sowing discord, often reveals a heart not submitted to the kingdom. Prophetic correction done in love, privately first, with solution and restoration in mind, can be very kingdom oriented. Galatians 6, 1, brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you are you who are in spiritual should restore him in spirit of gentleness. Real Christians confront sin and error, but the goal is always restoration, not destruction. The heart behind much of the criticism, many modern critiques are about holiness or biblical fidelity, uh are not about holiness or biblical fidelity, they're about personal preference, um, cultural comfort or offense. Um common examples that often reveal uh cons uh consumer mindset rather than kingdom loyalty, uh the worship music changed. It's too loud, it's too quiet, it's too modern, it's too traditional. Music styles have varied across the cultures in centuries. Psalms were sung with instruments that would sound foreign to us today. Criticizing a church primarily primarily because of the change in music is unbiblical when the lyrics are sound and the heart of worship is intact. The Bible calls us to worship in spirit and truth in John 4, 23 through 24, not demand our favorite genre. They have a female pastor. Scripture is clear on male leadership in the office of elder or overseer in 1 Timothy 3, 1 through 7 and Titus 1, 5 through 9. So let's examine this a little bit more in depth about a woman being a pastor. Um it was Paul who was one of the greatest missionary ever, but he was an Orthodox Jew. Uh before he followed Christ, he was accustomed to the culture of only having men speaking and leading in church. Jesus used an empowered uh and empowered women more than anyone else. So if Jesus thought it was okay, I think he wouldn't want women to be left out of pastoring, especially when they have been called to do so. So using this as primary reason to tear down or abandon the church often stems from preference rather than humble, spirit-led pursuit of truth. Real kingdom people prioritize the gospel being preached and souls being saved over secondary disputes. Some other examples is jumping ship every time a leader sins instead of praying and restoring. We're all human, I don't care who is in leadership and who is a pastor, they're going to sin sometimes. Um doctor uh doctrinal nitpicking that elevates minor issues above above the Great Commission. In Hebrews 10, 24 and 25, let us consider how to stir up one another to love and uh love and good works, not neglecting to meet each meet together. The church is the bride of Christ in Ephesians 5, 25 through 27. Uh would you publicly shame your wife's flaws for the world to see, or work privately to make her radiant? Test for your own heart. I have prayed consistently for this church and leader. Priest play pray for your pastor. They need your prayers just like everyone else needs prayers. Um, have I gone to them in private first? Um, is my motive love and kingdom advance or validation and venting? Um, and am I submitted to authority in Hebrews 13, 17? If the answer is consistently no, especially on matters like music style or pastoral gender, the criticism may reveal a heart of more loyal to self than to kingdom. And now how to respond when you're criticized, leaders and members, don't dismiss and dismiss all criticism. Some is from the Lord. Um, some practical steps is listen humbly in Proverbs 12.1. Test everything against Scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5.21. Repent where needed, discern the spirit behind the words. For critics, if you feel uh like you must speak publicly, do this with tears, not triumph. The goal in is the church looking more like Jesus. Um commit to being for the local church, serve, pray, speak the truth in love. Unity is not negotiable for the kingdom. Uh habitual crit critical, unaccountable, non-submissive spirit, especially over unbiblical preferences like music changes or pastoral gender, often single singles a heart not fully aligned with Christ's prayer in John 17. But faithful, loving correction has always been part of God's plan to purify his bride. So the challenge this week, instead of criticizing from afar, I ask God how you can build up the church where you are. Let's say a prayer. Lord, make us the one, heals divisions, raise up the lovers for your church who speak the truth and love, and stand by your kingdom united in your mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Thank you for listening to this episode. Um, if you could share it with someone, leave a review, and um please join us on Sunday mornings um at Lifeline Church Peterstown or online at um our YouTube page or Carla Bragg's Facebook page. Um we have men's and women's small groups on Wednesday nights at 6, and we also have kids and youth on the same night. Um the youth group meets on Sundays at 6 p.m. And uh we have celebrate recovery on um Fridays starting at 5 30 with a hot meal and then um the uh the rest of it. But uh let's put let's continue to put the kingdom above all else. God bless you. Have a good night.