3 Reasons Why Churches Collapse
What do you think about churches these days?
“In the past, my heart would warm up whenever I went to church… Why is it so empty now?”
“I listen to sermons, but my life doesn’t change at all.”
“They talk about God in church, but it feels far from the truth.”
Many believers actually say this.
The chapel is gorgeous and magnificent on the outside, and there is passionate praise and prayer… But,
there is no life inside. There is the Word, but no power.
Why on earth do churches collapse?
Today, we will look at the three decisive reasons why churches collapse based on the Bible.
This is not a simple social phenomenon.
It is a sign of spiritual corruption that the Bible warned us about in advance.
📖 First Reason – Absence or Distortion of the Word
Let’s look at Hebrews 5:12-14 together.
“For by this time you ought to be teachers,
but you need to be taught again the first principles of the oracles of God.”
This means that even if you have been a believer for a long time,
if you do not know the word properly, you are still a spiritual child.
You only eat the ‘milk’ of truth, but you cannot handle the solid food—that is, the deep will of God, the word of revelation.
This is the spiritual reality that many churches have fallen into today.
The Bible strictly prohibits adding to or deleting the word of God.
Revelation 22:18-19 says:
“If anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy,
God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city.”
However, many churches today
prioritize tradition over the word, and the doctrines of the denomination over the Bible.
Before we know it, the will of God has disappeared,
and human thoughts, philosophies, and emotions have come to dominate the pulpit.
The result is clear. Where truth disappears, the Holy Spirit does not work.
When the Word of God leaves, the Spirit of God also leaves.
And that empty space is filled with ‘worldly spirit’, ‘emotions’, and ‘spiritual faith’.
📖 The second reason – The emergence of false shepherds
If you look at 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, there are some very scary words.
“And this is no wonder.
For Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light.
So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.”
It is said that Satan also disguises himself as an ‘angel of light’, that is, a bright and righteous being.
The same goes for his servants—the false shepherds.
They package themselves as ‘servants of God’ and ‘apostles of Jesus,’
but in reality, they are tools used by Satan.
They say,
“We prophesied in the name of Jesus.” “They cast out demons and performed miracles.”
But Jesus clearly says,
“Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.”
(Matthew 7:21-23)
Miracles and miracles that are apart from the Word of God
are never of God.
The Word is the standard.
In John 8:44,
Jesus said to the religious leaders of the time:
“You are of your father the devil,
and he was a murderer from the beginning,
and there is no truth in him.
Whenever he lies, he speaks from his own nature,
for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Those who preach messages that are not based on the Word of God,
but are filled with human ideas, traditions, and desires,
and who make themselves seem righteous,
are the ones who are the decisive cause of the downfall of the church.
📖 The third reason – The lack of discernment of the saints
Job 34:3-4 records:
“As the mouth tastes food,
And the ear discerns words.
Let us choose what is right.”
In other words, the saints must be able to discern truth from falsehood with their ears.
But what about now?
“The sermon was moving.”
“I cried when I heard the pastor’s words.”
“My heart was warmed.”
But let me ask you an important question.
Was that word in the Bible?
Was that word prophesied and actually fulfilled?
1 John 4:1 says:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit.
Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.
For many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
Now is the time to test all spirits.
You cannot be saved by emotion or atmosphere. You can enter heaven only if you know God’s will and act according to His will.
(Matthew 7:21)
Believers who do not discern
are easily deceived.
Satan does not speak the truth,
but he speaks as if it were the truth.
In order for the church to be restored,
three things must be restored.
We must return to a faith centered on the Word.
We must keep the Bible without adding or subtracting anything,
and we must have complete faith that believes in prophecy and its fulfillment.
We must discern the shepherd.
We must not judge by his appearance, but by whether the words he delivers
are in line with the Bible.
The believers themselves must develop the ability to discern the truth.
If the ‘ears that hear the Word’ are alive,
we can distinguish between truth and falsehood,
and the path to heaven and the path to hell.
Beloved,
the reason the church is collapsing is not because ‘the world is corrupt.’
It is because the Word has departed.
It is because false shepherds are ruling. Because the saints do not discern.
Through this video today,
remember that the restoration of the church begins with ‘me’
and I bless you all to become saints who know the will of God correctly and stand on the word of truth.
