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Why Does God's Church Today... Have Problems?

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Why Does God's Church Today... Have Problems?

by Greg Thomas 4 comments
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Why Does God's Church Today... Have Problems?

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Anyone who has been in God’s Church for a while soon discovers that the Church of God is composed of human beings and the problems associated with being human. It can at times be discouraging and even challenging to our faith when we see brethren who suffer premature death, problems with doctrines, problems among ministers, offenses among brethren and other struggles. So… why… and how long have these kinds of problems been in the Church? Should we allow various troubles within the Church to weaken our faith and commitment to God? How should we respond to challenges, problems and difficulties in the Church?

Comments

  • Jhaskins
    Jen H.
    Human nature tends to accentuate the negative; and drop the positive. Both in giving and receiving words. Sometimes a few seconds comment can sting for days. One Thanksgiving, I anticipated as much, so I prayed for a thicker skin. It worked. I remembered the negative comment, and it went over without stinging to the degree that it normally would have. Passing this on, because I think it is important to try to have the best attitude that we can have in spite of the offending person. Remember the phrase, "take the high road"... That means to take the gracious and Godly way, when you are not treated the best. Remember there are times, that we don't treat others the best either. We all have offended, and we all have been offended. God forgives us according to how we forgive others. And I definitely want him to forgive me. I have asked God to help me to forgive, when it was hard to do.
  • Greg Thomas
    Greg Thomas Author
    Hi Jen: Thanks for your comments. Maintaining healthy relationships is the hardest thing we will ever do! There is a good reason the first [greatest] commandment and the second [Mark 12:28-31] are both about relationships. As I mentioned in a Sermon given a few weeks before this one, “The Real Opioid Crisis: Majoring in the Minors” creating and sustaining Godly positive relationships requires a lot of work and effort. Many are not willing to put forth the effort simply because it is so hard. It is easier to place blame on others, or withdraw from them, than it is to build a relationship. As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13:1-7… Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; {5} does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; {6} does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; {7} bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Thanks again for your insightful comments.
  • Juggernaught
    Michael C Reynolds
    I hear what you're saying. I left UCG in 1999 and returned to UCG in VA earlier this year. I don't see much joy and appreciation for someone trying to return to the church, and in fact, the attitude seems to be that I should have never left. However, I am there to worship God, and fellowship with whom I can. The minister (who is only at the local church very infrequently), doesn't seem to want to get to know me or find out anything more about me or why I came back. I'm not really surprised, because I've learned to expect this type of behavior from the ministry over the years. My salvation doesn't depend on any of these things, so I just put up with it. My advice would be to find another Sabbath keeping church if you have one close enough to you. I have thought about attending a COGWA congregation just to see if there is any difference in attitude. I will keep you in my prayers and hope that you can find a congregation to worship with in peace.
  • Greg Thomas
    Greg Thomas Author
    Ray: Thank you for your comments and I am very sorry to hear about your experience. I don’t know you or the specifics of your story so I will not judge you, or the minister involved. I will however apologize to you for your experience and pray that the peace of God will guard your heart (Phil 4:7). Even though I have been in the ministry since 1981, I did not become a Pastor until January 2011 due to a church disturbance. The very first thing I did as a new Pastor was to write a personal letter of apology to a former member of our congregation who had left. I felt he had been abused by my predecessors and deserved to know how sorry I was about his experience and treatment. He began attending the following Sabbath and has attended every Sabbath since. He also serves the church internationally by a specific gift he has been given. Indeed, we are all imperfect human “earthen vessels” (2 Corinthians 4:7) who have been given God’s Holy Spirit. As mentioned in the Sermon, the 2000 year history of the church reveals that we struggle with maintaining healthy relationships. I encourage you to continue to do your part, and I will pray that you receive a kind and caring response.

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