I often receive e-mails from people lamenting the splintering of the churches and the scattering of the brethren.  The Bible is clear that the brethren will be scattered, especially in the end time.  I talk about this in my Notebook piece, “Give me a Church in Peace and Harmony.”  The question is HOW does it happen?  You have heard me say a number of times that everything under the sun is a process.  The splintering of churches is no exception.  In this piece, we are going to enumerate the elements of this process.  Some are subtle and others are overt.  If you are to endure unto the end (Matthew 24:13), you will need to become an expert at recognizing these process elements as they unfold.

In my thirty-five years in the church and looking at church history, the splintering process begins from within the congregation.  Therefore, I am outlining this process as instigated by one within the flock.  First I will state the Why of it and then speak to How the process develops.

Why it Happens
Destruction of local churches of God begins when a member moves away from the Spirit and is influenced by base and negative human emotions.  They trade the elements of the Salvation Process for envy, jealousy, hate, greed and deceit.  They exchange the simplicity of the gospel for politics, and lust for preeminence, power and position.  They sacrifice the clarity of the Word of God for the darkness of self-deception.  They trade unction of the Holy Spirit for confusion and being carried away with every wind of false doctrine.

All of these things are indications the member is in the rather lengthy process of falling away from the faith.  It happens to members, to deacons and even to ministers.  I have witnessed it a number of times.  What makes it a difficult and even complex situation is the fact the member in question does not know he or she is falling away.  Indeed, they often see themselves at a pinnacle of spiritual maturity and sincerity.  The have no idea they have moved from Godly righteousness to the diabolical state of self-righteousness.

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. -- Rom 1:21-22

Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. -- Prov 26:12

For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.  Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. -- Isa 47:10-11

When a person begins to move away from the righteousness of Christ, they become vain in their imaginations.  Their hearts become darkened.  They are conceited.  God says a fool has a better hope than one of these.  We will immerse ourselves into the meaning of Isaiah 47:10-11 when we discuss what is to happen to these people who would destroy a church of God.

How it Happens

This is an enumerated list of signs to look for as the splintering process begins and continues to unfold.  Each incident will have its own set of elements and circumstances.  Some, but clearly not all of these listed elements will be involved.  Some of these things are not negative or wrong, in and of themselves, but may be significant in combination with others on the list.  These elements are listed in no specific order, importance or chronology.  I will be using the pronoun “he” throughout this section, but clearly these elements could involve any woman in the congregation.

The individual in question…

1] begins to seek a preeminence in the congregation.

2] makes himself indispensable by taking on increasing numbers of duties in the church.

3] puts on a great show of sincerity and spirituality by expounding syrupy platitudes using phrases or verses from the Bible.

4] engages in various modes of self-promotion.
5] seeks ordination to the ministry and/or a speaking credential.

6] purposely seeks to aggrandize himself with the ministry, the area coordinator and/or individuals at headquarters.

7] puts himself in a position to write papers, offer opinions, conduct private Bible studies or speak before the congregation.  Papers and sermons or sermonettes seem self-serving, critical of others, and/or focusing on biblical twigs or an abundance of non-Salvation subjects.  This person is a master of the slick argument.

8] becomes ecumenical by promoting other church organizations, their ministers or their booklets, tapes and web sites.

9] [as minister or credentialed speaker], invites himself to speak before other congregations in the church organization rather than being invited.

10] speaks before congregations in other church organizations.

11] enters into criticism of the local minister, area coordinator and/or headquarters.

12] shows disdain for certain individuals, guidelines, procedures or others aspects of church administration [local or national].
13] demonstrates the carnal emotions of envy, jealously and/or hate regarding others in the church, especially among the ministry and leadership.

14] presents himself as an authority in spiritual matters in a self-aggrandizing or conceited manner.

15] involves himself heavily in church politics.

16] uses various means to seek or gather a following.

17] seeks to create a mailing list and/or database of members.

18] seems to be engaged in social, political or administrative manipulation of others and/or situations within the church.

19] will decline to admit that he has EVER sinned a sin in this lifetime.  Rather acknowledges sin only in general statements, such as “we all sin” or “we all are as dirty rags.”

20] is seemingly obsessed with biblical twigs or has an over-emphasis in prophecy, with him as the all-knowing authority.

21] in all manner of conduct and conversation, leaves God out of the equation.  Rather than all glory going to God, he seems to have the light of glory shine on himself.

22] develops close friendships with ministers of other organizations, especially those that have splintered from this church.

23] suddenly moves to incorporate the local church in what appears to be an attitude of separation from headquarters and/or the area coordinator.

24] engages in overt justification for every action taken or statement made.   He continually speaks to his sincerity and even love.

25] becomes secretive and/or full of intrigue.

26] demonstrates bad theology in increasing amounts.
27] takes steps to insure that other church ministers do not visit to speak or conduct Bible studies.

28] refuses to play sermons by Garner Ted Armstrong or make any of his booklets or tapes available locally.

29] limits exposure of the local congregation to reports, messages and sermon or Bible study materials from headquarters.

30] seeks to control all local funds and/or property of the local church, either by legal ownership or physical possession at his home. 

31] seeks local control using money or promises or enticements of money and/or position or power.

32] becomes like a Pharisee by codification of spiritual law or instructing members where they are to direct their money, tithes, offerings and/or property.   
33] engages in lying, telling one person one thing and someone else something different.
34] engages in turning one brother against another and/or smiting his brother in the church (Matthew 24:49)

35] speaks against or is critical of doctrine, constitution, teachings, booklets, Bible studies, sermons or guidelines of the church.

What Will Happen to These People?
Here is where I want to go back to Isaiah 47 and verses 10 and 11:

For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.  Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. -- Isa 47:10-11

Isaiah’s 46^th and 47^th chapters deal with the fall of Babylon, yet the principles brought out in the text apply to the subject before us….the fall of the church member who invokes the splintering process in his local church.  Notice the commentary…

Isa 47:1-11

This passage presents a song of triumph over vanquished Babylon. Cast down from her imperial power, Babylon was to be reduced to the disgraceful status of a half-naked slave girl grinding meal with the heavy grindstone. The silence and darkness of verse 5 refer to the impotence and obscurity that were ever after to be hers. Babylon would never again attain independence or imperial power (and after 539 B.C. she never did). 6,7. The Lord explains that he would permit the Chaldean conquest and captivity only for the chastening of apostate Israel. But the pagan victors would go far beyond the bounds of humane decency in their savage maltreatment of their captives. Moreover, they would fail to recognize divine righteousness behind the disaster that would befall Judah. They would suppose they were by their own might the lords over the destinies of nations, and secure forever in their supreme position.

In verses 8-11 Jehovah pronounces doom upon the atheistic humanism of Babylonian culture. Babylon represents the man-centered culture of the unregenerate world: living for carnal pleasures and lusts, abjuring responsibility towards a God of justice, and even - with the self-confidence of megalomania - denying God's existence altogether. Chaldean Babylon (v. 10) combined the practical atheism of the freethinker with astrology, necromancy, and crass superstition. Notice how modern is the credo of the philosophical humanist: "I am, and no (God) besides me." The only fitting judgment for these moral and intellectual degenerates was sudden and appalling destruction, the slaughter of Babylon's armies (v. 9 a), and the abrupt termination of her political power (all of which came to pass in 539 B.C.).  --(from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

Like Babylon, the unrighteous member fails to recognize divine righteousness in God’s Work.  They suppose by their own might they are lords over the congregation.  These individuals are self-centered, caught up in their own carnal pleasures, lusts and envying.  They operate on self-confidence and feelings of megalomania and, in essence, deny the power and/or presence of Almighty God.  What the scripture says about the judgment of Babylon is exactly what will befall anyone attempting to destroy a church of God.  They will experience sudden and appalling destruction, unless they repent before falling away completely.

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. –1 Cor. 3:18-19
 

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? --1 Cor 6:9a

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. -- Rom 1:18

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. -- Matt 25:30

What Can I Do?

1] Remain immersed in the Word of God.  This will keep you from being deceived.

2] Stayed focused on your own Salvation Process and the elements thereof.

3] Pray for God’s protection of the church and its members from these types of individuals.

4] Quietly notify your area coordinator and/or headquarters of your concerns when any individual seems to be developing an increasing number of the listed elements above.  At the same time, keep your concerns to yourself, spreading no discord while the situation is looked at by the area coordinator or headquarters.

5] Endure unto the end.  Be diligent.  Be fervent.

6] Give all glory to God.