Peter T Kent
Tseminyu Town
The Bible warns us of lurking dangers within the church i.e., false and predatory leaderships who come in disguised as shepherds! “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:15-20). It sounds too fictitious but if you look within, the sight is far from being pleasant and godly! We have the Babylonian captivity of the church by these wolfish elements!
Nagaland, popularly called a Christian state, boasts of beautiful singing voices and beautiful church buildings even in remote villages. Nevertheless, deep within, there is a slow spiritual erosion underway due to pride and neglect. A growing number of churches are suffering from a leadership crisis, biblical compromise, and division because many have stopped submitting to the authority of the Bible.
For instance, many churches have been planted by passionate pioneers with vision and sacrifice. However today, some of these very individuals have grown possessive, behaving not as faithful stewards but as owners. Although the church is biblically congregational, decisions are controlled by a few who resist transition and disregards accountability. Noble and praiseworthy faith ventures have now become a matter of ego. They will of course cover up this in pious outlook but their actions will thunder: “This is my church. Who are you?”Sadly, this is how Christ is held captive when personalities become central.
Another concern is that there are also deacons who hold influence in the church without strong biblical foothold. Instead of serving with humility, their personal career and social standing overshadow truth and servitude eventually leading to imposing of personal biases and nudging away godly values. They speak with sly demeanour and authority not because they know the Word, but because they play and hold the system. Keep in mind, career success and material prosperity are not spiritual maturity, and church leadership is not about asserting one’s will, but about aligning with God’s will. So, when deacons function more like managers than servants, the spiritual direction of the church will definitely suffer and nose dive for self-destruction.
Perhaps, the most alarming is the silence of those considered “mature” Christians. Elders who have walked with God for decades remain quiet even when wrongdoing is clear. Why? Is it fear of conflict? Loyalty to people over truth? Perhaps, it is an attempt to keep away from being labelled “the bad and the ugly” and to maintain the image of being “the good”. Silence, in such cases, is not spiritual wisdom nor “the good,” instead it is actually directly enabling “the bad and the ugly”. Even worse, some belittle and smirk at others acting as if they alone hold the entire wisdom and knowledge of the universe. This pseudo messianic personalities will not be pleased when faced with a differing opinion. Infact, they will be offended if a second and alternative opinion is voiced. Most often, this subtle elite complex is often cloaked in piety, but it will gradually show up and poison the harmony of the community.
Another reason for the church’s drift is our obsession with performance. If someone can preach powerfully, sing passionately, lead confidently, make enormous contributions or utter nonsense gibberish, we assume they are spiritually mature. We are quick to equate gifting with godliness. The mass has been swayed by performance over character but the Bible never prioritizes charisma over character. The devil can mimic gifts, but not the true fruit of the Spirit. This is why Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23). The real test of a true leader is not how well they perform in the main spotlight, but how humbly they carry themselves off stage and relate with peers.
If we continue down this road, although we may have the world biggest church building, it will only be filled with empty hearts and broken fellowships. We will end up producing syncretistic religiosity instead of committed disciples. The young generation will grow cynical and aloof, our witness will grow dim, and our foundation will crack.
Therefore, it is urgent that we ask ourselves whether we are driven by Christ or personalities, whether we are obeying Scripture or following sentiment, and whether we are seeking God’s will or protecting our own interests? The time has come for deep repentance and realignment. Let pioneers and elders submit to God and release the church for the following generations. Let deacons ground themselves in Scripture before asserting personal opinions. Let the mature stop hiding behind silence and start speaking the truth just as they speak well on any other things. Let us honour character over charisma, calling over confidence, and humility over ego.
The church belongs to Christ, not to any individuals or groups. If we want the church to be alive and exert its influence as ‘salt’ and ‘light’ to the world, we must forget about ourselves and return to the cross, to Scripture, and to servant-hearted leadership. For when Christ is exalted, and the Word is obeyed, the Church will rise again, not just in numbers, but in holiness and power. Let the church break free and arise in my generation!
