The Kiss of Death OR One Big Fat Reason Your Church is Dying

Hmmmmm...

• "6 Subtle Signs a Church is on Its Deathbed"
• "10 Signs You Are Part of an Unhealthy Church"
• "17 Signs Your Church is Dying" (emphasis mine) 

My newsfeed is littered with signs of ecclesiastical apocalypse. Article after article tolling the death knell of local fellowships. But not one lists what I believe is a church's -- or even The Church's -- kiss of death: gossip. When was the last time you even heard anyone call it a sin? The only time we hear the word is when someone uses it in some twisted cutesy way followed by giggles that signal "we probably shouldn't be doing this, but..."

Gossip IS NOT cute. Nothing about it is cute. Gossips are poison -- especially in a church. When I think of all the things wrong with churches in America, when I see church after church pandering to those with itchy ears, I am disgusted. When I hear gossip in a church, I get downright ill. People professing to identify with Jesus Christ our Lord, gossiping?! What?!

Look, when I was in my teens, it was smoking, drinking, rock music -- "real Christians" didn't do those things. Today, hot button topics are homosexuality, abortion, and the veracity of the Bible. "Real Christians" aren't homosexuals. "Real Christians" aren't pro-abortion. "Real Christians" believe every word of the Bible is true. But did Jesus say that is how we know a Christian?

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." ~ 1 John 4:7 

Love must be our hallmark, the quality that identifies us to each other, to the world. Real love. The kind of love that Jesus demonstrated:

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." ~ John 13:34 

A selfless, putting others first love:

"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." ~ Philippians 2:1-8

Gossips think only about themselves. Being the first to get the scoop, and the center of attention when they dish it to waiting ears. Dividing relationships or sullying others' reputations so they gain some sort of control. Poisoning the well so others are as miserable as they are. That is not love. It's no wonder many people see Christians as hypocrites and fakes. How can anyone trust someone who talks about others behind their backs? How can someone believe Christ loves them when we -- His ambassadors -- are so unloving toward one another? How will we improve the world when we can't stop tearing one another down?

If we are taking the pulse of our churches via budgets, evangelism, planning and planting -- all worthwhile endeavors -- but we are not breathing life and hope and encouragement and love into one another, how will anyone know what Christ looks like? How will our fellowships survive?