Why I still believe in the Church: the weak shame the strong

We’ve seen too many abuse scandals come to light in the Church, and sadly, statistically speaking, there are many more to come.

It’s tempting to turn away from the Church when well-known leaders are found out to be abusers. This temptation increases as we see other leaders fail to make the Church a safe place: Some leaders have clearly been complicit in abuse, even if they haven’t directly abused anybody themselves. Other leaders have been silent, failing to speak up about what they know, failing to be a voice for the voiceless. Some have spoken up, but have ‘sin-levelled’, thus minimising abuse, contradicting Christ (Matt. 18:6), and broadcasting an ‘all clear’ message to predators. No wonder some of us are tempted to give up on the Church.

But for each of these ungodly examples of ‘powerful’ people in the Church, there are more-godly examples of ‘weak’ people in the church. God has called the weak things to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:27), and we are seeing this lived out with ‘#ChurchToo’ (like ‘#MeToo’ movement). For example, we have seen Rachel Denhollander and Lorianne Thompson advocate for abuse survivors, and reflect God well, whilst facing much vitriol and slander from Church leaders.

These women and many others have stood against the powerful in much the same way that God stands against abusive leaders in the Bible to protect His flock. These sisters help me see who God is, and they help me see who the Church truly is. As Diane Langberg says: ‘It is the sheep who are the Church.’ The sheep (the Church) are standing up to abuse and to wolves, even if some of the leaders aren’t.

I think our leader-centric approach to ministry, conferences, training programmes and books, mean that we tend to equate well-known Christian leaders with the Church, more than we equate the many more Church members with the Church. So when we see leaders act as wolves, our brains naturally think the Church is abusive. In reality there are many unsung heroes in the Church who are acting like true shepherds, but without the title. Of course there are also good leaders out there who are taking care of the broken-hearted, whilst also shining a light on abuse.

Having said this though, surely all the scandals that keep coming out show us we have a systemic problem of abuse. And this requires deep repentance. Surely, we the Church need to be on our knees crying out for God to expose and convict and purify us. Surely fruit in keeping with repentance would include more people confessing their complicity in abuse? This may be leaders who have enabled fellow leaders, but may also include complicit Church members and financial donors.

Church with a big C

Please notice it’s the Church with a capital ‘C’ that I’m not giving up on. That is, the universal world-wide, millennia-spanning Church. But I’m still steering clear of abusive churches with a small ‘c.’ If a church has covered up abuse, has not taken survivors seriously, if the leaders are bullies, or yes-men to bullies – such a church reflects Satan’s kingdom more than Christ’s. These churches need to repent, and demonstrate that they are truly part of God’s Church, before they can be safe places for the sheep. If you’re vulnerable, find a different church; these are not the church that I’m saying to not give up on. Find a church that reflects the real Church of God, which serves and protects the vulnerable.

So, can I suggest that if you get tempted (like I do) to give up on the Church – start looking more at the weak vessels of Christ, and less at the so-called powerful and wise examples (1 Cor. 1:27). See how Christ’s character and glory are still being revealed through His Church, but it is through the broken, weak, lowly members who are listening to His voice and serving and protecting the vulnerable.