Mice in the Church
by Pastor Matthew E. Walker, 29 November 2007

Last winter our garage was invaded by a mouse. The cute furry creature was rummaging for food trying to find something to eat. Unfortunately for him the place he was looking, my garbage bag which I set there to put out in the morning, made a perfect trap. I don’t know what happened to him but I put the bag out in the garbage can outside and never saw him again. He was cute though.

People don’t like to talk about mice invading their homes. It makes one sound dirty as if the house were kept cleaner you’d never have this problem. The real problem though, living in a close community like mine, is that even if you keep your house relatively clean your neighbor may not and his mouse problem can quickly become yours.

Mice

Christianity in America is experiencing remarkable growth. That is true, if you believe everything you read. The rise of mega-churches along with the big business of contemporary music; it is amazing to see how much of our culture is becoming “Christian.” On the other hand, our culture is also sinking deeper and deeper into depravity. Sins unheard of in past times are becoming commonplace and even acceptable. How is it that these two things coexist—the rise of Christianity in tandem with the lowering of our culture into a moral cesspool?

As skittish as people are to admit a mouse problem, Christians have become loathe to own up to their own mice—false teachers who have gotten through the door and are now infesting parts of the Church. The signs are everywhere but no one seems willing to admit it. Even in a church free of doctrinal error there are influences through Christian radio, Christian education, Christian bookstores, TV preachers, and the internet where false teaching is easily folded into the true. That doesn’t mean that every Christian book, radio program, educational institution, television ministry, or internet resource is wrong or sinful. In fact, it is the very goodness of most of these things that makes the evil so easily accepted.

Mouse Hunter

Jesus spoke about false teachers a great deal. His most famous address, the Sermon On The Mount, concludes with a lengthy section dealing with this problem. Jesus begins by warning his audience of those who would appear to be sheep, a word for a Christian, but instead are wolves, a word for someone who is being used by Satan to destroy Christians. Looking at the context we see some important truths that are key for any believer who is to become a mouse hunter. He must begin with a personally clean conscience. Hypocrisy is the enemy of discernment. It limits the conscience from pointing out what should be obvious. No one mistakes an apple for watermelon. When Jesus says “by their fruits you will know them” He is saying that false teaching/teaching should not be too difficult to discern. Then there must be a careful consideration given to prayer. The promises of asking, seeking, and knocking are connected to the prayer for discernment so that it is God revealing the false teacher/teaching instead of a Christian going on a witch hunt. The innocents of Salem who were burned by the New England Puritans for their witchcraft in the seventeenth century were found guilty in a climate completely void of discernment.

Evidence

The one area which Jesus points out as being the acid test of false teaching are the results of ministry. In other words, a good tree will bring forth good fruit. Biblically sound ministries produce Biblically sound believers. That is something a false teacher just cannot do. He cannot produce a truly spiritual Christian. Unfortunately, this evidence is secondary. It’s like trying to gauge a persons shape by looking at his shadow. The things that are most visible—the large crowds, the sensational to almost breath-taking activities, and the “effective” or “relevant” programs all lend themselves to the conclusion that this cannot be wrong. After all, in our pragmatic society, what can be wrong about a ministry that is so obviously successful? But this is not how we should determine success. That is only determined by fruit—by actual, quantifiable spiritual results. In essence, if Christianity is growing so greatly there should be a corresponding change in the world. The shadow should fit the shape. Secular movies and music should be changing to reflect Biblical values. Christian music ought to sound more like things Christians than things secular. Political elections should be streaming toward Biblical issues. While churches are growing larger, the impact for Christ should be proportionally great. That’s if the outward really does represent the inward.

Damage

Unfortunately, while they are still teaching the false teachers do much damage. The apostle Peter concluded in 2 Peter 2:2 that many will follow them. Like mice in the cupboard things will be ruined and have to be thrown out. Only a thorough cleaning will restore churches back to the way they should be. Until that is done, more mice and other vermin will follow and the results are disastrous.

The mouse that got into my garage didn’t have time to really get into things. My wife did have to go through the shelves to see what damage was done. That cute furry creature could have ruined a lot had he not wandered into my garbage bag. I’m grateful I got him out before too much was destroyed. May our churches be vigilant in rooting out false teaching before too many Christians are labeled casualties of war.