9 Signs of Potential Spiritual Attacks on Congregations

Last week in this article series on spiritual warfare, I covered the topic of potential attacks on individuals. In this article, I want to extend the discussion to potential attacks on churches—recognizing again that none of these “signs” is a guarantee of attack when the problem is often simply sinfulness. Nevertheless, here are some of the primary ways I’ve seen the enemy attack churches in my 30+ years of studying this topic of warfare:

1. Congregational division. I’ve seen churches divided over budget decisions, paint colors, worship styles, Bible versions, community outreach, global missions, staffing choices, service times, choir robes, small group curriculum, church vans, and numerous other topics almost hard to believe. This divisive attack is not new, of course, as even the early church faced division (see 1 Cor 1:10-17). The enemy still knows this truth: believers make little dent in the darkness when they shoot each other in the back.

2. Family breakdown. We don’t need to look far to find this problem in the church. As we noted in last week’s article, this issue goes all the way back to the story of Adam and Eve when the first husband blamed the first wife for their problems (Gen 3:12). Even the seemingly healthiest families don’t always stand in the armor of God to fight off the enemy’s arrows. Congregations are especially vulnerable here when they do not disciple young couples to build strong homes.

3. Hidden sin. The story is tragic, but true in more than one situation. The church is not growing, and they invite consultants to help them recognize their obstacles regarding infrastructure, programming, staffing, and facilities. Sometime later, the truth comes out that a more significant obstacle had existed: someone in church leadership had been living in sin for months, if not years. Our personal hidden sin ultimately weakens the very work of the congregations that are our church families.

4. Transfer growth diversion. Let me summarize this point: the enemy is seldom threatened when churches grow only by “swapping sheep” with other churches down the street or across the city (which is, by the way, the primary way many “growing” churches are getting larger today). Transfer growth often distracts believers from doing evangelism—and thus plays directly into the hands of the enemy who wants to keep non-believers in darkness.

5. Self-dependence. Some churches, I am convinced, would continue to exist for some time even if God withdrew His presence. That is, they operate in their own strength and ability; they just happen to do it well. Often, they have enough size that any decline is almost imperceptible. Though these churches may speak passionately about the “power of God,” they rely more on their own power and plans than they rely on God.

6. Discipleship distraction. The enemy delights in churches that have no strategic, effective discipleship strategy. After all, these churches have no plans to teach believers how to wear the full armor of God (Eph 6:11).  They frequently leave new believers to fight battles on their own, select unprepared persons for leadership, and then provide no training for those leaders. Because no one discipled them, their members often lose battles in a spiritual war they did not even know existed.

7. Power players. I wish I didn’t have to include this one, but I would be missing a big issue if I ignored it. From the Garden of Eden on, the enemy has offered people a false sense of power—including offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the world (Matt 4:8-9). In the church, Satan’s forces often work through members who fight for control of the congregation, often viewing themselves as the appointed “protector of their church” while giving little evidence of any sense of deep personal spirituality.

8. Leadership hopelessness. It’s easy to get here. Church leaders give all they have to give, yet with few results. The church is dying but unwilling to change. Lay leaders protect their turf. Staff members sometimes battle among themselves. Seemingly, no lives are experiencing transformation. Families of staff members struggle in an atmosphere of conflict and joylessness. “What’s the point?” the enemy whispers into the ears of those leaders. “Why not just give up this work?”

9. False teaching. Most of my work is with evangelical churches, so I don’t often see blatant false teaching. What I see is much more subtle than that:

• Small group leaders teaching unbiblical theology, with no internal system in place to recognize or address that problem

• No oversight or accountability about curriculum taught in small groups

• Theologically-suspect material in the literature rack

• Problematic “recommended reading” in the church library

• Music lyrics that promote bad theology

• Poor exegesis of biblical texts in lessons or sermons

  
  

These issues listed above are realities, of course, but the battle is not lost. We still have this hope found in Jesus’ words: “I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt 16:18b). Through Christ, we are already victors over demons and death. The enemy is viciously strategic against the church, but we need not let him win.

If you are a leader in your church, I again challenge you this week to consider where the enemy might be attacking your congregation. If you might be part of the problem, spend some time in prayer and confession before God. In any case, pray that your church would live out the victory that is already theirs.

If you'd like to read more about spiritual warfare and the church, check out this resource that Dr. Bill Cook of Southern Seminary and I co-wrote: Spiritual Warfare in the Storyline of Scripture.