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Parasites in the Body of Christ

parasites_pic02

Let’s talk about one of those awkward elephants in the room.

Church parasites.

What is a parasite? A parasite is a person who receives support, advantage, or the like, from another or others without giving any useful or proper return, as one who lives on the hospitality of others.

Just like people get  sick from them the church does too. The church gets malnourished from people who suck the life and vitality out of its blood.

So how do you know if you are one?

If you ever said, “The church isn’t meeting my needs.”

The Bible says: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” 2 Thess. 3:10

The church is actually commanded to not to meet your physical needs if you aren’t working. The same principle applies to emotional needs. You gotta work toward the goal of food on the table and peace in your heart otherwise God tells the rest of us to not help you.

If you never offer your time, money or resources to serve the body.

The Bible says: “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Rom. 14:19

Mutual. That’s reciprocal service. You have to put in more than you expect to get out. If you are expecting more that you are giving you are out of balance.

If you complain more than you praise. 

The Bible says. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Eph. 4:29

Are there problems in the church? Do people make mistakes? YES! But our response should not be to complain or gripe. Our verbal response should be one that builds people up and encourages. If you complain and aren’t contributing solutions you might be a parasite.

If you think your personal problems are the church’s fault. 

You don’t feel “fed” by the church whether spiritually or physically. You blame your bad marriage and bad kids on the church. You blame your unpaid rent and broken down car on the church.

The truth is sometimes, well most of the time, our problems are created by our own foolish ways.

“Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.” Prov. 1:32

Now, what if you have suddenly realized that this is you? What do you do?

You confess. You repent.

Confess your sins to each other… James 5:16

Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Mt. 3:8

Jun 10, 2015Serena
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Comments: 3
  1. Lisa Dodson
    7 years ago

    1. You say “The church gets malnourished from people who suck the life and vitality out of its blood.” I am glad that I serve a God whose blood never runs out and never loses its power. Give and it shall be given. Maybe a church is being sucked dry because it’s now sowing into anything, or anyone else. You cannot out give God. If a church is capable of being sucked dry, it’s not giving enough – you have it backwards.

    2. “The church is actually commanded to not to meet your physical needs if you aren’t working. The same principle applies to emotional needs. You gotta work toward the goal of food on the table and peace in your heart otherwise God tells the rest of us to not help you.” I’m sorry but you are SERIOUSLY deceived by the enemy. You need to go re-read Matthew 25. ” Come, my Father has great blessings for you. The kingdom he promised is now yours. It has been prepared for you since the world was made. 35 It is yours because when I was hungry, you gave me food to eat. When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I had no place to stay, you welcomed me into your home. 36 When I was without clothes, you gave me something to wear. When I was sick, you cared for me. When I was in prison, you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the godly people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you with no place to stay and welcome you into our home? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’ 40 “Then the king will answer, ‘The truth is, anything you did for any of my people here,[b] you also did for me.’
    Does any of that ring a bell? We ARE supposed to give and help and clothe and feed. Jesus didn’t say give to only who you think deserves it – he said to give. It’s not our job to decide who is worthy of the church’s help.

    3. “If you never offer your time, money or resources to serve the body.” I really hope you are not around unbelievers a lot. Because if I were a new believer, or someone who was on the verge of making a commitment to Christ, and read this, I’d go the other way. It’s not up to anyone to tell people where they fit in the body of Christ, and what or how much they should be doing. That’s the Holy Spirit’s job. It seems that you are taking on a role that we are not supposed to have. It seems you want to control the actions and intentions of others. I hate to tell you, the job of the Holy Spirit is filled – and neither you nor I are qualified to fill His shoes. I’m not even sure what ‘put in more than you expect to get out’ means. We shouldn’t EXPECT anything. We serve because we love God – not for our own fulfillment.

    4. It’s ironic to me that you quote a scripture that says not to let unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, yet you just called people parasites, and this whole post is one huge complaint about the type of people you obviously don’t want in your church.

    5. I agree that no one’s personal problems are the church’s fault. However, if you are hearing these kinds of complaints in your ministry, you may want to evaluate how you are doing things. Maybe if you start giving without judgment and loving people unconditionally, church would be a more positive place. You seem very angry and my prayer is that God will change your heart of hearts and make it soft and welcoming instead of calling someone a parasite and thinking they are not worthy of receiving something, complain too much, don’t work enough, etc. This type of negativity is why the church is dying and I will pray that God opens your eyes to see that what the world needs is love. This is condemning. And there is NO condemnation in Christ.

    Have a blessed day.

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  2. Serena
    7 years ago

    I understand what you are saying. How long have you beein in ministry? What advice would you give when you work with people who won’t accept their victory in Christ?

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  3. David
    5 years ago

    There seem to be a lot of “Christians” (ie “get away from me I never knew you” -Jesus) who are VERY generous with resources they DO NOT own (eg national resources for foreigners). As I understand it “Love thy neighbor” does NOT mean love they stranger, and we are NOT to wish “godspeed” to those who do not walk in the ways (laws) of the Lord our God.

    Why are so many “Christians” simply making up their own brand of Christianity? Many don’t even read/study the Bible. Their churches (eg my old one) make pick ONE verse and talk about it for 30 minutes (sermon) almost completely out of context!

    For instance. “the truth will set you free” (John 8 I think) does NOT mean confess all truth to anyone who asks you a question (enemy), it means KNOW the truth.

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Serena
7 years ago 3 Comments The Church, Uncategorizedbeing served, serving others4,273
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