6 Ways the Enemy Tries to Destroy the Church

The Enemy Is Active

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The Bible reminds us to be mindful of the Enemy as deceiver. 2 Corinthians 11:3 says “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” If you think the Enemy isn’t at work within your church, think again. The Devil is active, working to sabotage your church in any way possible and stop your congregation from fulfilling its mission. As the verse from 2 Corinthians suggests, the Enemy is so crafty that he will disguise himself in situations that show up in your church and lead members of your congregation away from Christ without them even realizing he is doing it. Here are six ways the Enemy is destroying the church. Of course there are other ways the Enemy works to destroy the church. These are just a few. If you spot any of these things occurring, don’t turn a blind eye.

Division

On top of conflict, the Enemy loves division. I recently heard a story about a church whose pastor wanted to move the piano that was placed in an awkward space in the church, to another area of the church to create more walking space. Because he knew how much disruption the idea of the shift had caused, he moved the piano an inch each week until the piano was all the way on the other side of the church. What may seem like something very small to one member, can be something huge for another member. While not all issues are as small as piano placement, if the Enemy can get the church members to divide over something as small as piano placement, then the church can be vulnerable to greater attacks by the Enemy. Divisive issues can cause churches to split into other churches, and close its church doors. When we find ourselves divided over issues like this, our focus is not on God, but the ego and the self.

Laziness

The Enemy wants you to lose your motivation to go to church. He will tell you and members of the church body that other things in life take priority over the church, or that you just don’t need to be there every Sunday. Another way this will manifest is in the way of sharing our gifts. When we become members of a church, we are called to share our gifts and talents to better the church. The Enemy will tell you don’t need to share those with the church, or that you don’t have enough time or energy to share those gifts because you’re so busy in others area of your life. Family, work and personal relationships will begin to take precedence. The Enemy will whisper ‘You just don’t have enough time.’