This is my church...

... and don't you forget it.

I’ll never forget where I was when I first heard “This is my church.” I was in the side parking lot of Beulah Baptist Church staring down Bitter Betty after the 11 am worship service. She was angry because I had the audacity as an associate pastor to preach against sin. In Bitter Betty’s church, if she doesn’t like it, you will know about it.

If you’re going to be “that person” can you please use a breath mint?

In my experience when a person makes the vaunted declaration - THIS IS MY CHURCH! It is for one of two reasons or both:

1. I was born and raised here.¹

2. I tithe the most.²

There seems to be a sense of entitlement that is associated with this type of ideology. I believe it is a failure to obey the Lord’s command in Mark 12:29-31 because there is little to no love from these people when their sensibilities get slobber-knocked by a 1st Corinthians 6:9 uppercut.³

…an the old lady’s angry stare… the insults were bursting in air… gave proof that she’s right and will vote you outta here… oh’ say does that slogan on her heart is engraved… for this church ain’t free… but enslaved to her tirades.

With these types of people unity can be achieved if these two conditions are met:

1. Be quiet.

2. Just do what I say.

I mean, after all, it is their church. When the pianist plays the theme to Rocky to start a business meeting you know you’re in trouble.

Now let us flip the script and talk about pastors who do the same thing. Everything that you just read applies here as well. I know pastors who treat their congregations like they own them⁴ and bully them. I know a guy who actually sold the pews from the sanctuary to make a buck.⁵

It really is this simple:

1. Love God.

2. Love your neighbor.

Our churches would be so much better if we just obeyed God here.

If you’re “that church member” please repent.

If you’re “that pastor” please repent.

If you go to church I hope your service is an awesome time of worship tomorrow.

Take care,

Scott

1. This is what I have heard the most in my 23 years.

2. I had an interesting conversation with an Angry Andy about tithing. He wanted to make a motion in a business meeting to only allow the people who tithe the most to vote on church matters. It never came to fruition but trust me, the sentiment was an undercurrent that ran strong at the church.

3. James, this is where I wanted to use the phrase I texted you but went with slobber-knocked instead.

4. They believe they have actual authority to come into a church member’s home and tell them what to do because they have “pastoral authority”.

5. This guy pastored an IFB KJVO church (these people are crazy) who in the end drained all the church’s bank accounts and moved to another state. His name was also Scott and his last name is close to mine. I had someone hear about this incident and actually come to my church, knock on the door, to see if the pews were still in the sanctuary. I informed him that I wasn’t “that guy” but he wouldn’t believe me until he got visual confirmation that the pews were still there. Incredible.