Poisoning the Well: Speaking Against the Church

There are wells of living water, gushing forth from the very heart of God, meant to sustain us, to refresh us, to carry us through the arid stretches of life. But what happens when the very hands that are meant to draw from that well, instead, begin to poison it? This is the chilling reality when we speak ill of the church, the very sanctuary where our souls are meant to find solace and strength. We stand within its walls, breathing its sacred air, partaking in its communal fellowship, yet our tongues become instruments of decay, spitting venom and discord. It’s a paradox that festers, a self-inflicted wound that bleeds spiritual vitality.

I remember sitting in the back pew, the familiar hum of the congregation a comforting blanket around me. Apostle Kodua was mid-sermon, his voice a resonant tide, carrying us on the waves of his conviction. But my attention was snagged by a hushed conversation happening a few rows ahead. Two women, their faces etched with a familiar blend of righteousness and disapproval, were whispering. Their words, though muffled, carried the sharp sting of judgment. They spoke of the church’s finances, of certain programs they deemed wasteful, of individuals they felt were not pulling their weight. It was a familiar tune, one I had heard played out in hushed tones in coffee shops and over phone lines. And in that moment, a cold dread washed over me.

This is not merely gossip; it is a profound act of spiritual sabotage. When we criticize the church, when we sow seeds of doubt and discontent, we are not merely voicing an opinion. We are actively diminishing the very source from which we draw our spiritual sustenance. Imagine, if you will, standing beside a clear, cool stream, your throat parched, your body weary. You reach down to scoop up a life-giving drink, only to find the water thick with mud and debris, stirred up by your own hands. The water is still there, its potential for refreshment undiminished, but your own actions have rendered it undrinkable. This is precisely what happens when we speak negatively about the church.