A healthy church paints a picture of a loving God and Heavenly Father while an unhealthy church uses a fear-based mentality to keep members in the church and bound to their beliefs. Here are 5 signs your church may be unhealthy!

I would like to give a heads-up that this post may be difficult to read if you are still a member of the Laestadian Lutheran Church or another fundamental organization. I don't mean harm by sharing this, I am only trying to inform others of what I have noticed within the church, especially after leaving and viewing it from an outside perspective. This information may be why a lot of ex-members refer to it as a cult, not that I agree with that term, as I think it is a bit harsh. This is solely for the purpose of awareness.

Signs of an unhealthy church:

1. Thought Control - In a healthy church, you are encouraged to read the Bible and learn the Truth of God's word and you are free to ask questions about your church's doctrine as well as explore other doctrines and theologies from outside your organization. Questions are welcomed and answered with God's word, in fact they are encouraged in order to strengthen your testimony and belief in Jesus Christ. In an unhealthy church, doctrine and teachings are not to be challenged and there is often a fear of doubting the church's teachings and losing your faith as a result. You are taught that if you doubt the church, you are doubting God's word and you risk falling away from Him. For example, in the LLC you are taught that you should not read the Bible "with your own mind" and if you read it without the Holy Spirit, you could be confused and interpret it incorrectly. You are to read it through the lens of the church. Many people have fallen away from the church for this reason because they started reading the Bible as it is written and learned that it contradicts the church. God is an all-knowing and all-seeing God and He will show us the Truth if we ask it of Him. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5
   

2. Separation or Exclusion From the World - In the LLC, there is a strong disconnection from the world, the church is your safe haven. If you are encouraged to sever ties or limit time with those who leave the church or believe differently than you, this puts you in a position where you are separated more and more from the world and other ways of thinking. It is healthy to spend time with a variety of people. If we are threatened by being inclusive of others and learning another religion's theology, what kind of faith are we standing on? Through separating church members from those who believe differently, their beliefs are rarely challenged; so they are sure to remain in the church due to the fear of outsiders influencing their faith in a negative way. Jesus himself encourages us to be disciples, which can mean engaging with the world around us and having discussions with those of different faiths so we can spread the good news of the gospel, that Jesus died for all of our sins! We are to be in the world but not of the world but that doesn't mean not being friends with those outside of a specific church, rather it means not partaking in the things of the world such as partying, drinking excessively, fornication, chasing fame, money and success, etc. that will draw us away from God. There are clearly outlined in the Bible. " 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." John 17:14-16 " 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
   

3. Having An "Us-Versus-Them" Mentality - Unhealthy churches often encourage an "us-versus-them" mentality among church members and a belief that they are the chosen ones and have the truth of God's word. All other humans in "the world" are unbelievers and condemned to hell for eternity because they are not members of the one, true church. All other faiths are "dead faiths" and other Christians are not true Christians because they don't have the special gift that only this church can offer. This isolates members from the world more and encourages even stronger devotion to the group. These beliefs can make it difficult to examine the church's doctrine from an outside perspective and drive people to stay even if they feel it is not right. This way of thinking can also affect one's interactions with non-members and the world around them. The outside world is viewed as a threat and dangerous to one's faith and this can solidify the black-and-white, all-or-nothing thinking that is prevalent among these groups. A way of thinking that makes it easier for members to blindly follow and believe what they are being taught, whether it is truly based on God's word or not. Law-based thinking, such as this, is not loving and it only furthers the distance between "us" and "them" and only Christ's love can overcome these differences. "And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all they mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Luke 10:27 The parable of the Good Samaritan is a great example of this, shared in Luke 10. Jesus was trying to teach the people how to be a neighbor to others after a man asked him, "Who is my neighbor?" trying to justify his actions against others. In this parable, a man was walking between Jerusalem and Jericho and was robbed, wounded and left on the side of the road by thieves. Typically, the Samaritans and Jews did not associate because they hated one another and the Jews did everything to avoid the Samaritans. Two people (a priest and a Levite) passed this man without helping him but finally, a Samaritan stopped and had compassion on him, treated and bound his wounds, and brought him to an inn to take care of him. When Jesus shared this story, he asked the people who they thought was a neighbor unto this man. The answer was clear: the Samaritan. We are to love everyone and treat them as Jesus would - invite them into our homes and take care of them, regardless of the way they believe. Jesus instructs us to love everyone, there is no "us-versus-them." If we view those "in the world" as a threat to our faith, judge the salvation of others, and treat them with disrespect for not believing the same, how will others ever come to know the Truth?
   

4. Lack of Justice For Illegal Actions - In the LLC and other similar organizations, cases of sexual abuse and other illegal actions are rarely brought to court, which can result in a severe impact on the victim's mental health because they do not feel like justice is properly served. Instead victims are often instructed to forgive and forget, which can be harmful and damaging to their psyche because they are forced to suppress the trauma and move on with their life. This can cause more problems in the future because the abuser is free to cause more harm to others. Of course, Jesus instructs us to forgive others for wrongs done against us but we are also to receive just punishment by law for our actions. "And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged around about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." Mark 9:42 (I am using this in reference to sexual abuse of children) " 1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." Romans 13:1-2 (These verses are speaking of governmental authorities) " 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake." Romans 13:4-5 (We are to receive just punishment for our crimes, we are not exempt)
   

5. Fear of Leaving - In an unhealthy church, God is viewed as a condemning and unforgiving Father and it is taught that if you leave a specific church, you are leaving Him. He is viewed as a God that is looking out for any downfall into sin and there is immense pressure to get every sin forgiven or you risk going to hell. As a child, I was scared to sleep at night with any sin on my conscience because I was worried I would go to hell without getting it forgiven by a fellow brother or sister in faith, and I believed only a member of the church could forgive me. In the church, I would hear comments like, "if you leave God's kingdom and go into the world, you might never be able to come back" inferring that you would be going to hell for leaving. These kinds of fears drove me to stay, even though I (personally) almost constantly lived in fear and wished I could just go live a normal life. After reading the Bible for the first time, I learned that God is actually a loving and forgiving God and He always wants us to come back to Him. He does not leave us when we leave a specific church because God's kingdom is spiritual and within us when we are His child. There is no reason to be afraid of leaving a church because God does not exist in one building, He is where all of His children are. "Neither shall they say, Lo here, or lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:21 "And they shall say to you, See here; or see there: go not after them, nor follow them" Luke 17:23 In conclusion, it is healthy and actually vital, in my opinion, to examine your church from an outside perspective and ask yourself if the members treat others (especially outsiders) with love, if they try to live as Jesus did, and if the members lifestyle and doctrine align with the Bible. Not a specific interpretation of the Bible but what it actually says. God's word does not change - it is the same yesterday, today, and forever - and it contains an endless amount of wisdom for us to discover.