The Reformed Life

What kills a church isn’t always heresy or scandal.

Sometimes, it’s the slow drip of toxic thinking.

Churches rarely die overnight. Most wither quietly—buried not by external opposition but by internal attitudes that choke out health, mission, and gospel fruitfulness. These mindsets often go unnoticed because they feel spiritual. They sound wise. They masquerade as tradition, stewardship, or even unity. But left unchecked, they’ll rot a church from the inside out.

Whether you’re a pastor, a deacon, a volunteer, or a faithful member in the pew, these are the attitudes we must identify and root out—for the good of our churches and the glory of Christ.

Here are ten of the most common mindsets that cripple both spiritual and numerical growth.

1. “We’ve always done it this way.”

Tradition over mission

This is the battle cry of the status quo. It elevates past methods over the present mission. Faithfulness doesn’t mean doing what we’ve always done—it means doing what Christ calls us to now. The gospel hasn’t changed, but the field we’re planting in may look different. Methods are tools, not treasures. Don’t preserve what God is calling you to prune.

2. “That’s not my job.”

Consumerism over ownership

This mindset turns members into spectators. It reveals a heart that wants the benefits of the body without the burden. But in Christ’s church, every member is a minister. We don’t attend church; we are the church. A church full of consumers will eventually consume itself.

3. “As long as we’re growing spiritually, numbers don’t matter.”

False dichotomy between spiritual and numerical growth

Of course, we don’t chase numbers for numbers’ sake. But healthy things grow, and healthy disciples make more disciples. Spiritual maturity and gospel multiplication go hand-in-hand. Depth without mission is just self-absorption in a Bible verse.

4. “We don’t want to get too big.”

Comfort over calling

Behind this is a fear of change, loss of intimacy, or increased complexity. But rejecting growth to preserve comfort is spiritual self-preservation, not faithfulness. Growth may stretch us, but stagnation will kill us. Don’t fear growing pains more than gospel gains.

5. “We don’t need to evangelize—they know where we are.”

Inward focus over outward mission

The early church didn’t wait for people to come—they went to them. Churches that turn inward become irrelevant, and worse, disobedient. We’re not called to be stationary billboards but sent ones (John 20:21). The Great Commission isn’t fulfilled by staying put.

6. “That kind of person wouldn’t fit in here.”

Cultural comfort over gospel community

This one often hides beneath a polished surface. It’s not shouted—it’s felt. And it reeks of partiality. Jesus died to create a people from every tribe, tongue, and socioeconomic background. If your church has an unspoken profile for who ‘fits,’ it’s time to repent. When the church only welcomes people who look like us, it no longer looks like Jesus.

7. “Let the pastor lead all the ministry.”

Clericalism over body life

Similar to number two, this mindset crushes pastors and stagnates churches. God gave pastors to equip the saints, not to do all the ministry. A one-man show may be efficient, but it’s unbiblical and never ends well. When the body doesn’t move, the lead gets overworked—and the mission suffers.

8. “We’re fine as long as we believe the right doctrine.”

Orthodoxy without obedience

Sound doctrine is essential—but it’s not enough. Jesus didn’t just teach truth; He lived it and called others to follow. A church can recite the Nicene Creed and still be dead if it isn’t loving its neighbor, pursuing holiness, and proclaiming the gospel. Right doctrine without right living is just polished disobedience.

9. “Church is just one part of my life.”

Compartmentalized Christianity

This mindset treats the church as one spiritual checkbox among many. But the New Testament paints a different picture: believers devoted themselves to the fellowship (Acts 2:42). When church becomes optional, faith becomes superficial. If Jesus is Lord of all, the church isn’t just a slice of life—it’s the center of it.

10. “God can’t work here.”

Cynicism over faith

Some churches give up long before they close their doors. They stop praying big prayers. They stop expecting God to move. They’ve seen too much disappointment to believe in renewal. But dry bones still live when God breathes. A church that expects nothing from God usually gets it.

Is It in the Room?

The sobering reality? Many churches don’t need to adopt new strategies—they just need to repent of old mindsets.

Which of these attitudes has taken root in you? In your team? In your congregation?

Don’t be discouraged. Recognition is the first step to renewal. When we expose faulty thinking to the light of God’s truth, He’s able to prune and revive us for fruitful ministry.

But these are only the beginning.

In the next post, we’ll look at 10 more mindsets that sabotage church health—some of which may be quietly lurking in your leadership culture or ministry strategy.

Stay tuned for Part 2.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh Chambers

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