God is judging and cleansing His Church

An undeniably significant cleansing and correction is presently occurring in the Body of Christ, particularly in the charismatic world, but it is across several denominations and ministries.

And if indeed this is of God, as I believe it is, we must make peace with the process.

Many people, myself included, have wrestled with questions and misgivings about this season of exposure in the Church, as podcasters and others take to social media to make claims (some providing more receipts and proof than others, to be sure) to shed further light.

The prophet in me wants to call for justice and accountability, regardless of who is involved. The pastor in me grieves the loss of credibility among church leaders and the toll it is taking on the collective Church. As one who is committed to following biblical protocols that are free of partiality, it’s important to seek to have God’s heart that is both merciful and just, and that we also don’t get in His way.

Last year, while praying about these ongoing exposures, I sensed the Holy Spirit speak to me, “get your hand off the cart,” a reference to 2 Samuel 6:5-11, and an admonition to stop trying to help God. That passage recounts how Uzzah put his hand on the ark of God’s Presence to keep it from falling off the cart, and he was struck dead on the spot. Upon first reading, it seems like a cruel and heartless punishment leveled at someone with good intentions. And yet, God was sending a message, and it’s a needed lesson in our current season.

Regardless of Uzzah’s intentions, he disregarded God’s previous instruction to “not touch the holy things” (Numbers 4:15). He may have thought he was doing something noble, but God had already determined the rules of engagement, and Uzzah broke them. But that wasn’t the worst part. The greater sin in all of this was the fact that the ark was being carried on a cart. This entire procession was already in violation of Mosaic law before this incident even occurred!

God had already made it clear that the ark of His Presence could only be carried on the shoulders of Levites — those who had set themselves apart and sanctified their lives unto holiness (1 Chronicles 15:2). There was a standard of righteousness that God required for those who carried His Presence, and it was established from the very beginning. But the people didn’t listen.

This new cart they made didn’t require the same sacrifice and personal preparation. Perhaps they thought it was a creative improvement on God’s idea. Or maybe they preferred more control in parading around their own man-made platform. But regardless of their seeming cleverness, they had already violated God’s commands before Uzzah even entered the picture.

And this is where a parallel exists with our current timeline of correction: there are some “Uzzahs” being struck down who may seem innocent due to their good intentions and noble causes. And yet, there have been violations of God’s laws. Regardless of the “good” being accomplished in many of the ministries being exposed, there are larger sin issues that must be addressed. Any fleshly attempts to “protect God’s anointing” can no longer be allowed.  As shocked and saddened as we are by some of these leaders who are falling, our greater concern should be the collective standards we’ve already violated. The individuals being affected are not the entire story; God wants us to learn a much larger lesson.

God’s presence is still very real and very powerful. No longer contained in a crafted box, it is we, the people of God, who have been called as a holy priesthood to carry His Presence to a lost generation. And those who lead us must be set apart in holiness and righteousness. 

But in our zeal to make things happen, we have compromised the requirements. We have inadvertently crafted our own carts of convenience. Platforms that celebrate persona and performance. Ministries and movements based on questionable doctrines and personal preferences instead of scriptural integrity. We have traded the hard work of sanctification for a quest to streamline, even monetize, a message. Perhaps our motives were noble at first, but God is stopping us in our tracks.

As much as there needs to be greater accountability for those who lead in God’s House, there must also be a corporate reckoning for what we’ve allowed, the sins we’ve tolerated. This isn’t about defending someone’s intentions, and it’s not about finetuning the art of exposure. It’s about a collective compromise that must be corrected. We are not only dealing with individual sins, but sins and errors across the entire Church that must be repented of and changed.

This is not to suggest that every leader is in the same category of wrongdoing, or that there shouldn’t be proper accountability for those who expose these sins. It’s recognizing the larger work that God is doing – the work that must be done. And perhaps it’s a caution in our desire to “help” Him. The process is not without its problems, and every one of us will have to account for how we’ve engaged in these conversations.

And it’s here where Gamaliel’s instructions in the Book of Acts are still relevant. He told those opposing the Gospel in Acts 5:38-39: “So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”

None of us has control in this season of correction. We may not like or agree with how everything is transpiring, but we can rest in the fact that whatever is of man will ultimately fail — even backfire. 

But that which is of God will happen, regardless of our input. More importantly, we cannot afford to think we are “helping” Him when, in fact, we may be opposing Him. He is not doing this out of spite or anger; God disciplines those He loves.

Thus, even as I pray for proper leadership, accountability and cleansing in the Church, I am considering my own complicity.

And maybe it will be in our collective reflection and repentance that lasting transformation can come, and God can fulfill His purpose in purifying His people.