It is difficult to argue against preaching the gospel. It is difficult to argue against helping the poor, teaching children, planting churches, or supporting missionary work. These are all biblical activities. Jesus commanded His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19-20), and throughout the New Testament we see believers taking the gospel beyond their own communities.

Yet Scripture consistently teaches that God is not only interested in what we do but why we do it.

That is where discernment becomes essential.

A Good Work Can Still Be Driven by the Wrong Heart

Look at these pictures. The first picture shows a pastor appealing to the congregation for thousands of pounds to go out on mission to Japan.

Next that same pastor gets the funding and he is off to Japan.

Next the pastor is on his way 50,000ft in the air.

Here he is in Japan.

One of the most uncomfortable truths in Scripture is that someone can perform genuine ministry while having impure motives.

Paul writes in Philippians 1:15-18 that some preached Christ out of envy and selfish ambition. Remarkably, they were preaching the correct message, yet their hearts were wrong.

That should stop every Christian in their tracks.

The activity was right.

The gospel was right.

But the motive was wrong.

This tells us something profound: ministry itself is not proof that someone’s heart is healthy. What could of this Pastors ministry have looked like. Take a look.

God Looks Beyond the Mission

When Samuel was sent to anoint Israel’s next king, God reminded him:

“Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

People naturally evaluate visible ministry.

We see conferences.

Mission trips.

Church plants.

Social media updates.

Photographs with children.

Sermons.

Large offerings.

Growing influence.

God sees something completely different.

He sees ambition.

Fear.

Love.

Pride.

Compassion.

Escape.

Faithfulness.

Only He can fully judge the heart.

When Ministry Becomes an Escape

There is a danger that ministry can slowly become something other than service.

Sometimes it becomes identity.

Sometimes status.

Sometimes adventure.

Sometimes a way to avoid difficult realities at home.

Imagine a leader who genuinely teaches the Bible overseas, genuinely encourages believers, and genuinely serves people. Those activities may all be real and beneficial.

But what if, beneath the surface, another motive also exists?

What if international ministry provides relief from unresolved conflict at home?

What if travelling feels easier than shepherding difficult people or managing the church he has been called to lead?

What if constant movement means never having to face criticism, broken relationships, or painful responsibilities?

Scripture teaches that the human heart is capable of extraordinary self-deception.

“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

That warning applies to every believer, especially those in leadership.

The Pharisees Were Experts at Looking Holy

Jesus reserved His strongest rebukes not for obvious sinners but for religious leaders.

Again and again He exposed the gap between appearance and reality.

“They do all their deeds to be seen by others.” (Matthew 23:5)

They prayed.

Fasted.

Gave money.

Studied Scripture.

Led worship.

Yet Jesus described them as whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but spiritually unhealthy within (Matthew 23:27-28).

The issue was never simply what they did.

The issue was why they did it.

The Danger of Moral Justification

One subtle temptation is to use a noble cause to justify personal desires.

Helping children.

Teaching pastors.

Supporting churches.

Disaster relief.

Mission conferences.

These are all worthwhile ministries.

But because they are morally good, they can become difficult to question. Once something is labelled “God’s work,” people may hesitate to ask ordinary questions about priorities, accountability, finances, or leadership.

Yet the Bereans were commended because they examined what they were taught rather than accepting it uncritically, here is Acts 17:11 displayed below:

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

Biblical discernment is not cynicism. It is careful testing, and you are allowed to examine what is said to you.

Shepherds Are Called to Stay With the Sheep

Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd.

“The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

He contrasts this with the hired hand, who abandons the sheep when danger comes.

A shepherd’s calling is not glamorous.

It involves patience.

Presence.

Listening.

Correction.

Comfort.

Faithfulness through ordinary weeks, not just exciting opportunities.

Sometimes the greatest act of ministry is not boarding another plane.

It is staying.

Having difficult conversations.

Reconciling relationships.

Walking alongside hurting people.

Serving faithfully when nobody is applauding.

Success Can Become Spiritually Dangerous

The modern church often celebrates visible success.

More followers.

More invitations.

More travel.

More influence.

More photographs.

More platforms.

Yet Jesus consistently moved away from popularity.

He withdrew to pray.

He refused to build His ministry around public approval.

He even challenged crowds until many stopped following Him (John 6:66).

Kingdom success and worldly success are not always the same thing.

Testing Ourselves

Before we examine others, Scripture calls us to examine ourselves.

Every Christian should ask difficult questions:

• Am I serving because I love Christ?
• Am I running towards God’s call or away from something painful?
• Have I confused activity with obedience?
• Do I welcome accountability?
• Would I still serve if nobody noticed?
• Am I willing to stay when staying is harder than going?

These questions are not only for pastors. They are for every disciple.

Not Every Mission Is Driven by Wrong Motives

It is equally important not to swing to the opposite extreme.

Many missionaries sacrifice careers, income, comfort, safety, and family to serve Christ faithfully around the world. They quietly labour for years with little recognition, motivated by genuine love for God and neighbour.

Their work deserves gratitude and prayer.

The concern is not with missions themselves.

The concern is with the possibility that good ministry can sometimes conceal unhealthy motives, something Scripture repeatedly warns us about.

God Desires Truth in the Inner Person

David prayed after his sin:

“You desire truth in the inward being.” (Psalm 51:6)

God is not impressed by polished presentations if the heart is divided.

He desires integrity.

Humility.

Repentance.

Love.

Faithfulness.

The Christian life is ultimately about becoming more like Christ.

A Final Challenge

Whenever we encounter inspiring ministry, compelling stories, or ambitious vision, it is wise to remember that only God fully knows the heart.

We should celebrate genuine gospel work wherever we see it.

We should support faithful servants.

At the same time, we should resist the temptation to assume that visible ministry automatically proves spiritual maturity.

The Scriptures consistently call believers to test everything, remain humble, and remember that the Lord weighs the motives of the heart.

As Proverbs 16:2 reminds us:

“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”

That truth should humble every Christian, whether they serve in a local church, on the mission field, or quietly behind the scenes.

The question is not simply, “Is the ministry good?”

The deeper biblical question is:

“What is happening in the heart of the one doing it? Only God can know.”

When people think about unhealthy churches, they often imagine obvious false teaching or public scandals. However, spiritual problems usually begin much more quietly. They grow slowly until people no longer notice them.

The Bible tells us in Revelation 2 that Jesus rebuked the church in Thyatira for tolerating someone He referred to as “Jezebel.”

Throughout Christian history, many believers have understood this as a warning against manipulation, false teaching and spiritual control. Others see it as describing behaviour rather than a specific spirit. Whatever view you hold, every Christian should be able to recognise unhealthy patterns within church life.

1. Control Replaces Loving Leadership

Healthy church leaders point people towards Jesus. They teach God’s Word, encourage believers, and help them grow in their relationship with Christ. Their goal is to equip people, not to control every part of their lives.

An unhealthy church often looks very different.

Members may feel they need permission before making important decisions. Asking honest questions is viewed as being rebellious. Leaving the church is treated as though someone is abandoning God rather than simply moving to another congregation.

Instead of helping people become spiritually mature, fear begins to shape their decisions.

Some warning signs include:

• Members are discouraged from thinking for themselves.
• Leaders expect unquestioning loyalty.
• People are afraid to disagree respectfully.
• Personal boundaries are ignored.
• The focus shifts from following Jesus to pleasing church leaders.

Godly authority always serves others. It does not demand complete control over people’s lives.

2. Protecting the Church’s Image Becomes More Important Than the Truth

Every church wants a good reputation, but the Bible teaches that truth must always come before appearances.

In a healthy church, leaders are willing to admit mistakes. Sin is dealt with honestly. Repentance is welcomed because everyone understands that nobody is perfect.

In an unhealthy church, protecting the ministry’s reputation becomes the highest priority.

Instead of listening to concerns, those who speak up may be labelled as divisive, bitter or lacking faith. Serious issues may be ignored simply because influential people are involved.

When image becomes more important than integrity, trust slowly disappears.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Are leaders willing to receive correction?
• Can difficult conversations happen respectfully?
• Is honesty valued more than maintaining appearances?

No church will ever be perfect, but every church should value truth over reputation.

3. Spiritual Language Is Used to Pressure People

One of the hardest forms of manipulation to recognise is when spiritual language is used to control people.

Statements such as:

• “God told me you must do this.”
• “If you leave this church, you are leaving God’s will.”
• “If you disagree with leadership, you are in rebellion.”

This can place enormous pressure on believers.

God certainly speaks to His people, but Scripture teaches us to test everything carefully. No leader is above accountability, and no Christian should surrender their ability to seek God personally through His Word and prayer.

The Holy Spirit brings conviction with truth and love.

Manipulation produces fear, guilt and anxiety.

There is a huge difference.

What Should You Do If You Notice These Warning Signs?

First, avoid rushing to conclusions. Not every disagreement means a church is spiritually unhealthy.

Pray for wisdom and ask God to help you see the situation clearly.

If you have concerns, follow the biblical pattern of speaking privately and respectfully where possible. The goal should always be restoration, not winning an argument.

If serious problems continue and leaders refuse accountability, it may be wise to seek fellowship in a healthier church where Christ is the centre and leaders welcome biblical accountability.

Leaving an unhealthy church does not mean leaving God.

Your relationship with Jesus is not tied to one congregation.

What Healthy Church Leadership Looks Like

Healthy leaders are humble enough to admit mistakes.

They encourage people to study the Bible for themselves.

They welcome accountability.

They serve rather than dominate.

Most importantly, they continually point people towards Jesus instead of drawing attention to themselves.

The New Testament presents church leadership as servant leadership. Jesus Himself said that whoever wants to be great must become the servant of others.

That remains the safest model for every church today.

Final Thoughts

Every church has weaknesses because every church is made up of imperfect people. The goal is not to find a perfect congregation but one that is committed to truth, humility and genuine love.

Whenever leadership becomes controlling, truth is hidden to protect reputations, or fear is used to manipulate people, those are warning signs that should never be ignored.

The Church belongs to Jesus.

No pastor, ministry or leader should ever take His place.

The Bible speaks often about transformation. Christians are told to be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2), to become more like Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18), and to grow in spiritual maturity throughout their lives. Genuine transformation is one of the great promises of the Christian faith.

The problem is not transformation itself.

The problem begins when some church leaders redefine transformation so that it becomes something they measure, control, and use as evidence of whether someone is “submitting” to their authority.

Instead of pointing people to Jesus, transformation becomes a system of control.

The Myth of Instant Transformation

One of the most damaging messages found in some churches is the expectation that spiritual transformation should happen almost immediately.

A person comes to Christ, prays a prayer, joins the church, and suddenly the expectation is that they should think differently, behave differently, and never struggle again.

But this isn’t how people grow.

Anyone who has followed Jesus for years knows that spiritual maturity is a lifelong process. The apostles themselves struggled. Peter failed repeatedly. Paul admitted his own battles with sin. The Christian life is described as a race, a walk, and the gradual bearing of fruit—not an overnight makeover.

When unrealistic expectations are created, believers who continue to struggle often conclude that something must be wrong with them.

Instead of finding grace, they find shame. Check out this graphic which will help you learn more.

When Leaders Become the Judges of Transformation

In some unhealthy church environments, transformation quietly changes meaning.

Instead of asking, “Is this person becoming more like Christ?”

The question becomes:

“Does this person look the way our leadership expects them to look?”

The leader becomes the unofficial referee of someone’s spiritual condition.

Question a sermon?

You’re told you’re not transformed.

Disagree with leadership?

You’re accused of rebellion.

Raise concerns?

You’re labelled prideful.

Leave the church?

You’re said to have walked away from God’s will.

Transformation stops being about Christ and becomes about compliance. Here is another graphic that can help you learn more.

The Danger of Measuring Spiritual Growth by Obedience to Leaders

Healthy pastors point people towards Christ.

Unhealthy leaders can begin pointing people towards themselves.

The subtle message becomes:

“If you’re truly growing, you’ll trust us.”

“If you’re transformed, you won’t question us.”

“If you’re mature, you’ll obey.”

Eventually, loyalty to leadership becomes confused with loyalty to God.

This creates an unhealthy culture where members become afraid to ask difficult questions because disagreement is interpreted as spiritual failure.

Why This Creates Spiritual Abuse

Spiritual abuse often doesn’t begin with shouting or obvious manipulation.

It usually begins with language that sounds biblical.

Words like:

• Submission
• Honour
• Transformation
• Trust
• Covering
• Unity

None of these words are wrong.

The danger comes when they are used selectively to protect leadership from accountability.

Members begin believing that questioning leadership is questioning God.

Fear replaces freedom.

Approval replaces relationship with Christ.

The church slowly becomes centred around preserving the authority of its leaders rather than helping people follow Jesus.

Real Transformation Cannot Be Controlled

The New Testament consistently teaches that God transforms hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Pastors teach.

Churches encourage.

Believers disciple one another.

But only God changes hearts.

No pastor can determine whether someone is genuinely being transformed.

Only God sees the heart.

A leader may observe fruit, encourage growth, and lovingly correct when necessary, but they should never place themselves in the position of deciding who is truly spiritual and who is not based simply on agreement with their leadership.

Healthy Leadership Looks Different

Healthy church leaders welcome honest questions.

They know they are not infallible.

They understand that spiritual maturity includes discernment.

Rather than demanding unquestioning loyalty, they encourage believers to search the Scriptures for themselves.

Rather than making people dependent upon them, they equip people to depend upon Christ.

Healthy leadership creates mature Christians.

Controlling leadership creates dependent followers.

Freedom Is Part of the Gospel

Jesus did not come to build followers who were permanently dependent upon religious leaders.

He came to reconcile people directly to God.

The role of pastors is to shepherd, teach, protect, and equip—not to become the gatekeepers of someone’s relationship with Christ.

True transformation produces freedom, humility, love, wisdom, and Christlikeness.

It should never produce fear, shame, silence, or unquestioning dependence upon a human leader.

Whenever transformation is measured primarily by loyalty to leadership rather than love for Christ, believers should pause and ask an important question:

Is this helping me become more like Jesus, or simply making me easier to control?

Firstly, let’s look at what Legalism is? Legalism is the belief that a person can earn God’s approval by keeping rules, traditions, or religious practices instead of relying on God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

In simple terms, legalism says, “God loves and accepts you because of what you do.” The gospel says, “God loves and accepts you because of what Jesus has done.”

There is nothing wrong with obeying God. In fact, Christians are called to live holy lives. The problem comes when people believe that following rules makes them more righteous or more accepted by God than others.

An example of legalism in the church today

In the Old Testament God gave rules about giving. That we should give a tithe of 10% of the fruits we produce. Here are examples of Gods instructions through the Old Testament scriptures.

 Leviticus 27:30: “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.”

 Deuteronomy 14:22: “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.”

Do we still Tithe today as a rule?

In the New Testament, Christians are never commanded to give exactly 10% of their income, we are not under the Old Testament Mosaic law.

Instead, believers are encouraged to give:

• Willingly.
• Cheerfully.
• Generously.
• According to what they have been blessed with.

2 Corinthians 9:7 says:

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

This means giving should come from love for God, not because someone feels forced or believes they must earn God’s favour.

Check this picture out.

If you see a pastor boasting about how much they give off the pulpit, or even just congregants saying they give vast sums of money, you must consider whether that is legalistic, or at the very least take it to God and pray for that person.

Prayer can change everything, it can correct people, lead to leaders being changed so the flock is safeguarded, or churches being setup for financial gain and false motives being shut down because they were never meant to be setup in the first place. That is the power of prayer because God is listening to our prayers.

We are to decide in our hearts what to give to the church. It might be we decide to give £1 a week, or give £1000, the point is we are to decide about such things in our heart and have the characteristics of being a generous giver not giving under compulsion.

Did Jesus Talk About Tithing?

Yes, Jesus mentioned tithing when speaking to the Pharisees in Matthew 23v23

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

The pharisees were careful to tithe even the smallest herbs but neglected more important matters such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

Jesus showed that while they were meticulous about giving a tenth, they had missed the greater purpose of loving God and loving others.

Look at what Jesus said about the widows offering.

Mark 12:41-44

The Widow’s Offering

⁴¹ “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Jesus said that the widow gave more than the rest with her two very small copper coins, she gave what she had decided in her heart and out of poverty not wealth.”

The Heart Behind Giving

The Bible teaches that God is more interested in the attitude of the heart than the amount of money given.

Giving is an act of worship and gratitude, recognising that everything we have ultimately comes from God.

Lets conclude

Biblically, a tithe means one-tenth. Under the Old Testament Law, Israel was commanded to give a tenth for the support of the priesthood and the needs of the nation.

Under the New Testament, Christians are not commanded to give a fixed 10%. Instead, they are encouraged to give freely, generously, and joyfully, according to what God has placed on their hearts.

The focus is no longer on meeting a percentage but on having a generous heart that honours God.

We have wonderful news to report. A person the church has been praying for has been healed of neck, throat and prostate cancer and is completely free of this terrible disease. The church had prayed for this person for over 18 months. Here is one example of a written prayer from someone who prayer journals.

Here is a Facebook post from the person who has been healed confirming our prayers have been answered.

It was a long road but God has proven to be faithful once again. We rejoice in answered prayers and thank God for the joy this healing has brought.

Visit us here at Canton Community Church

If you are in a situation where a loved one or friend is unwell, we are happy to pray and petition to the Lord for healing. Sometimes healing doesn’t come over night, but we can also pray for comfort and strength for your families and friends as you go through tough trials.

You are also welcome to join us at church being around people ensuring you are not alone. Join us at our family service that takes place every Sunday where doors open from 10.45am serving hot drinks and treats.