(Be sure to take the “skunk survey” at the end of this article)
A sister in one congregation related an amazing story to my wife. It seems that a skunk (or two?) got into the crawl space under the church building. An exterminator was called, and he promptly killed the skunk. The problem was, he left it there. When everyone showed up for mid-week services, the smell was so overpowering that everyone got nauseous. The smell remained on their clothing even after they returned home. It sounds humorous, but it must have been a real ordeal!
I wonder how many skunks get under churches. They perch under them and really make themselves known. They leave such an effect that it is often carried away from the church building upon the hearts, thoughts, and feelings of church members.
PRIDE is a skunk that gets under churches. Is anything more offensive than self-centered egotism? It keeps people from admitting their mistakes. It causes prejudice and haughtiness. God hates pride (Prov. 8:13), so it must do serious harm to His people. Pride produces dishonor (Prov. 11:2), strife (Prov. 13:10), and destruction (Prov. 16:18). Pride is a skunk!
GOSSIP is a skunk that gets under churches. It is halitosis of the heart. Every words that comes off the tongue of a gossip is foul! God hates it, and it ruins good churches (Prov. 11:13). I imagine it runs people off, too!
PETTINESS is a skunk that gets under churches. Bickering and arguing over the smallest matters is an embarrassment to faithful Christians, a black-eye for the church’s reputation, and a rank reminder that a spiritual skunk is perched beneath the surface. Biting and devouring is a dangerous business (Gal. 5:15).
LUKEWARMNESS is a skunk that gets under churches. The wishy washy, uncommitted spirit of the Laodiceans made God nauseous (Rev. 3:16). When a church just comes to keep house and is not involved, what a stench the church becomes to the community. A “Ho-Hum” attitude is a skunk that gets under churches.
We need to exterminate the skunks by removing them from the church, ridding ourselves of any and all attitudes and actions inconsistent with the will of Christ. We are to draw all men to Christ (cf. John 12:32; Dan. 12:2) rather than repel lost sinners and other brethren (cf. Acts 13:8). What kind of impression are you leaving on others? Babylon of old was in trouble; consequently, God said, “Its stench will arise and its foul smell will come up…” (Joel 2:20). May we learn from them, deciding instead to send up to heaven (and out toward others), “the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place” (2 Cor. 2:14).
I wonder how many skunks get under churches. They perch under them and really make themselves known. They leave such an effect that it is often carried away from the church building upon the hearts, thoughts, and feelings of church members.
PRIDE is a skunk that gets under churches. Is anything more offensive than self-centered egotism? It keeps people from admitting their mistakes. It causes prejudice and haughtiness. God hates pride (Prov. 8:13), so it must do serious harm to His people. Pride produces dishonor (Prov. 11:2), strife (Prov. 13:10), and destruction (Prov. 16:18). Pride is a skunk!
GOSSIP is a skunk that gets under churches. It is halitosis of the heart. Every words that comes off the tongue of a gossip is foul! God hates it, and it ruins good churches (Prov. 11:13). I imagine it runs people off, too!
PETTINESS is a skunk that gets under churches. Bickering and arguing over the smallest matters is an embarrassment to faithful Christians, a black-eye for the church’s reputation, and a rank reminder that a spiritual skunk is perched beneath the surface. Biting and devouring is a dangerous business (Gal. 5:15).
LUKEWARMNESS is a skunk that gets under churches. The wishy washy, uncommitted spirit of the Laodiceans made God nauseous (Rev. 3:16). When a church just comes to keep house and is not involved, what a stench the church becomes to the community. A “Ho-Hum” attitude is a skunk that gets under churches.
We need to exterminate the skunks by removing them from the church, ridding ourselves of any and all attitudes and actions inconsistent with the will of Christ. We are to draw all men to Christ (cf. John 12:32; Dan. 12:2) rather than repel lost sinners and other brethren (cf. Acts 13:8). What kind of impression are you leaving on others? Babylon of old was in trouble; consequently, God said, “Its stench will arise and its foul smell will come up…” (Joel 2:20). May we learn from them, deciding instead to send up to heaven (and out toward others), “the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place” (2 Cor. 2:14).
—Neal Pollard
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