Most of what is considered God’s church at this time is not His church. It has been built by men, not God. He said that He would build His church, and He will. But many sincere Christians who seek to serve Christ are in man’s church, not God’s church. They can still grow and mature in Christ and be used by Him. However, in His time, God will call His people out of this system, as we are told in Revelation 18:4. Yet, at this time, God’s church is not apparent, so where will they go? We can expect God to have a place for them in what He is building. An increasing number of people are committed to preparing for this now. Perhaps you are one of them, or will be.

       Many have been diverted from being part of what God is building because they were devoted to building something permanent on the earth. We have been told, “Here we have no lasting city” (see Hebrews 13:14). So, why have so many been diverted into trying to build one? Because, as we will cover, for over 1,200 years, Christian Europe was dominated by the institutional church that man had built, and it was against the law to be caught with a Bible, with the penalty being death.

       Consider how much evil and darkness would be released on the earth by this. That is why this period became referred to as “the Dark Ages.” Of course, there is still a great and growing darkness in the earth in our time because so many do not read their Bibles but depend on spiritual professionals to tell them what’s in it. That keeps the doors open to the corruption of man’s church.

       Even so, it can be terribly prideful to call what we are a part of “the true church.” This can cause us to fall from the grace that God gives to the humble, and thereby cause us to become a part of the false. We must beware of these claims as well. So, where do we turn? What can we trust? We can put our trust in the Lord Himself and not in men.

       We have continual examples of how Christians put their trust in a person or an organization, only to be disappointed and disillusioned. All men have flaws and weaknesses that they will fall to if they start walking in such pride. We are now in a time when the majority of those who claim to be Christians and follow Christ are no longer in any church body. Most of these claim to have been hurt and disappointed too many times to go back to a church body. However, the temple that the Lord promised would have the greater glory was built out of the burnt stones from the former temple. Being a burnt (living) stone seems to be a qualification to be a part of what God is building, which will (eventually) have the “greater glory.” Those who give up because they got burned will miss out on the glory when it comes.

       If we’re going to follow the Lord and be a part of what He is building, we must follow Him and not let the trials or failures of others dictate what we do. The many failures of Christian leaders and organizations are hard, but they are an opportunity to grow in our faith and relationship to the Lord as the only true Head of the church.

       It may seem counterintuitive, but that means we will trust people more, not less. But first, we must get free of the delusions that they are going to be perfect and not make mistakes. What is the biblical response to human failures?

       Galatians 6:1 declares, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”

       The failures of Christian leaders date back to the original twelve who Jesus chose to be His apostles. Jesus will forever be the greatest leader to walk the earth, yet some of His closest associates failed Him. If it could happen to Him, it can happen to us. Even so, true faith in God will not be greatly shaken by any human failures. If it is, we’ve likely had our trust in man’s church, and in men, in place of God.

       The Lord’s response to the failures of those He had spent so much time and effort preparing, was to have them acknowledge and repent of the failures, then restore them as effectively and quickly as possible. Since Jesus walked the earth, few Christians have followed His example in this. The result has been a continuous erosion of trust in church and its leadership, and the tragic disposal of many who could have been great leaders.

       When Christians fail to forgive and seek to restore those who fail, it is a fundamental contradiction of the gospel we proclaim and claim to believe in for our eternal salvation. Upon what Scripture do we base our apparent belief that some sins and failures are beyond the power of the cross to redeem and restore?

       The Lord seemed limitless in His grace and mercy for sinners when He walked the earth, but He had no patience for the self-righteous, which we can become when we pursue judgments for failures beyond what He did. Whether we’re going to lean toward grace and mercy or legalism, it is obvious which way we should go if we’re following the Lord. The Lord said He will take the way we treat His people—and the way we treat those who have fallen—as how we have treated Him. How would we want our own children treated if they experienced failure?

       As one who is seen to represent the prophetic, pastors often tell me they have been hurt by prophetic people. I agree this should not be, and it must be addressed, but I don’t think I’ve ever met a Christian who has not been hurt by a pastor. All of God’s people—and God’s leaders—have flaws and make mistakes. They are our opportunity to grow in the love and patience that is basic Christianity. How is anyone going to believe our gospel if they do not see in us the ways of Christ, which are most basically demonstrated by forgiveness and restoration?

 

© 2026 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved.