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The nice guys like to call them "the consumer church" goers...I believe I have coined a new phrase that though not as gracious, creates a fabulous visual comparison we can all agree is loathsome. 

In last month's article I shared my first experience with the concept of church "takers"...the ones who constantly need and take and rarely if ever give. They always ask to be served and complain when their needs aren't being met. 

My husband and I recently had some heated fellowship about calling people out on their weaknesses. He said I lacked tact. Probably true. I said he sugar coated things making weaknesses appear to be strengths. Probably also true. However as I found myself apologizing to a friend who my husband said I was harsh with he responded with something I will not soon forget. 

 "Accepted. Your words challenge and strengthen me, carry on." 

The hard truth is we don't really want to be more like Christ if we are not willing to change! We will not grow if we are only receiving false praise and never looking to be challenged or strengthen by the wounds of our friends. We must not seek the kisses of the world, when believers are speaking truth into our lives. 

Let's make one idea very clear:

God's church is designed to be a healthy body of properly functioning parts. (Eph 4:4, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 ) I'm not making this stuff up, it's actually in the bible. God calls us all to be different parts and when we are all working well in our full capabilities the body flourishes! 

So, let's get down to it. How do you know if you are a healthy, "normal" church goer or if you are in danger of or have already become a church leech. 

You may be a church leech if:

• You do not tithe.
• You do not serve.
• You complain about worship.
• You complain about the leadership. 
• You always find something wrong
• You gossip 
• You have never met your pastor.

If you are reading through these justifying the to yourself, please STOP IT. 

Your church needs you to be a part of the body. Just like our physical bodies, when all the parts are working how they are supposed to a great many things can be accomplished! As far as it concerns us as the body of believers, we do not want to be the malfunctioning part! So often I think we are worried we are going to mess something up with our imperfections but the truth is it's our not even showing up that is preventing the body, YOUR local body from working at it's full, God given capacity! 

So I implore you, as a fellow servant of the Most High God to tithe, serve, be content, stop complaining, look for the good, encourage, be a peacemaker and introduce yourself to your pastor with a thank you note and a gift card for some coffee or lunch on you! 

Thank you so much for sharing your time with us. Did you know it will only take 2000 Christians (out of 67 million professing believers in the U.S.!!) donating $1000 each to fund our facilities project?! Be 1 of the 1965 people left who help us reach our financial goal!

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This post was written by Nickole Perry, co-founder and Director of Operations at Cedar Creek Ministries.

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