In this episode, Pastor Tom Brown shares on how to handle toxic church members. 

We realize that Jesus Himself had a toxic member, Judas Iscariot. We will always have members who will give us problems. But we need to avoid condemnation. Thoughts will come to us how could someone act this way after teaching them the Word of God for a number of years.

Don’t get under condemnation if there are some church members who are giving you problems and they have not changed by now. It has nothing to do with you, as you are the sower. You can’t make the seed grow but it depends on the heart of the recipient how the seed grows and produces fruit. 

Hebrews 5:12 : "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food."

Pastor, remember, when people get saved and come to your church, they are babes in Christ and will need milk. Those who are new in Christ are not toxic church members, but instead they need to grow in Christ. 

1 Cor. 3:1: "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ."

When you have someone who has been saved for a number of years and they are still acting carnal and like a babe in Christ, we are possibly dealing with a toxic church member. 

What do you do to help them? As pastors, we need to be patient with church members and give them a chance to grow in Christ. We can’t cut people off if they are not contributing to the growth of the church but we need to feed them. All church members should be growing in the Lord. 

A toxic church member is simply a carnal church member, a worldly church member, one who is letting their flesh gain the ascendancy over their life, rather than the Holy Spirit producing fruits like love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, humility, self-control and faithfulness.  

Pastor Tom Brown will share characteristics of a toxic church member, along with Scripture. 

The most important thing for pastors is to be patient with everyone, but make sure above all things that you as a pastor will guard the unity in your church.

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