“I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried… I appeal to Caesar!” (Acts 25:10-11)
In today’s world, churches are getting sued more than ever before.
Studies show that lawsuits against churches are going up each year. In 2023, there were over 430 reported cases of hostility toward churches in the U.S. That’s more than twice the number from the year before. In fact, these types of attacks have gone up by 800% since 2018.
Many of these lawsuits are not based on truth but are filed by people looking to hurt, shame, or take money from churches.
Why is this happening?
1. Churches Are Easy Targets
People see churches as soft targets for lawsuits because:
- Churches don’t always know the law. Most church leaders are focused on ministry, not legal matters.
- Churches don’t like to fight. They are built on love, peace, and forgiveness—not courtrooms and lawyers.
- Churches focus on helping people. They’re busy with saving souls, feeding the poor, and healing broken lives. Legal matters feel like a distraction.
- Scandals in the past make churches look guilty. Some well-known churches have done wrong, and now people are quick to believe the worst—even without proof.
But an accusation is not the same as the truth.
2. The Truth Sometimes Needs to Be Proven in Court
False claims can do major damage. In today’s society, people often believe someone is guilty just because they were accused. That’s why churches sometimes need to go to court—not to seek revenge, but to protect the truth.
Through the legal process, churches can use discovery (getting records, documents, and facts), depositions (sworn statements), and other tools to prove what really happened. This is especially important when someone is spreading lies publicly.
Without legal help, a church can lose its reputation even if it did nothing wrong!
3. Churches Need a Legal and PR Team
Just like a church needs pastors, volunteers, and counselors, it also needs:
- A legal team – to defend against false claims, protect the church’s rights, and make sure laws are being followed.
- A Communications (public relations) team – to respond to lies, share the truth, defend the gospel, and communicate clearly with members and the public.
- Training – so that leaders and staff know how to handle legal risks and report problems the right way.
- Good records – because truth must be documented to be protected.
4. Jesus Didn’t Always Stay Silent
Some people say, “Jesus didn’t defend himself, so we shouldn’t either.” But that’s not the full story.
Yes, Jesus stayed quiet at times. But many times, Jesus spoke up strongly:
- In Mark 3:22-30, when people said he worked with demons, Jesus answered with truth and logic.
- In John 18:23, when someone hit him unfairly, Jesus called it out: “If I said something wrong, testify to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”
- In Matthew 23, Jesus warned people against false leaders and even called them hypocrites.
Jesus stood for truth—so should we.
5. Godly People Don’t Stay Silent
In the story of David and Goliath, Goliath mocked God’s people. Everyone else was scared and stayed quiet. But David said, “Who is this man who dares to talk this way about God’s army?” (1 Samuel 17:26)
David stood up for God’s people. And so must we today—especially when the church is being wrongly attacked.
The Church Is Like a City on a Hill—with Guards at the Gate
The Bible says the church is like a city on a hill (Matthew 5:14)—shining bright for the world to see. But every city needs more than just lights. It needs walls to protect it and guards at the gate to watch for threats and speak on its behalf.
The legal team is like the guards who stand at the gates and protect the city from attacks. They know the rules. They know when someone is trying to sneak in, steal, or destroy. They don’t attack others—but they stand strong to defend what’s right.
The Communications team is like the messenger who stands on the wall and explains what’s really going on inside the city. When people on the outside hear rumors or lies, the Communications team helps tell the truth clearly and quickly so the city’s name isn’t ruined.
If a city has no guards and no messengers, it’s vulnerable. It can be attacked, misunderstood, or wrongly judged. But when it’s defended well, it can keep shining its light for everyone to see—and trust.
Not All Lawsuits Are Frivolous
It’s important to say this clearly: not every lawsuit against a church is false or wrong. Some lawsuits are necessary. Some bring real truth to light. Some expose serious harm, protect the vulnerable, and hold leaders accountable.
We support those efforts—and we support those brave enough to speak up when something truly wrong has happened. Justice matters. Truth matters. And the church should always stand for what is right, even when it’s uncomfortable.
But sadly, in today’s world, these honest lawsuits are the exception, not the norm.
We live in a time when people can easily make public accusations with no proof—and those accusations can go viral in hours. Churches are often judged before the facts come out.
Some people see churches as easy targets because of their peaceful nature and generous hearts. That’s why frivolous and false lawsuits have become more common—and more dangerous.
We must be wise. We must protect the truth, support real victims, and also defend against false attacks. That’s what justice really looks like.
The Bottom Line
If our church doesn’t have a legal and PR team, it’s not protected. In today’s world, churches must be wise. We must know when to speak up, when to stand firm, and when to fight for what is right.
We are not just protecting a building—we are protecting God’s mission, God’s people, and the truth of the gospel.
Standing up for the Church is standing up for God.