SHOULD WE CHURCH HOP???
What I believe the sin of many who leave churches today, in our church ‘hop, shop and chop’, consumer-minded Christianity, is in one or both of the following:
1. First the motive for leaving (why a person has chosen to separate themselves).
Too many people abandon churches for petty reasons. Disagreements over simple matters of preference are never a good reason to leave a doctrinally sound church. Christians are commanded to respect, honor, and obey those whom God has placed in positions of leadership in the church (Heb.13:7, 17). People most often leave churches for selfish, man centered, comfort-related reasons, with little concern for the other members they have covenanted with, are accountable to and joined to by God.
There are very few biblical reasons to leave a church because it should be a rare event and a process. The fact is, God never breaks covenant and we are to be like Christ. To leave a church family, that God considers a holy covenant relationship, shows the lack of understanding of Biblical commitment to the church rampant in our culture.
To leave a church for unbiblical reasons shows very little concern for the glory of Christ and His mission; which is to be furthered as the world sees Christ’s love and devotion modeled in us. How are they to see that? One way is a strong love in which people persevere together through the good and the bad. Following the example of Christ who will never leave or forsake us. Unfortunately many today see their personal needs, feelings and desires of higher priority, and therefore have no problem leaving and forsaking those whom God joined them to, whom they have covenanted with, and say that they love. This simply does not model Christ’s love and commitment and therefore does not glorify God. So I see motive for leaving as a critical issue.
2. Second I see method of leaving (how a person has chosen to leave a church) as another equally critical issue.
Many people leave churches today by simply stopping attendance without so much as a kind ‘good-bye’ or a word of explanation; leaving out of selfish anger or hurt and in bitterness. This is done without love or common courtesy to the other members. This is akin to abandonment. Think of a spouse who one day comes home to an empty house. No note, no goodbye, no courtesy, no kindness, no love. This method of leaving a church does not model Christ’s treatment of us, nor does it model Christian love and commitment to an on-looking world.
Others leave churches harboring bitterness and malice, slandering and gossiping in the process and after. The result is divisions within the body of Christ against which there are breathtaking judgments pronounced by God and awaiting those who engage in such behavior, unless there is repentance.
In this whole discussion we must consider these commands:
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Colossians 3:12-13 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
There are so many other verses that speak to these truths. But simply take one: 1 John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. “Lay down our lives”! That is a serious command, one related to the church. Nowhere do I see in the Bible any luxury of running out on brothers and sisters. No easy road out of covenant commitment. No lack of devotion or sacrifice for the brothers and sisters God has placed us with, simply referencing the few verses above makes this crystal clear.
Jesus died for the church, and prayed that we be one as He and the Father are one. Throughout the book of 1 John we are told that our love for our brothers and sisters directly indicates our love for the Lord and even our eternal condition. In it, John makes quite a compelling argument for devotion to one another within a church. The implications are huge; how we treat, think of, talk about and relate to other Christians, especially those in our local church family, directly shows our true heart towards Christ.
The early church, seen in Scripture and in church history in later decades, had a profound love for Christ and was radically committed to Him and His glory, first. They were willing to die for Him, lose all for him. Then from their radical love for Christ, sprang a radical love and commitment to one another. They were willing to sacrifice goods, lands, money etc. for their brothers and sisters and strangers. This made the unbelievers around them stand up and take notice.
Unfortunately us modern, 21st century Christians, know little of this type of commitment. We are saturated in the ‘look out for number one- meet my needs’ culture and take the body of Christ dangerously and shamefully too lightly. This has bred a Christianity of shallow relationships and little commitment, where we are easily offended, wallow in prideful self-pity, promote ourselves and our rights and run on feelings; backbiting, gossiping, ravaging and abandoning one another. This is clear evidence of the works of the flesh and not the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5). All this is to our detriment and judgment for we will all give an account. In the process we make the majestic, holy, precious name of Christ a reproach among unbelievers.
I firmly agree with many others that what is needed in the church in America is repentance and a return to sound doctrine, especially sound, correct, right and true doctrine of the church i.e. a correct church theology. That I believe is the root cause of much of the mess we are experiencing in the American church. I refer you to one last article by MacArthur titled “Commitment to the Church”. This thoroughly explains why we must be committed to the local church and outlines seven essential biblical issues concerning commitment to a local church http://www.gty.org/resources.php?print
I would encourage those who may be considering leaving their church to ask for God’s grace and to search their heart as to motive and method of leaving.
As Paul said “So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.” (Acts 24:16) and “so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:10).
That Christ is glorified and you may be filled with the fullness of His joy!
1. First the motive for leaving (why a person has chosen to separate themselves).
Too many people abandon churches for petty reasons. Disagreements over simple matters of preference are never a good reason to leave a doctrinally sound church. Christians are commanded to respect, honor, and obey those whom God has placed in positions of leadership in the church (Heb.13:7, 17). People most often leave churches for selfish, man centered, comfort-related reasons, with little concern for the other members they have covenanted with, are accountable to and joined to by God.
There are very few biblical reasons to leave a church because it should be a rare event and a process. The fact is, God never breaks covenant and we are to be like Christ. To leave a church family, that God considers a holy covenant relationship, shows the lack of understanding of Biblical commitment to the church rampant in our culture.
To leave a church for unbiblical reasons shows very little concern for the glory of Christ and His mission; which is to be furthered as the world sees Christ’s love and devotion modeled in us. How are they to see that? One way is a strong love in which people persevere together through the good and the bad. Following the example of Christ who will never leave or forsake us. Unfortunately many today see their personal needs, feelings and desires of higher priority, and therefore have no problem leaving and forsaking those whom God joined them to, whom they have covenanted with, and say that they love. This simply does not model Christ’s love and commitment and therefore does not glorify God. So I see motive for leaving as a critical issue.
2. Second I see method of leaving (how a person has chosen to leave a church) as another equally critical issue.
Many people leave churches today by simply stopping attendance without so much as a kind ‘good-bye’ or a word of explanation; leaving out of selfish anger or hurt and in bitterness. This is done without love or common courtesy to the other members. This is akin to abandonment. Think of a spouse who one day comes home to an empty house. No note, no goodbye, no courtesy, no kindness, no love. This method of leaving a church does not model Christ’s treatment of us, nor does it model Christian love and commitment to an on-looking world.
Others leave churches harboring bitterness and malice, slandering and gossiping in the process and after. The result is divisions within the body of Christ against which there are breathtaking judgments pronounced by God and awaiting those who engage in such behavior, unless there is repentance.
In this whole discussion we must consider these commands:
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Colossians 3:12-13 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
There are so many other verses that speak to these truths. But simply take one: 1 John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. “Lay down our lives”! That is a serious command, one related to the church. Nowhere do I see in the Bible any luxury of running out on brothers and sisters. No easy road out of covenant commitment. No lack of devotion or sacrifice for the brothers and sisters God has placed us with, simply referencing the few verses above makes this crystal clear.
Jesus died for the church, and prayed that we be one as He and the Father are one. Throughout the book of 1 John we are told that our love for our brothers and sisters directly indicates our love for the Lord and even our eternal condition. In it, John makes quite a compelling argument for devotion to one another within a church. The implications are huge; how we treat, think of, talk about and relate to other Christians, especially those in our local church family, directly shows our true heart towards Christ.
The early church, seen in Scripture and in church history in later decades, had a profound love for Christ and was radically committed to Him and His glory, first. They were willing to die for Him, lose all for him. Then from their radical love for Christ, sprang a radical love and commitment to one another. They were willing to sacrifice goods, lands, money etc. for their brothers and sisters and strangers. This made the unbelievers around them stand up and take notice.
Unfortunately us modern, 21st century Christians, know little of this type of commitment. We are saturated in the ‘look out for number one- meet my needs’ culture and take the body of Christ dangerously and shamefully too lightly. This has bred a Christianity of shallow relationships and little commitment, where we are easily offended, wallow in prideful self-pity, promote ourselves and our rights and run on feelings; backbiting, gossiping, ravaging and abandoning one another. This is clear evidence of the works of the flesh and not the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5). All this is to our detriment and judgment for we will all give an account. In the process we make the majestic, holy, precious name of Christ a reproach among unbelievers.
I firmly agree with many others that what is needed in the church in America is repentance and a return to sound doctrine, especially sound, correct, right and true doctrine of the church i.e. a correct church theology. That I believe is the root cause of much of the mess we are experiencing in the American church. I refer you to one last article by MacArthur titled “Commitment to the Church”. This thoroughly explains why we must be committed to the local church and outlines seven essential biblical issues concerning commitment to a local church http://www.gty.org/resources.php?print
I would encourage those who may be considering leaving their church to ask for God’s grace and to search their heart as to motive and method of leaving.
As Paul said “So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.” (Acts 24:16) and “so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:10).
That Christ is glorified and you may be filled with the fullness of His joy!
Comment
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Comment by Eric Hancock on July 11, 2009 at 10:16am
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Some Preachers feel that it is all about them and they're is in charge and other leaders have a word from the lord and told the Preacher but he keeps telling them NOT YET,,,so some of the leaders want to leave and start there movement,,should'nt that Preacher allow them to do Bible study or other Ministry or allow him or her speaking engagements in other Churches just to keep them or allow them to leave???we cant continue to muzzle the OX
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Brother John
a great pleasure to have you in the misdt
Now I agree with what your saying that if the truth is not being Preached or Teached ,,but what is all the bells and whistles are being taught,,why leave???
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Great Comment Bibleman and we love to hear more from you as well
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Comment by John on July 11, 2009 at 10:07am
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Great subject as usual Brother Eric. I agree and disagree (to an extent) of some things you state. The reasons you provide are true if that is what the occasion fits. Now if you are in a church and God is not in it, THEN RUN and I repeat, RUN! There are too many churches with Jesus on the outside knocking for someone to open the door and let Him in. This is the only reason I will RUN from a church is that "SOUND DOCTRINE" is not in the house. If sound doctrine isn't there then neither is God. I personally can care less about all the petty stuff what matters to me is Jesus message being preached or is "man's".
I too agree that the church isn't the physical building but is the body of people that are BELIEVERS. This includes the minister and they should not be put on a pedestal because there should be no respecter of persons. Doesn't matter if there is a title or not. If that leader is misrepresenting the Lord, then RUN and I repeat, RUN! You can have a church in a home or wherever it may be. Read Matthew 18:20. Jesus didn't die for the church, He died for sinners! The church was established for this assembly of people to get together to fellowship in praise and thanks to the Lord and for edification. We get caught up most of the time in the "We Are The World", let's just get along instead of convicting people into righteousness from delivering God's Word. Personally I won't tolerated man's foolishness from the leaders or congregation when it comes to God's Word and will leave in a heartbeat if His Word is not the focus of the so called church building where the church body comes together. God bless.
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Comment by biblelover on July 11, 2009 at 9:52am
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the key is knowing your God know your word and know your leader if you know these three you will never go wrong
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People leave the Church because the Pastor wont allow them to work there Ministry??this was told to me a few minutes ago,,it may not have been there time or the Pastor may not have heard from God,,was the Pastor out of order??
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I try to tithe or shall I say PLANT MY SEED ON good ground,,I gave a testimony when I first joined this network on how I was ordained and help this church raise $700,000 for a building fund only to find out that they Pocket every penny ,,even the woman who was behind in her mortgage,and the one who was on Public Assistant,,they pocket everything,,,i said that i would never tithe again but GOD dealt with me on that and shown me that I was tithing on BAD GROUND,,when I started tithing on good ground good things started happening,,,SO BPN tithe on good ground...tithing is not limited to the money only as well.Sis .Anna and Brother lonnie klutz has a EXCELLENT ministry on this,,OK this is not the TOPIC ..LOL
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Minister Busby
you already informed me that when you were in LA you were pretty much working a street ministry,never did you tell me that you were under someone,,and now that your living in TX..hey as long as God is getting the glory
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Prophet Minstrel Johannes John
Excellent post again
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Pastor Bell that is my point
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