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 HOPE - Psalm 43:5 on July 12, 2009 at 6:52pm
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oh man Bro Hancock... should Christians be watching UFC... LOL.. just kidding. I like to watch it too. I like it much better than the "season" I was into WWF. UFC is real!!!! WWF is scripted.
But I guess one has to wonder who is the author of the scripts when there is fighting in da church?? (and who are those people egging them as fans -- LOL)
Have you guys ever felt that way either online or in your church or a church you visited? Have you felt like you were watching some type of spectator sport when Believers go at one another??
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Comment by PASTOR CHARLES E BELL JR on July 12, 2009 at 4:55pm
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thats tithes
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cures if you dont you will be curse its you chose busby
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BRO john it is the pastor who wacth over you soul on earth and thats God order . minster busby its Bell NOT belle frist of all and tithing is not under the law but it was a convent that was made by man to God and God to man. The pastor have a pastor also it sad bro john and bro eric when we take god word and use it to please us you still havnt showed me were tithing have been done away with cause you or no one else can show me. stop telling people they dont need a pastor when it is in the bible that like beging double toungued (lol ) that why we must pray read the bible and let God open your eyes to see and ear to hear . stop fighting God way this busby what you said is not Christ veiw praying for ya with love of Chirst . the holy ghost have his job bro john and he can work thru a pastor
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Comment by Eric Hancock on July 12, 2009 at 2:33pm
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Apostle Abrahams Oladipupo
I enjoy your Coomment and I do agree and if I said anything to offend you or anyone ,,who may want to post but fear That they may be attack them I do apologize,,this is not the streets although I have been in some wars hear ,,,Minister Busby and I wont fight each other we joke around but we know when to turn it off and on..but I thankyou very kindly and wish you and others will post,,again,,, INTENSED FELLOWSHIPPING it does not look good for the kingdom,,please be blessed
Oh and that comment about UFC fighting that is something I enjoy I even mentioned it on my profile and Busby knows it as well,,that was for him ONLY NEVER NO ONE ELSE
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UFC fighting or we wont fight at all...LOL
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Comment by Apostle Abrahams Oladipupo on July 12, 2009 at 2:24pm
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Dear Sir, I appreciate such discurssion but the reason why I will want to say anything is that ,God is not an author of confussion so he is above miss take , some time many leaders are so bussy that when God is speaking they dont hear and some dont want to hear , some hear but because is not favourable to them, they see it as the voice of satan, but God is not in the business of been together for ever but in reaching out to the dying souls.Someleaders because spiritual wizards always wanting to manipulate their fellows and not allowing them to fulfil what God has ordained them for,Personall if the motive is Godly for a person to live let him or her live it is for the glory of God and expansion of mission to all.my little advice to all leaders is that we are to be careful in dealing with our fellowers know fully well that we also have a master to give account to,we must not allow our selfsell reason to over shadow the divine wills of God, To anyone God is calling out dont do it hestate less you regreat starting such mission and not able to complete it ,so we must both walk in God's wisdom so that we both have a crowned end in righteousness
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Brother John thankyou and I really enjoy your Ministry
And Minister Busby
be mindful that we will have different views ,,you can show me scripture and I can do the same,,,but lets do away with what Paul,Peter,John, Timothy,luke and therest of thge pilgrims of the Bible,,,WHAT DID JESUS SAY??,he said that he did not come to DESTROY anything ONLY,,,ONLY,,,ONLY to fulfill it...now I can hear you and have to take in your view,,But I wont get into INTENSED FELLOWSHIPPING any more because it brings bitterness and when the world see that we hate and cant get along then they dont want to partake in the kingdom,,I am walking away from PRECONCIEVED IDEOLOGY OF CHRISTAINITY,,meaning what was handed to me instead of studying for myself and allowing the HolySpirit to Minister to me..you do Have some good points,,be blessed
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Comment by John on July 12, 2009 at 9:48am
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Brother Eric, so called Christians do use grace as a means to continue to sin then just say ask for forgiveness and continue in the same sin. This is the lie of the enemy! Jesus did away with the animal sacrificing and not the law as stated. What Jesus said is His two commandments of love God with all your heart as the 1st and greatest and the second to love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Meaning if we have love for God and fellow man/woman then we will not go against the rest of the law. The law would never have saved anyone because no one called do all the law so Jesus had to come to make that sacrifice for us to stop the animal sacrifices and cleanse us with the perfect sacrifice that no one but Him could do. Now we know that Paul said (as Brother Busby stated) that those that wanted to try to stay under the law, meaning do all the law would fail because it was/is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ that we might be justified (declared righteous) by faith and you have to do all the law not just some of it. God said no man is justified (declared righteous) by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in (by) them. As you stated Brother Eric, GRACE is a FREE GIFT from God and we didn't deserve it. He did this because HE LOVES US and thank God, He loved us first. God bless.
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OK...OK...OK..
IAM OK...WOOOOOOO
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