What are legitimate reasons to leave a church?

[Kenya]

to get you started....

God guiding you elsewhere

Spiritually starving

Lack of vision


and please feel free to elaborate....

[DaJudge]

to get you started....

God guiding you elsewhere

Spiritually starving

Lack of vision


and please feel free to elaborate....

I think God guiding you elsewhere is probably the only legitimate reason (and you should be careful that it's really God, and not self)

The rest are not reasons, they are EXCUSES. I get tired of people complaining about their church. I say to them, "What are YOU doing to make it better?"

Don't have a good children's church? Start one

Youth group lacking? Pitch in and help.

Building not up to snuff? Start some fund raisers for a building fund

We are so focused sometimes on what the church can do for us that we neglect looking for what we can do for our church.

Getting down off my soapbox. Church hopping and the "me-ism" of our times are a big bugaboo of mine.

[Kenya]

to get you started....

God guiding you elsewhere

Spiritually starving

Lack of vision


and please feel free to elaborate....

I think God guiding you elsewhere is probably the only legitimate reason (and you should be careful that it's really God, and not self)

The rest are not reasons, they are EXCUSES. I get tired of people complaining about their church. I say to them, "What are YOU doing to make it better?"

Don't have a good children's church? Start one

Youth group lacking? Pitch in and help.

Building not up to snuff? Start some fund raisers for a building fund

We are so focused sometimes on what the church can do for us that we neglect looking for what we can do for our church.

Getting down off my soapbox. Church hopping and the "me-ism" of our times are a big bugaboo of mine.

It's a big "bugaboo" of mine too. I was raised (and still believe) with the mentality that you don't go to church for what you can get out of it, but for what you can give to it. So please don't take my question that way....

[MacUser]

Wow.. good stuff guys.

[stevenson]

DaJudge,
I understand what your saying aand agree to a point. But I would go a step farther and say, try before you dive! For instance, if you want to start a Youth Group and the Pastor says no or starts giving excuses on why you can't....then it may be time to leave. I have seen churches where people want to start ministries but the Pastor has no vision.

[EagerBeaver]

One legitimate reason to leave a church, I believe, is if your church is stagnant and has not shown signs of growth. If you have done what you can, poured physical and spiritual blood, sweat and tears into your church body with no result at all, that's a legitimate reason to leave.

At least that was the case with me once.

[DaJudge]

It's a big "bugaboo" of mine too. I was raised (and still believe) with the mentality that you don't go to church for what you can get out of it, but for what you can give to it. So please don't take my question that way....

I didn't take your post that way at all Kenya. My rant was not aimed at you, but rather, the church hoppers.

[Kenya]

It's a big "bugaboo" of mine too. I was raised (and still believe) with the mentality that you don't go to church for what you can get out of it, but for what you can give to it. So please don't take my question that way....

I didn't take your post that way at all Kenya. My rant was not aimed at you, but rather, the church hoppers.

Oh, good, because I do put my blood, sweat and tears in a church.

[TW]

A "Pastor" that teaches doctrine that cannot even remotely be supported by scripture. Who also appoints the Deacons, Associate Pastors, and all church officers, who all serve at his discretion. Who is accountable to no one and excommunicates anyone that voices an opinion contrary to his.


TW

[Dr. Ron]

Well, I will once again put my head in the noose....as a "denominational" LEAVER..

When I left my church (denom) it was after several years of prayer. I had been loyal and faithful to the fullest extent possible for me. I had no axe to grind other than I made a pledge to the denom as a young man of 18 when I got my license, that when I could no longer support the vision of the church and no longer preach ALL it's teachings, I would leave and not become a problem.

Although I was a change agent for many years, it was always in the realm of respect for those in authority.

When one can no longer be loyal to the vision of the church and in that situation would be a stumbling block to stay, it is legitimate to leave.

When one can no longer fully support the ministry and the leadership, it is legitimate to leave......provided of course that due effort to do that has been give.


When one feels the release of the spirit to find another home, it is legitimate to leave.

No one would ever expect a person to stay in a relationship where they were being abused or misused.....same as in a church.

I can only agree with dajudge in some instances. I too disagree with
church hopping". We have 4 levels of commitment here. We believe in being committed to the body and to the vision.....I dare say that some have left here because they were "starving" .......but only when they didn't understand the mission of the church and the "purpose" for what we present on Sunday. Most of the real "meat" is fed in the small groups.
However, many do say they enjoy the preaching..........


As one who has faced this delima, trust me that you will feel like you have gone through a divorce....but a little time passes and you find your place in the body and it becomes a real thing of joy.

[Penny]

I was very very un happy in the church I was at. I prayed and still went to church, and I hated it. SO I stopped going every week, and went to other churches still could not find what I wanted.

IN all that I found where I am now Happy me is!

[one love]

to get you started....

God guiding you elsewhere

Spiritually starving

Lack of vision


and please feel free to elaborate....

I think God guiding you elsewhere is probably the only legitimate reason (and you should be careful that it's really God, and not self)

The rest are not reasons, they are EXCUSES. I get tired of people complaining about their church. I say to them, "What are YOU doing to make it better?"

Don't have a good children's church? Start one

Youth group lacking? Pitch in and help.

Building not up to snuff? Start some fund raisers for a building fund

We are so focused sometimes on what the church can do for us that we neglect looking for what we can do for our church.

Getting down off my soapbox. Church hopping and the "me-ism" of our times are a big bugaboo of mine.

AMEN

[dawgs10]

to come to my church!!!!!

[dawgs10]

to get you started....

God guiding you elsewhere

Spiritually starving

Lack of vision


and please feel free to elaborate....

I think God guiding you elsewhere is probably the only legitimate reason (and you should be careful that it's really God, and not self)

The rest are not reasons, they are EXCUSES. I get tired of people complaining about their church. I say to them, "What are YOU doing to make it better?"

Don't have a good children's church? Start one

Youth group lacking? Pitch in and help.

Building not up to snuff? Start some fund raisers for a building fund

We are so focused sometimes on what the church can do for us that we neglect looking for what we can do for our church.

Getting down off my soapbox. Church hopping and the "me-ism" of our times are a big bugaboo of mine.

you are right on. period. what ever happened to i go to a certain church because the teach the bible.

[S Plissken]

I believe that there are probably paradigmic levels of Christianity involved. On one hand, we can assume that everyone is a discipled Christian and that they are at a church that is at least mostly sound, biblically speaking.

On the other hand, perhaps the Christian is a babe in Christ, whatever their physical age; and they need to find a home church. This may take some time, especially in larger cities, as they are trying to be lead of God and in sincere prayer and supplication in requesting to Him a home-church.

There is the other extreme of Christian that no matter where they find themselves, there they are and will never be satisfied, until they actually begin to assimilate the discipleship in spirit and heart, and not just a human understanding.

So given the context of who the person is, where there relationship with God is and whether or not there is a process of discipleship, whether from local/self study or from the church or churches they are visiting; there may be many reasons/excuses that are "valid" to them.

The point is a basic one of maturation in their relationship with God. We, as individuals can post what we believe and what is right for us in our relationship, but that does not make a general or cover-all statement about the issue a valid one across all circumstances in their life.

Jesus shed His blood for the Church, so there is extreme importance there, however, until the Christian comes to know that, they may only know a church-hopping mode or way of life.