THE WRONG REASONS FOR LEAVING YOUR CHURCH

You’ve heard the joke about the man who was stranded on a deserted island for many years. When he was finally found one of the rescuers asked him why he had built three huts. The man replied, “The first hut is my home and the second hut is where I go to church.” “What about the third hut?” the rescuer inquired. The man stated, “That’s where I used to go to church.”

In Pastor Jason Helopoulos’ article, “Good Reasons for Moving On” he describes

• Four Good Reasons for Moving On – The Four P’s
• Three Possible Reasons for Moving On – The Three S’s
• Reasons Often Used Which are Insufficient

I’ve pasted the insufficient reasons below as I think they are helpful for spiritual maturity and are sound truth for those willing to listen. You can read the rest HERE.



Reasons Often Used Which are Insufficient (by Jason Helopoulos)

1. Children’s Ministry—The Children’s ministry at another church is better. This cannot be a reason for changing churches. It is rather an opportunity for you to get involved in the children’s ministry of your church.

2. Buzz—Many people will flow to whatever church in town has the current “buzz.” The argument will be that the Spirit is at work there and we want to be part of it. But buzzes come and go. And so do the people that follow them.

3. Youth Group—The unhappiness of our teenage children in the current Youth Group, because of activities, other youth, etc. is not a reason for leaving the church we have covenanted with. I know this one will be controversial. Believe me, I have empathy as a parent and a former Youth Pastor. But our children are not the spiritual directors of our home. They should not be choosing the church we attend based upon their social status and network.

4. Church has changed—Churches always change. Unless the changes are unbiblical than we don’t have a reason to move on. We don’t move on when our wife or husband changes! We are we so quick to do so with the church we have covenanted with.

5. New Pastor—A new pastor is not a sufficient reason to change churches. It doesn’t matter how stiff, impersonal, unfunny, etc. he is. The list is endless. It doesn’t even matter if he is not the most interesting preacher. He is the man God called to this church for this time. And this is your church. Again, unless he is unbiblical why move on? You haven’t covenanted with a man, but with this body.

6. I’m Not Being Ministered to—I tell every one of our new member classes, “If we all walked into church each week and had a list of people we were going to try and ‘touch,’ encourage, or minister to, do you know how dynamic this church would be? Just on Sunday mornings, let alone if we did it during the week. If we each were concerned about the other person and walked in each Sunday with that in the forefront of our mind instead of, “Why didn’t he talk to me?,” “Why doesn’t anyone care about me?,” “Why isn’t anyone ministering to me?” Start ministering to others and you will find that you are being ministered to.

7. Music—Not a reason—whether it is slow, fast, traditional, contemporary, Psalms, hymns, or gospel choruses. Stop using it as an excuse!

8. There are others…we haven’t even mentioned the service is too early, the coffee is terrible, the pastor doesn’t know how to shuck corn (Yep…those are all true ones I have heard).

Is the Mission of Your Church Worth Your Financial Support?

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here are two significant places in the Bible where we are given a picture of God’s people publically bringing their offerings to Him for His purposes.

The first is in the book of Exodus.  After leaving Egypt the Hebrew people are told God will be their God and they will be His people.  They were overjoyed.  The holy God, creator of the universe had chosen them over all the other nations of the world.  In addition He promised to dwell among them.  They were to build a tabernacle, a place where they might worship God, learn His ways and pray for His help.  Then, like an avalanche, the people began bringing offerings of the materials needed to build this place of worship.  They were so eager and excited that eventually Moses had to tell them to stop.

 So Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: “Men and women, don’t prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough!” So the people stopped bringing their sacred offerings. ⁷ Their contributions were more than enough to complete the whole project. - Exodus 36:6-7 (NLT)

The second public offering by God’s people takes place in the book of Acts, chapter four.  The church was very young and had just survived its first round of persecution from the Jewish authorities who arrested Peter and John.  After the apostles’ release, the young church gathered and prayed asking God to enable them to continue speaking His word with “great boldness.”  The place they were meeting shook and they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue the mission.  Right after this we are told how they supported that mission…

There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them ³⁵ and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. ³⁶ For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas…. ³⁷ He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.                                                                 - Acts 4:34-37 (NLT)

This is why tithing it not commanded in the New Testament.  The hearts of God’s people were enveloped by God’s mission and as a result they gave. They gave not because they were commanded, they gave beyond a tithe and they gave with joy to support the work God wanted to do through them. 

God has also chosen and given a mission to His people through their local church.  The mission statement of my church, San Dimas Wesleyan is:  Working together to bring those far from God near Him thru Christ.  We are striving to become a church where Christians are being taught God’s word, growing up and becoming confident in their faith;  a church that seeks opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with friends and neighbors and sees many come to salvation; a church that ministers to families by strengthening marriages and empowering parents with godly wisdom.  This is what our church working on and working toward.

So let me speak bluntly.  As with many churches, our summer has been financially difficult.  Our projected tithes and offerings are currently $3100 below our operating need (this is after cutting our budget by $16,000 in June).  Some of our pledges for our the Landscape Project have not yet come in.  I do not report this to cause guilt, but to make the church family aware of the reality. 

Christ has given His mission your church, wherever it may be because you are the people of God.  He has left it in your hands to support or to neglect.  I pray your heart will be enveloped by the mission of God and you will give to support the mission of your church (which is Christ's church) great joy.

Back From Vacation

We are back from vacation and looking forward to being back at church and seeing our church family.  It was a good time visiting family in Nocal (Northern California) and playing in Lowcal (Southern California).  Starting a new series this Sunday, "What Does God Require?" based on Micah 6:1-8.  This Sunday's message is "Total Obedience."  We need to hear the truth that God expects nothing less.