What’s an acceptable reason for leaving a church?
When one leaves a worshipping community, I fear it has more to do with evading an issue and less to do with following Jesus.
In the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, when Jesus delivers a long and intense pronouncement on the reception of his body and blood, many of Jesus’ disciples leave. His words carry scandal; too hard to accept.
However, the Twelve remain with Jesus, and Simon Peter speaks to their mindset: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
A Catholic would iterate these words as a way of understanding why one remains, when there may be other forces pressing for a departure from a faith community: the arrival of new pastoral leadership, challenging words from the pulpit, the loss of favorite parishioners or familiar customs.
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How about this. I've been a praticing Roman Catholic all my life(I am 55). One day a new priest takes over and the other has moved to where the diecece send him. The priest starts his first sermon with. "If you believe in following the words of Jesus Christ will save your soul, you are wrong. If you believe in doing the works of Christ by example will save your soul you are wrong. The only way to save your soul is throught the church. Only through the Catholic church can you save your soul."
-Mr.MikeNeedless to say I, never heard the rest of his sermon. I stood up and took my family with me andleft. I will never return again. The new Pope, Pope Benadict(an aproprate name) the 16th, has called for a one world government. He is in support of the New World Order. This is an evil and Satanic organization that is bent on destruction and enslavement of of mankind.
It is wonderful that you have the maturity, spiritual discernment, and knowledge of who Jesus is and what a Christian means to be the righteous leader to take yourself and your family out of that apostate bogus religion. Too many people sit in a church and listen to nothing more than a social message and become co-dependent on the pastor/priest, church and they never grow in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of God's Word…Jesus.
-WinstonThankyou for taking the time to respnd to my post. I understand what you are saying about people becoming dependent on the pastor/priest and even just the symbol of going into the church. I personaly believe in livng what Christ has said and taught by setting an example.
-Mr.MikeYes, the scriptures warn believers to NOT become followers of men, and never take their eyes off of Jesus…and him alone. Many CINO believers (Christians In Name Only) have become followers of men: e.g., Rick Warren, Jim Wallis, Bill Hybels, Joel Osteen, etc. and "left their first love" (Jesus).
-WinstonGood for you! I hope you have found a good Bible Doctrine teaching church that believes that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.
-msjallenGod made Him who had no sin to be sin as a substitute for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21)
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
Whosoever believes in the Son has eternal life; but whosoever rejects the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36)
Eph 2:8-9 For you have been saved by GRACE in the past with the result that you continue to be saved forever through faith; and this salvation is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God; not by works, that no one may boast.
Acts 16:31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.
No. Unfortunately I have not found any denomination or church yet. But then honestly I realy haven't been searching that hard. I find most people are so artificial. Like when we were doing bible studies on the book of Paul. The study of the early church. During the fisrt 600 years they gave up all matterial things and served God. And I mentioned how the only people whom even live close to this style of life where the Amish. And that I thought that this was a nice way to live. You would have thought that I slap them upside the head. But them I am some what more backward and anti-social then most. So I will live my life to my God in my own way. Ooh I do get the Jahova Witnesses to stop out here on the farm and visit me every now and then. We have a good vist. Thankyou for your time. Any sujestions will be considered. Go and live in peace and my God always be with you.
-Mr.MikeI spent too many years in a denominational church with programs for everyone. I taught young teens Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday nights and even had a week-day Bible study and visitation program. I provided entertainment and cheered them on to invite other teens to our activities. What a waste of time; hay, wood and stubble as the Bible says. Since 1972 I have been in a non-denominational Bible teaching church where I have come to realize that we can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the study of His Word taught by our pastor- teacher even though I have been a believer since age 9. If one wants a greater knowledge of God as a believer, God will direct them to find that correct teaching as He did our family. I pray that you and your family will find what you need spiritually.
-msjallenMike, do search hard for an independent Bible-teaching church which is Elder-led and not cleric-led. This would not be a denominational church because denominations have fragmented Christ's church with man-made dogma and flawed doctrine. A good book for you to obtain is "The Pilgrim Chruch" by E.H. Broadbent (can be obtained from The Berean Call.org. Also study up on counterfeit Christian religious cults (Jehova Witness, Mormons, etc.) because you do not want to fall prey to them…it would be even worse than Roman Catholicism. Read your Bible daily and before you pray, please pray that God would reveal His mysteries in the Word with the spiritual gift of discernment. The Bible does tell believers that we should be in fellowship with other believers (church). Will pray for you.
-WinstonWiston; thankyou for your insite there. Yes I have read the book of mormon. I don't know how true it is. As for the jahova witnesses, they're fun and entertaning to talk too. I just don't buy their crap. In fact I even told them so. But they keep coming back and trying. Yes I do like the idea of elders. Elder means older I think, thus older usualy means wiser. And wisdom is probably the only thing that I truely desire. Its the only thing that holds real value. I do miss going to church. I used to love to sing, still do, just not good at it any more. I sang is choir most of my life. Now I couldn't hold a note with both hands. Well no since in boring you with idle dumb stuff about me. Again I thankyou for your time and I really do appreciat what all of you people have done in responce to my first comment. Maybe I'll take a look inside that book again. It's been close to 10 years now since I left. Sure hope you have a lot of clout with the Big Guy upstairs. It'll probably take alot more then I've got ot get him to listen.
-Mr.MikeWhen one realizes TRUTH is not being preached in the Pulpit … Not everyone that sayeth LORD, LORD will enter in.. We must worship HIM (The Mighty in Christ JESUS) in SPIRIT, and in TRUTH.. If ye have NOT the Spirt of Christ, ye are none of HIS.. All the disciples were in one place in one accord and there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting…. And they were ALL (not some / not a few)with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues , as the SPIRIT gave the utterance….Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly, that GOD hath made that same JESUS, whom ye have Crucified, both LORD and Christ….Now when they (the Jews) heard this, they said unto Peter (a Jew also) and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do (to get right with GOD, when they realized they'd crucified the LORD of glory)…… The Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of JESUS Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receiver the gift of the Holy Ghost……JESUS said unto the Jews, If ye believe not that I am HE (the Mighty GOD and your SAVIOUR), ye shall die in your sins !
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD and the Word was GOD, JESUS is the Word….. HE said in another place .. My Word is for ever settled in Heaven…. I am GOD and I change NOT.. The born again, Plan of Salvation is still ACTS 2:38 ……. What shall you do ?
-BigSkyCountryWHOLE TRUTH is what the Bible teaches. It is a gift of instruction and history for us to see, that is Christians, that the Disciples struggled, God used men and women many would have laughed at (back then) and that we need to understand the threat from within churches and clergy (as Paul addressed in Corinthians 1 & 2), are a WHOLE TRUTH, Jesus was warning us about (the Parables are a major key). If a clergy is saying something you need to do, verify it through Gods Word. If it is not Biblical, you have to decide if listening to man, is more important than following Gods Word. There is no compromise through Gods judgement in the end, there is only His Word. Also, taking it out of content and context is even worse.
-RAMRAM, you are absolutely right. God's Word says…
-msjallen2 John 1:9-11 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.
II Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (intellectuals seeking.)
A lack of SOUND BIBLICAL DOCTRINE is the reason for leaving an assembly.
The reason for the followers leaving Christ, in the passage cited in the article, is because they mistakenly took His words literally here, even though, He told them that they were Spirit and therefore, should be interpreted in the Spirit (spiritually). They thought that He wanted them to pounce on Him, literally carve Him up, eat Him, and drink His blood! Only a FALSE CHURCH would take these words literally, and actually practice cannibalism by eating the "very flesh" and drinking the "very blood" of the Son of Man!
-toothfulNo, this was a prophetic, Spiritual Truth concerning the receiving of the gospel of Christ into their hearts and minds – believing that His broken body and shed blood would be for the saving of their souls.
Coming to your senses is the best reason.
-Jeff DixonElaborate with what that reason might be, Jeff.
-WinstonReligious beliefs are based on mythological concepts.
-Jeff DixonYour belief lies with the father of lies, Satan.
-WinstonYours are in the realm of delusion.
-Jeff DixonPart 1 of 2: The more socialism and communitarian thought (communism) worms its way into the local church through errant and apostate pastors and church leaders the fewer the numbers of professed believers will enter heaven…because their form of Christianity is unbiblical and apostate. We have left churches because of men with the title of "pastor" (a spiritual gift) know not how to be a true pastor (shepherd of the flock) nor care for them at all. They are remote and what gets done is done through cascading heirarchy…and who are we to know if they are "called by God". When pastors say, "we are a community of churches" that should send up a strong red flag because that is ecumenism and socialism at work.
-WinstonPart 2 of 2: When the pastor/teacher tells you "I have moved away from fundamental Christianity" then run away fast because they're subconciously (or consciously) telling you they have become a "man-follower" of other apostate pastors who have gathered a following by writing a popular social gospel book, CD, or DVD. It's happening all over America and it is disgusting as the Spirit of God has removed himself from that "church". When your pastor admits he does not believe the work of the Holy Spirit (third person of the Holy Trinity) is not for today and it was completed in the first century church, then run away because that person should NOT be in the pulpit because they do NOT have God's anointing in them. If your church pushes program upon program of "bringing the world into the church" then run away as fast as you can because that is completely opposite of what Jesus taught his disciples to do.
-WinstonAbsolutely, Winston, and the Bible says…
-msjallenJude 1:17-25 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
If you are a discerning Christian, familiar with your Bible, truly devoted to Our Lord and Savior, grateful for His grace, than the Holy Spirit will guide you as to the time when you must leave a church. If the church is no longer focused on Christ, more interested in vain self centered entertainment as worship, leaves little time for sermons during the service, or spends more time talking about the latest football scores (a deeply disturbing trend I have seen in several churches), or if the church pretends to be interested in missions but has no serious efforts in mind, or merely wants to implement the latest church movements instead of focusing on the basics, then you might consider leaving for a more faithful church. Your first loyalty is to Christ, so if you begin to hear doctrines which are new and unbiblical, contemporary philosophy that sounds like pop psychology and false theology, the fruit of the church you are attending is now rotten. You must flee that church.
-John J FlanaganHow honest or honorable is it to continue attending a church when you don't believe the teachings of that church? Say you were raised in a particular faith and then, after becoming an adult, you realize that you don't believe all of the doctrines of that faith. Should you continue to attend to please your family, or because it's too much trouble to change, or because that is the church your family has always attended? My point is that there should be just as much focus on our obligations to the church we attend as there is on the obligations of the church to its congregation. If you can't support the tenants of the faith taught in your church you should leave. An example of this is Catholics who use contraception and vote for politicians who support abortion. Why bother to go to Mass, receive the sacraments, or send your kids to parochial school when you don’t accept the teachings of the church? Where in Catholic doctrine does it say that you are free to accept some Church teachings but reject others? Once you reach adulthood you are responsible for choosing the church you’ll attend; it is your decision and your responsibility. So choose wisely for your own sake and for the sake of your church.
-SuzanneAll Christians reject or ignore parts of their faith. When is the last time you stoned someone for working on the Sabbath? Have you given up all your wealth as Jesus commanded?
-Jeff Dixon