Geeks and God Podcast

Robert

I will pray for you. It's a tough thing... leaving a church. I would encourage you to take time and think about it. While I know few details about your church, it doesn't sound like you're leaving because of contentious or biblical issues.

You don't seem like a typical church member in that you already sense or wonder if your desire to move might be more internally selfish rather then actually Divinely decided.

Just be aware that church hopping is North American's consumerism mentality filtered down and regularly accepted and practiced at the individual believers level in our society. It has no resemblance whatsoever to how the early church and believers operated.

As a student ministry pastor for over 12 years I've witnessed the vast impact and influence youth leaders have on their students. Often it's years before you even realize the full impact you had on the lives of those teens. And maybe not even then, but you will be AMAZED when you get to heaven and see the impact your serving in that student ministry has had.

I encourage you to really search and ask God about your desire to move... could it be that God doesn't want you to move... but other spiritual forces would love to see your impact on those teens end. Just a thought.

Keep in mind, these are just my ramblings based on the few words you've shared with me. I felt like sharing them with you because of your openness about your own internal struggles.

God bless... I will pray for you.

Are you growing there? It's very important whether you are growing in the Lord there. Many people get so caught up in Church activities and even ministries that their own growth in the Lord suffers greatly.
Definitely consider that and pray about it.

This is a tough question. I feel you having asked this same question before. I even looked around at other churches.

When should we leave a local church?

There are a lot of typical times people do it now that are not appropriate now. Mark points out well our consumerism. People in western culture tend to go to a church to consume what the church produces. The teachings of a pastor, classes and activities for kids, and maybe a bible class. It's sometimes referred to as country club Christianity. If someone finds a church with better products and services they switch. I can make a great case why this is bad and wrong. Even going beyond how this is ME centered rather than God and OTHERS centered as the bible calls us to be.

When is it appropriate to switch churches? Here's my take.

1) If a church dies. By dead, I don't mean it's down to 100 people or it has gotten boring. By dead I mean there is no longer worship or a group to meet anymore.

2) You move out of the area of your church. Hey, you can't take it with you.

3) The church goes off the deep end theologically. I've seen this. But, you really have to know your stuff here to be an accurate evaluator.

4) God calls you away. God taps you on the shoulder to go elsewhere. This will usually be somewhere where the situation is worse than where you are at now. To a community of his believers that are in worse shape or to a place there aren't his believers.

These aren't the usual reasons we switch churches. So, be very careful and prayerful. I'd let God decide this one for you. Good luck and I'll keep you in my prayers.

Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.innovatingtomorrow.net
www.mattfarina.com