Wednesday, June 10, 2015

I'm kind of ________, it's time for a new church

Every now and then, we get a guest form from someone who is a member of another local church.  I usually email guests, but if someone is a member of another local church, I respond differently.  I thank them for coming and being a guest with us, and wish them well as they return to their church, hoping that we have in some way, been used of God to help them be energized and inspired to carry on their valuable and important place in their church family.

Here's the reality...
Jesus' church, THE church, doesn't grow by people running from one church to the next.  It grows by people who didn't know Him being introduced to Him by caring friends and neighbors and co-workers who love them enough to live Jesus in front of them.
Another truth is true as well...
His children don't grow by using cosmetic factors to attempt to solve problems that exist within.  Most of the time, blaming external preferences for issues that exist internally, only mask the issue and delay healing.

From time to time, people leave one local church for another local church.  Sometimes, it's a good reason, but a lot of the time, it's not.  When I get that guest form above, could God be sending help to accomplish our mission or bringing someone to the next step in their journey?  Could God give the "holy transfer" to someone from our church to go somewhere else?  Of course...but it needs to be obedience, not avoidance.

If you are thinking about leaving your church, read this article below and if one of these reasons is the reason that you are considering a new place, rethink and examine yourself.  If you don't, you might end up finding the same problems at the new place, because you brought them with you.

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