“Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another” Acts 15:39
In this day and age people are just criss-crossing the earth moving from church to church. It has been deduced that in developing countries an average Christian may move churches about ten times in their lives. While some do it out of genuine reasons some are just moving for varied reasons that are not even worthy mentioning. Some think they will find a perfect church only to be disappointed when they get to the next church. For example someone leaves the church because someone has rumoured about them not knowing that all churches have the same type of people. This you will find in all churches and in every organization, be it religious or secular. People must just mature to expect this and learn how to overcome such challenges. Here are some of the reasons that can be considered reasonable in leaving a church and joining another.
Permanent movement to a geographical place where your church is not located.
Sometimes as people move, geographically, they get to places where their churches are not located. For instance, a member of a small church in Zimbabwe may emigrate and become a citizen of Afghanistan or any foreign place where their particular church is not existent and will not be in the foreseen future. The person has to move on with their faith, and so has to join a new church. However, for churches which are bigger and have a more organised mission and financial status this could be the right time for the member to plant an assembly for their church in that, seemingly, foreign land!
Serious deviance from the correct Christian doctrine generally agreed to by the body of Christ.
The secular world agrees that everything that calls itself Christian is indeed Christian but for the Body of Christ, globally, there are some set things which they consider as “non-negotiable” of the faith (things that almost all Christians believe in regardless of their denomination). 2 Thessalonians 3:6 tells us:
“…withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.”
A few examples of non-negotiable include the divinity of Christ (Christians believe that Jesus is God), the trinity (God is three-in-one), that the church is one(although the churches are split and are so numerous, we are all members of one universal church, the Body of Christ). If a church goes against some of these doctrines then sometimes it may be necessary to leave the church. It is agreed that Christianity’s major source and writing, the Bible, is the Word of God and that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit it gives life and is our norm in the Christian walk. Though the Bible is sometimes interpreted out of its correct context and abused or twisted to suit preachers’ needs, it remains the Word of God. The churches that reject the Bible and/or its teachings must, themselves, also be rejected! But find a good one and join!
Making of the ministry of God into a personalised cult is also another issue that can be accepted as reason enough for departure of saints from a church. This is whereby a church becomes more like a personal property of the leader and the leader becomes more central that the Lord himself, Jesus Christ. It is obvious that the Bible commands us to give due respect to our leaders in God...very great honour but never for them to eclipse God. There are churches today who talk more about their leader than about God, they read and listen to media resources of their founders and leaders more than the Bible and some even equate their writings to the Bible. To say or pray, “the God of …” is not wrong because the people are just identifying the God of their spiritual father (though this should not be over-emphasised to the point of dividing the Body of Christ as in 1 Corinthians 3:4-5) but for us to pray in the name of a leader and not of Jesus is going astray. These must be left hurriedly!I am not saying we should not talk about our leaders and honour them but am just saying we need to see that we do not worship men but God and Him alone.
Serious chronic morale failure on the part of the central leadership.
The servants of God are of God but still remain human no matter how much we are convinced that they are not. Every man of God, no matter how gifted they are in any regard, are susceptible to sin...no-one is immune to sin, if we do not control ourselves. Infact men and women of God do sin! You should not leave a church becomes a man of God has just made a mistake and sinned, for example. However, when the central leadership lives in continual sin that seems to be chronic and sometimes without remedy thus: the leader defends his sin; the leader refuses to confess their sin, even to those above him; the leader rejects help and discipline from others in the Body of Christ; then people may leave the church and find a good church that you are just well versed with and/or that God leads you to.The Bible actually tells us that if one is in chronic sexual adultery such as were in the Corinthian church, we must:
“…deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-5
Apostle Pride Sibiya is the founder of Glory Ministries which is an international Christian organization that was founded in 2001 under the God ordained apostolic ministry of the man of God. He Pastors one of the assemblies within Glory Ministries: Bethel Worship Centre which is a prophetic, healing and empowerment campus...
WATCH OUT FOR PART TWO...
In this day and age people are just criss-crossing the earth moving from church to church. It has been deduced that in developing countries an average Christian may move churches about ten times in their lives. While some do it out of genuine reasons some are just moving for varied reasons that are not even worthy mentioning. Some think they will find a perfect church only to be disappointed when they get to the next church. For example someone leaves the church because someone has rumoured about them not knowing that all churches have the same type of people. This you will find in all churches and in every organization, be it religious or secular. People must just mature to expect this and learn how to overcome such challenges. Here are some of the reasons that can be considered reasonable in leaving a church and joining another.
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| Common Questions About Church: When do I leave a church? |
Sometimes as people move, geographically, they get to places where their churches are not located. For instance, a member of a small church in Zimbabwe may emigrate and become a citizen of Afghanistan or any foreign place where their particular church is not existent and will not be in the foreseen future. The person has to move on with their faith, and so has to join a new church. However, for churches which are bigger and have a more organised mission and financial status this could be the right time for the member to plant an assembly for their church in that, seemingly, foreign land!
Serious deviance from the correct Christian doctrine generally agreed to by the body of Christ.
The secular world agrees that everything that calls itself Christian is indeed Christian but for the Body of Christ, globally, there are some set things which they consider as “non-negotiable” of the faith (things that almost all Christians believe in regardless of their denomination). 2 Thessalonians 3:6 tells us:
“…withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.”
A few examples of non-negotiable include the divinity of Christ (Christians believe that Jesus is God), the trinity (God is three-in-one), that the church is one(although the churches are split and are so numerous, we are all members of one universal church, the Body of Christ). If a church goes against some of these doctrines then sometimes it may be necessary to leave the church. It is agreed that Christianity’s major source and writing, the Bible, is the Word of God and that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit it gives life and is our norm in the Christian walk. Though the Bible is sometimes interpreted out of its correct context and abused or twisted to suit preachers’ needs, it remains the Word of God. The churches that reject the Bible and/or its teachings must, themselves, also be rejected! But find a good one and join!
Making of the ministry of God into a personalised cult is also another issue that can be accepted as reason enough for departure of saints from a church. This is whereby a church becomes more like a personal property of the leader and the leader becomes more central that the Lord himself, Jesus Christ. It is obvious that the Bible commands us to give due respect to our leaders in God...very great honour but never for them to eclipse God. There are churches today who talk more about their leader than about God, they read and listen to media resources of their founders and leaders more than the Bible and some even equate their writings to the Bible. To say or pray, “the God of …” is not wrong because the people are just identifying the God of their spiritual father (though this should not be over-emphasised to the point of dividing the Body of Christ as in 1 Corinthians 3:4-5) but for us to pray in the name of a leader and not of Jesus is going astray. These must be left hurriedly!I am not saying we should not talk about our leaders and honour them but am just saying we need to see that we do not worship men but God and Him alone.
 |
| Common Questions About Church: When do I leave a church? |
The servants of God are of God but still remain human no matter how much we are convinced that they are not. Every man of God, no matter how gifted they are in any regard, are susceptible to sin...no-one is immune to sin, if we do not control ourselves. Infact men and women of God do sin! You should not leave a church becomes a man of God has just made a mistake and sinned, for example. However, when the central leadership lives in continual sin that seems to be chronic and sometimes without remedy thus: the leader defends his sin; the leader refuses to confess their sin, even to those above him; the leader rejects help and discipline from others in the Body of Christ; then people may leave the church and find a good church that you are just well versed with and/or that God leads you to.The Bible actually tells us that if one is in chronic sexual adultery such as were in the Corinthian church, we must:
“…deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-5
Apostle Pride Sibiya is the founder of Glory Ministries which is an international Christian organization that was founded in 2001 under the God ordained apostolic ministry of the man of God. He Pastors one of the assemblies within Glory Ministries: Bethel Worship Centre which is a prophetic, healing and empowerment campus...
WATCH OUT FOR PART TWO...
