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What would make you leave your church?
Interesting article with lots of statistics. What would make you leave your church?
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ed...-preacher.html
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Pastor Bill "Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason- I do not accept the authority of popes and councils [i.e. any man]- my conscience is captive to the Word of God." Martin Luther |
#3
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#1 God’s leading.
#2 Non-Biblical teaching. Many things like a forced move to a new city could, but I’d say that’s still item #1
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“No Kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the people. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave.” - James Burgh |
#4
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Quick answer: Hypocrites., yeah yeah the church is full of them. that's no reason.
But when your so called brothers in BS group are one's, well that changes things a bit. When the chips are down, you find much out about them. yeah yeah, still no reason to stop..maybe ? Seems much depends where your at at the time I guess. But not giving up on God/Christ remains the goal. |
#5
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Here are two examples of why I have left a church in the past.
1. One day, the elders mandated the senior pastor to take over financial affairs as an additional duty. Finances were not his forte. He was a GIFTED preacher! It eventually gave him a heart attack as he struggled to study business finance in addition to his sermon work. He had to retire from ministry. This was the first church I saw go through "worship wars" in the 1990's, where older folks hated contemporary worship but all the musical talent was younger people. CCM was spreading like a holy fire across the world. Many senior members just wanted old hymns only. The church never addressed the conflict. The church folded. Someone else came in and took over the church. But I was gone by then. 2. This church hired a new skinny jeans type worship leader, who only had experience working with teenagers who never rehearsed, according to him. He came in, making immediate, radical changes, dumbing down musicians and singers and wiping out decades of music instruction built by the previous WL. He allowed the non-musical tech team to dictate to musicians what instruments they may use. I left that team and was picked up by another local church where I played every other week. I still attended regularly with my wife. Final straw that made me leave was over the gifted senior pastor. The church elders wanted him to change from preaching on the depth of scripture, where he often explained the meaning of original Greek and Hebrew words to better explain scripture in an understandable way, to a "seeker friendly" preaching style. I left. Before the change, I would make notes from his sermons and composed them into worship lyrics and songs. It was truly amazing. But in all these things, Holy Spirit was leading me to where He has me today. So, that is the bottom line. Holy Spirit made me leave a church to go to the place prepared for me. Looking back, I can see how He had led me.
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If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth. - Ronald Reagan |
#6
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Most American Christians define themselves on their beliefs. These are sacrosanct. Not all Christians define themselves this way. But it makes sense that American Protestants, in particular, would further divide themselves over doctrinal issues. It's how the whole Reformation started in the first place. Even though they're all pretty darned similar in practice, organization, culture, worship & just any other measurable trait, they all think that their beliefs (what they think) defines who they are.
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#7
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We left our church when it started to all be about money. Fund raising for this and that, building huge, glorious buildings, asking the members for more and more money. The wealthy families received special parking and seating, etc. It is a very popular church today but I lost all interest in it.
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#9
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Don't have a church.
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https://thedeplorablepatriot.com/ "A Holocaust survivor dies of old age, when he gets to heaven he tells God a Holocaust joke. God says, That isn't funny. The Old man tells God, well, I guess you had to be there." |
#10
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If the word was not being taught from the bible and hearing I believe what this means is not a good way to teach Gods word.
Remember we are to seek our own salvation even if you attended a good bible teaching church we must still read and seek for ourselves I like to re read the sermon and see if God reveals more things to me or the same. God bless you my brothers when I get time I have a heart hitting truth that was revealed to me this weekend. |
#12
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If they stopped preaching the truth as written in the word of God
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LIVE FREE OR DIE! M. Sage's I have a dream speech; |
#13
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As long as " IT WORKS " I will be in normal regular attendance most all of the time. Define IT WORKS you may say, well its like this: People's lives turned from trouble or depression or addictions to life where Jesus The Christ is very much a reality for and to them. There is a strong focus where I and the missus and some of our kids ( married ) attend. The pastor is for real and worked as a iron worker til the elders asked him to minister full time two years ago. I like working pastors ! Better connected to reality as many folks see reality in day today life.
Psalm 1 |
#14
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Politics made me question my church, I have not left yet. There are good people dropping like flies and some rather unexplained events. I try to trust the leadership similar to giving Christ authority and not question things.
But there is absolutely a realist in me that is nervous about the leadership and their decisions. This very well could get me to leave the church. I do believe I will find another, but it took me 30 years to find this one so... |
#15
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Thanks for all the answers so far! I love hearing your perspectives.
Looking forward to more! God bless!
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Pastor Bill "Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason- I do not accept the authority of popes and councils [i.e. any man]- my conscience is captive to the Word of God." Martin Luther |
#17
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I left when I decided that god wasn’t real in my life. I respect people who have religious beliefs, I simply do not believe in a higher godly power.
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-sic vis pacem para bellum -qui audet adipiscitur |
#18
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I left the Church once I realized my parents (used to goto Church with them growing up) were hypocrites and many of the other parishioners were too. I consider myself a Christian in progress(meaning Christian with working on faults), not like others who proudly say they are Christian yet have no issues being pro-illegal immigration, pro-gay marriage/rights, etc.
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#19
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Hypocrisy. My own, frankly speaking. If I don't serve out of humility, I don't deserve to be there. While what they taught me was true, why I did it was not.
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NRA lifetime member 2AF Defender member When did I go from being a "citizen" to a "taxpayer"? Jon Lovitz: ‘I can’t wait to go to a hospital run by the DMV!’ Peace, love, and heavy weapons. Sometimes you have to be insistent." - David Lee Roth |
#20
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When the new minister came in and was pushing the gay agenda. We left for a more bible oriented church.
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God so loved the world He gave His only Son... Believe in Him and have everlasting life. John 3:16 NRA,,, Lifer United Air Epic Fail Video ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u99Q7pNAjvg |
#21
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Quote:
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...ld-approve-of/ |
#22
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Quote:
__________________
NRA lifetime member 2AF Defender member When did I go from being a "citizen" to a "taxpayer"? Jon Lovitz: ‘I can’t wait to go to a hospital run by the DMV!’ Peace, love, and heavy weapons. Sometimes you have to be insistent." - David Lee Roth |
#24
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I left my last church after our pastor did a three week study on celebrities and Christianity. The first week, he featured obama and his Christian beliefs, and I walked out of the service, but my wife stayed. My wife asked me to reconsider attending the second week, and that is when the pastor featured Hugh Heffner and his Christian upbringing. The third week, the pastor featured Bono and his Christian beliefs. I left and never went back.
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#25
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Quote:
He probably climaxed the series with Satan and his holy origins...
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Pastor Bill "Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason- I do not accept the authority of popes and councils [i.e. any man]- my conscience is captive to the Word of God." Martin Luther |
#26
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There is only one TRUE church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. There is a lot of churches that teach different degrees of truth from the Bible. Truth is truth wherever you find it. Your goal should be to find the one and only True Church of Christ. I found it- the gospel is sound, the principals are true. The principals of Christ do not decay as the moral standards of society do. Only blind men leave the fountain of living water that has the power to cleanse the hypocrites because of hypocrites. Every example I read is a result of recognizing that you haven’t found the true church yet. When Christ came to earth there were many churches, BUT he formed only ONE- The Church of Christ. Christ had many followers until he taught the principal that you must eat my flesh and drink my blood- most walked away after that. Be of good cheer the true church can be found if you seek, pray and learn to listen to the whispering of The Holy Ghost.
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#27
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I was a worship leader at my towns largest church for a few years and finally left when I saw too much of the business side.
Preach what you want but when you are firing, berating, assassinating ones character and treating anyone horribly all due to a the monetary or hierarchy aspect then Ill get away fast. I walked away to a smaller non dem church and it was the best decision Ive made in years. Far happier, zero drama and just God fearing kind people. A true family of believers. |
#28
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When it was no longer said in Latin, and became Novus Ordo
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Quote:
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#29
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Quote:
At one of the last services I attended at the church, a member asked me where I had previously attended church, and then she asked me what I liked about my old church. I told her that when I left a service, I felt convicted of my sin, and she said, "And, you like that!" I told her, "Yes". She shook her head and walked away. Attending that church was a perplexing experience.
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#31
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I stopped going to church many years ago.
I found it too distracting. People chattering away (loudly) before the service was disrespectful to God's house, in my opinion. I could not keep my focus because of what seemed to be a fashion show going on and all the "people watching" that goes on there. I guess that is somewhat natural to look at people but again, too distracting for me. I started questioning people's motives for going, in my mind. Some I felt were going because they felt that they were supposed to go so they were doing it because of that. This was at a Catholic church and some of the service involves parishioner interaction. The priest would say something like "Peace be with you." and the response was "And also with you." There were several instances of this and to me the responses seemed robotic and monotone from the parishioners. I have my daily "service" with God and also read spiritual books. This works for me and do not need to go to any organized religion service. I have been back to church on several occasions (funerals, etc.) and do enjoy the sermon (homoly?) from the priest because he gives his personal view on the scripture of the day that was read earlier. To each his own. I am growing spiritually and this works for me. I also enjoy reading in this forum with it's diverse views on issues. |
#32
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Stopped going to church pretty much during High School. I am(was) a catholic, and the faith never appealed to me. I went through the motions and was a good Catholic boy going to Catholic school. Once my parents stopped making me go, I found other things to do with my Sundays.
It just was not appealing, and because the Catholic church is the way it is, no one really learns anything about the bible. Religion class was a joke(albeit hard) we never had what many Christians call "Bible Study". I think I might have honestly liked Christianity more than Catholicism, but what are you going to do. Right now my wife and I are deciding if the effort to try to get into one of the local schools is worth the effort and money. I tend to think so, but my wife from out of the area(who is agnostic) doesn't really care aside from getting the best education. TL;DR Left Catholicism and haven't looked back but considering it for the kid
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Автомат Калашникова |
#33
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I would leave if my church changed the focus from Jesus being the savior and the “I am,” to a church that becomes merely a stage show for people simply seeking entertainment and a weekly self help seminar.
...just like Joel Osteen’s “church.”
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It`s funny to me to see how angry an atheist is over a God they don`t believe in.` -Jack Hibbs -ΙΧΘΥΣ <>< |
#34
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I changed Churches because one of the Trustees told all the other Trustees and half the congregation I had a CCW.
And no I didn't tell him but he attended a camp out where every adult there but him was either a LEO or had a CCW and the subject came up of forming a Church Security detail.
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Only slaves don't need guns We stand for the Anthem, we kneel for the cross We already have the only reasonable Gun Control we need, It's called the Second Amendment and it's the government it controls. What doesn't kill me, better run |
#35
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What would make you leave your church?
I would leave the congregation if it became unscriptural in organization or practice. In my many years with my current location we have had several preachers come and go; most good but some poor. The preacher usually has no authority so one who hasn’t sound doctrine or cannot effectively perform his duties can be replaced by the appointed elders.
While this helps guard against wandering from the Word, I have seen it still happen in near by congregations. If it were to happen to us, I would first try to help return to the Scriptures, but if the efforts became futile it would be time for me to move on.
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Mark 16:16 |
#36
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Things to make me leave-
Collect money locally and send it to Europe Protect Pedophilia Double speak - preach tolerance and hatred of gay men Convince parents gay sons are wrong and send them to conversion therapy (But ignore lesbians and not have any lesbian conversion therapy) Ignore things in the Bible that they don’t want to deal with -Birth control -Eating shrimp -divorce If the local Catholic Church followed their rule book, then would have to kick out 95% of their flock
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Rule 1- ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED Rule 2 -NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY (including your hands and legs) Rule 3 -KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET Rule 4 -BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND IT (thanks to Jeff Cooper) |
#40
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We were invited to attend a service with one of our neighbors at his place of worship. It was a modern non denomination church. Half way through the service my then 11 year old wispered to me " Dad I don't like this church". I asked why and he said " The cross is on the ground not up high were it should be, we haven't heard the old testiment, new testiment, or the word of God, and there not a single bible in here for us to read". It was one of my proudest moment as a dad. We neversion went back to that church.
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