CHURCH-LEAVING
When
members leave [the church] for insufficient reason, the fellowship of the
church is broken, its witness is weakened, and the peace and unity of the
congregation are sacrificed. Tragically, a superficial understanding of church
membership undermines our witness to the gospel of Christ.
Albert Mohler
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
September 2009, Tabletalk, p. 19. Used by Permission.
In
the end, the only sufficient reason for separating from a church is
theological. A faithful Christian must separate from a congregation or
denomination when that body obstinately rejects efforts at doctrinal correction
over an issue of true significance.
Albert Mohler
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
September 2009, Tabletalk, p. 19. Used by Permission.
Here are some
things which must be done before one leaves a church:
1.
We
must check our motives very carefully.
2.
Our
reasons must be well grounded and clearly articulated.
3.
We
must be in regular, earnest prayer about the matter.
4.
We
must guard our tongues very carefully.
5.
We
must be extremely careful that we do not unnecessarily create unrest in other
members.
6.
Our
discussions with the leadership must be characterized by love.
7.
Our
attempts to correct matters must be with great respect, care and patience.
8.
If
our concern is over personal preferences, rather than biblical matters, we must
consider others’ interests more important than ours.
9.
Great
care should be taken that we submit to the leadership of the church, unless we
determine with proper counsel that there is a serious biblical issue at stake.
10. If the leadership will listen, we need
to give them plenty of time to consider the matter.
11. If the leadership will not listen to
us, or will not take proper action to correct the matter and we are thoroughly
convinced that there is a serious biblical issue, we should ask for a meeting
of the church in which to express our concerns.
12. We should ask ourselves what we have
personally done to correct any wrong or deficiency in the church with which we
are concerned.
13. We should evaluate if our leaving
would do harm to an otherwise good church.
14. We should never leave, nor encourage
others to leave, unless we are thoroughly convinced that one or both of the
following conditions exist: 1) that the church has become an apostate church
(where serious unbiblical teaching or practices are allowed), or 2) that we are
convinced that, over the long haul, we cannot find a place to serve in the
church, or that our families will not be spiritually fed in that body.
Curtis Thomas
Life in the Body of Christ, Founders Press, 2006, p. 228-229,
www.founderspress.org. Used by Permission.
The next time
you think about leaving a church, think of the example of Christ. He does not just
walk away from His people, but patiently suffers with them through many trials
and tribulations, always thinking of their needs before His own.
Curtis Thomas
Life in the Body of Christ, Founders Press, 2006, p. 229,
www.founderspress.org. Used by Permission.