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At a Crossroads To Stay or Leave Church - 9/3/2008 9:24:38 PM
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scoot
Posts: 2
Joined: 11/12/2005
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Hi everyone. I consider myself a strong Christian; solid in my beliefs, but I'm experiencing somewhat of a crisis. I have been a member and lay leader of my current church for many years. I have helped lead it through some hard times, served on several committees and taught Sunday School, but I feel that now it is headed down wrong road. The emphasis is not so much on the Holy Spirit anymore, but more on being politically correct. It just feels like the entire congregation is in some sort of spiritual malaise. I would really love to hear a bible based sermon from our pastor. To be honest, I am getting nothing out of the 15 to 20 minute sermons that he is preaching. The rest of the service is filled with what I call “fluff” consisting of responsive readings, etc. Basically it is the same format that has been used for 35 years. Attendance is falling off and there are other issues as well.
A few Sundays ago my wife and I attended a different church, and what a difference. The minister preached straight from the bible. Preached is the wrong word; he was more like a teacher and we both enjoyed it immensely. We have been back to this church three more times.
Here is the problem. My wife wants to change churches. She has no real roots in our current church, but mine run very deep and she understands this. I must admit that I too feel an urge to make a change, but on the other hand, I wonder if I just continue to try and nudge my church in a different direction that I will be successful one day. Unfortunately reality and experience tells me that things have been done the same way for so long that change will be almost impossible. People mention in conversation that “something needs to change,” but realistically, they would rather continue with the status quo than actually explore real solutions.
I am at a crossroads. My spiritual needs are not being met, and an even greater concern is that my wife's spiritual needs are not being met at our current church either. In some way I feel that I would be abandoning my church if I leave, but I have got to do something. Changing churches after I've been so active in my current church for so long would be very hard. I pray, but I do not know how to resolve this issue, or perhaps I'm not listening. Maybe I'm afraid to make the hard choice. I don't know. I even find myself thinking that I will give up on going to church altogether.
I'm usually the one listening to other people, but this time the table has turned. Hopefully someone here has had a similar experience.
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RE: At a Crossroads To Stay or Leave Church - 9/3/2008 10:15:19 PM
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kyl
Posts: 1627
Joined: 5/2/2007
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Kind of like being invited to a feast and not being fed.
Sounds like your church is treading in dangerous waters.
When the sheep are not being lead is doesnt take long for them to be scattered or lead astray.
You didnt say if you had brought this up to your pastor.
I think you should talk to him and tell him how you feel and what happened when you visited the other church.
Talk to him about how you are feeling and also what you are contemplating.
Pastors are only human and need a wakeup call sometimes.
Being a member and so involved for so long I would think he would welcome your opinion.
You ultimately will have to make a decision but I think you also have a responsibility to talk to the pastor first.
Your voice maybe bring the change that is needed or at least bring attention to the problem.
There is absolutely no reason to stay in a church that isnt teaching the word.
This is only my opinion and whatever you decide to do..God Bless You
_____________________________
Psalm19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
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RE: At a Crossroads To Stay or Leave Church - 9/4/2008 6:27:44 AM
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mvic
Posts: 1807
Joined: 1/17/2008
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Who is more important here - God or your wife?
God.
Who is more important here - your wife or your pastor?
Your wife.
You say: "My spiritual needs are not being met, and an even greater concern is that my wife's spiritual needs are not being met at our current church either."
If your spiritual needs, and those of your wife, are being met in the new church you have visited then perhaps you should go there more often. Maybe God is opening doors for you there to do some work for Him. And you should accept His invitation. (Moses was hesitant at first - I hear). Maybe your task in your current church is over and He's asking you to move on.
Don't worry about your current church. It is His church and He will take care of it. He will guide it wherever it is meant to go. Why - if He needs you back there He'll see to it that you get that message too.
_____________________________
Visit http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
My Book My Blog
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RE: At a Crossroads To Stay or Leave Church - 9/4/2008 8:03:22 AM
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RJR_fan
Posts: 821
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
Status: offline
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quote:
I must admit that I too feel an urge to make a change, but on the other hand, I wonder if I just continue to try and nudge my church in a different direction that I will be successful one day. Unfortunately reality and experience tells me that things have been done the same way for so long that change will be almost impossible.
I once held a license to preach in a mainline denomination[1], and cherished ambitions of helping to restore it to its historical greatness. A friend, who was not even a Christian at the time, said,
quote:
Tom, you are like a man who sees a freight train heading down the wrong track. You don't know the first thing about freight trains, but you know it's going in the wrong direction, and you are determined to jump on board and turn it around.
He was right. Life is too short to waste on fool's errands. As a beloved mentor wrote, "Let the dead bury the dead. The living have work to do." Lot "pitched his tent towards" (moved progressively closer to) Sodom, and ended up inside that city, with a position of some prominence. He left, though, rather suddenly, and at great personal cost.
[1] (hint: it has fewer members, but more church buildings in the US, than the Baptists)
_____________________________
Blogging my way through the Turkish New Testament
Meet my beloved mentor, RJR
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RE: At a Crossroads To Stay or Leave Church - 9/4/2008 8:24:52 AM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3146
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
Status: offline
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If you think your church leadership is sinning then Matthew 18:15-20 would apply.
If not then talk to your pastor and see what can be done...or if he even sees a problem.
Gather the other deacons/elders with the pastor and see if a solution can be worked out.
If the wishy washy sermons were always a part of this church...maybe you should have left a long time ago...?? I don't know.
Its hard to leave a church esspecially if there is nothing evil going on there. I would ask myselkf this....am I not being fed....or am I not liking the form it comes in?
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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