Committing to stay in one church is a challenge, but it's God's original design for all believers. God created us to be relational beings meant to grow in the context of relationship with fellow saints.
The biblical pattern has always been the same: People are added into church community. Acts 2:41 says, "So those who received his word were baptised, and there were added that day about three thousand souls."
After receiving Jesus into our lives, we are called to be added into a church community.
Being a part of a church is not easy. It can be messy and complicated because the church is full of sinners. But over and over in scripture we are urged to keep the unity and not give up being part and committing to a church community. Church hopping might seem like the most viable option, but refusing to be rooted in a spiritual family has its share of challenges as well.
Here are four challenges that people who keep jumping from one church to another, refusing to be part of a church community, might face.
1. Lack of Covering
Accountability and spiritual covering happen best in the context of church community. When we surround ourselves with individuals who can pray for us, disciple us, rebuke us and encourage us, we are in one sense watching each other's backs.
Standing on our own makes us more susceptible to the enemy's attacks. He "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
When we are part of a church community, however, people can be on guard not just for themselves but for others as well, keeping watch over the areas of our lives where we may have a blind spot.
2. Feelings of Purposelessness
The church is not just a source of belongingness, but of purpose as well. In a church we have a part to play (1 Corinthians 12:12-31).
Most of our God-given gifts can and should be used in church ministry. When we deprive ourselves of that opportunity, we will feel a sense of purposelessness because we don't maximise those gifts and skills.
3. Relational Strife
One of the primary reasons people leave church is offence.
However, offences play an important role in that they teach us to forgive and build stronger relationships with others. All relationships must experience conflict, and it's only when we learn to overcome conflict that we battle relational strife. The temptation is always to turn our backs on conflict, but unless we learn to get through offenses we will only end up struggling in another relationship.
4. Loss of Passion
Just like a coal eventually loses its fire when taken out from a pile of other burning coals, Christians who are removed from fellowship will soon lose their passion and fire for God. The reason I love church community is because of the contagious faith that I see in the lives of people whom I have grown to trust and love. Church community isn't always pretty, but it's not all bad as well. There are really good days that come out of being a part of a church where faith can be built up and passion rekindled.
