Research has shown that a large number of Christians keep leaving their churches, all of them for various reasons. That said, is it right for any Christian to leave his church?
Let's talk about that.
Church matters
Many Christians nowadays leave their churches for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons are valid, but those who stay in the church sometimes think ill of those who leave. With that in mind, I'd like to point out a few things that some might not realize:
- The whole Body of Christ is composed of many churches around the world, not just one church.
- No single church can accommodate or handle each and every person that comes in.
- Not everyone who leaves the church leaves does so for a wrong or sinful reason.
- Some people leave the church because of very valid and understandable reasons.
- No church member should ever control another church member and decide where he or she goes to church.
Some might think that the church is perfect, but it is not. We have to accept the fact that no church is perfect, and cannot substitute the place of God in every Christian's life. Church is a gathering of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, but it cannot and should not take the place of a personal relationship with the Lord.
Reasons to leave
Now that we've got all of that established, when is it the right time to leave your church? The answer varies, but it all depends on the reasons why one should leave or not.
If the reason why we are leaving is because we got offended by a member or a leader, we should simply move to reconcile, not leave. If the reason is because we don't like the church worship style, then maybe we can just train ourselves to get used to it. There are times when we are the ones who should adjust, not the other way round.
Still, there are some valid, even very good reasons to leave. Here they are:
1) If the church teaches the wrong doctrine
This one is a no-brainer. If a church teaches things contrary to what Christ taught, then by all means, leave it.
Christ commanded all followers to make disciples by teaching them to observe what He taught. If a church doesn't do that, then there's no point in staying.
2) If sin is tolerated in the church
God commands all of His children to be holy because He is holy. When we work towards holiness, we will develop a very strong intolerance towards sin. We will work towards living a righteous life marked by obedience to God's word, and this means choosing not to sin, and repenting of sin if ever it is committed.
If the church starts tolerating sin like there's nothing wrong with it, then there's a problem there. Sinners should be restored to God, but sin should never ever be tolerated, much less excused, accepted, and encouraged.
3) If the church is abusive
There are some abusive church cultures where members are treated like commodities and are valued for their skills and contributions. Such churches have leaders that lord over the flock. If this is your church, then don't even think twice before leaving.
4) If the church's vision and mission isn't the right fit
Let's face it: not everyone can fit in the same mold. God is transforming all of us to become like Christ (see Romans 8:28-30), but that doesn't mean we are all going to fit in just one local church.
When you find that you don't fit with the church's vision or mission, then don't feel bad about it. You might be called to another church. Don't be afraid to go out and ask the Lord to lead you to the church where you will belong. There's nothing wrong with that.
A final note
Friends, if ever you do choose to leave your church for a very important reason, don't ever dare stop fellowshipping with other Christ-followers. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us of this very vital instruction:
"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
