A Church Somewhere

They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us. - 1 John 2:19

As a pastor, I sometimes wondered why folks left the flock I was shepherding. No, I am not delusional; sometimes I knew very well why! I can remember one particular encounter with a couple that asked, "Why is everyone leaving the church?" Of course, "everyone" wasn't leaving, but they thought I should do something about the ones (everyone they liked) that were.

I have found that people leave church for a number of reasons, some of which are even righteous: God's leadership in their lives, biblical conviction, even a providential circumstance, but unfortunately these cases are rare. Others leave because the church offers them no other option than to plop, pray, and pay. They want to "play" (participate), but current structures won't allow it, so they go looking for another opportunity. Many reasons people leave a local church are just petty and selfish. They even leave to escape God's chastisement, which (of course) is not possible.

Perhaps you have been thinking of leaving your local church family. Take a minute and ask yourself, "Is it really what God wants or is it just my own stubborn will?" But know this, the Lord definitely wants you in a church somewhere.

Many are called but few are chosen. There are sayings of Christ which suggest that the Church he came to establish will always be a minority affair. - Edward Norman