You want to leave your Church?

On numerous occasions, we are pushed to switch allegiance from perhaps a football club, a product, or a particular service provider because they are simply not delivering on their words or the promises they’ve made. We often vent our frustrations in no uncertain terms.

        With the pluralisation of denominations and churches in the country, we’re not running low of a large spectrum of options from which to choose from. And today, churches are offering diverse shades of worship and doctrines. Numerical strength, ‘packaging, miracle count and even music (My church sings better than yours!) are influencing our commitment to the body of Christ.  So before you leave your church, here are a few questions you must answer truthfully:

Is my heart and my action right? : There are several reasons why people would change from one church to another. Some reasons are noble while some are ignoble, selfish, and outright ignorant. Scripture admonishes us to do everything with reverence to the Lord. Is what I’m about to do bring pleasure and glory to the Lord’s name? Why do I want to leave my church for another around the corner?

Is the other church built on the foundation of scripture? The fierce truth of scripture is the compass for any church of Jesus Christ. The content of your worship, sacrament, doctrines or creed reveals, more than anything, the importance your church places on the revealed truth of scripture. It is not merely about what you feel or think is right, it is about the word of God. The purpose is to equip a starry of believers into godliness and faith and maturity until their Lord returns.

Is the other church seeking to know Jesus Christ? Our Lord Jesus Christ gave one of the most revealing words in scripture in. Today, the flags of materialism and covetousness are hoisted on pulpits and church platforms and called “faith”; congregants are vigorously seeking what they can get, not the supremacy of knowing Christ. If Jesus is not the center of their aspiration, desire, goal, and worship, the baser things—pride, greed, materialism, and covetousness set in.

Are the members of the other church encouraged to grow spiritually? With the recent wave of the all too convenient prosperity gospel, it is unsurprising to see that our churches have become so entrenched with acquiring all that mother earth has to offer. Consequently, there is a massive slide from focus on Jesus to the things He can offer; He merely becomes a means to an end. Before you consider moving, you should ascertain, as a matter of necessity, what the heart delight of the new church is. Are members encouraged to attain spiritual growth, a strong character, deep understanding of scripture and a relationship with their Lord? That’s the ultimate prize!