Martie read a blog recently titled, "Dear Church Here's Why People Are REALLY Leaving You". Below is his response to the blog.
Mixed thoughts on this one. Some good things to ponder.
1--Sunday morning productions, we can't do a better job than the world at entertainment nor should we try. The Sunday gathering should be about worshiping, equipping the saints to serve, building the people up until they reach Christlikeness.
2--Speaking a different tongue. Again some of it needs to be cut out, but we need to teach Biblical truth, but take the time to teach those who don't understand. I agree the building too often is the focus, but we also don't need to lose sight of the purpose of the building. It is not the temple, but special in that we should leverage the building/property/resources for the kingdom. The Church (people) are missionaries sent to Declare/Preach and Display/Live/Love.
3--Lousy battles, I couldn't agree more.
4--Love...This part frustrated me, the person wants love without of the "spiritual riff-raff". We wouldn't know love without the "Spiritual Riff-Raff" (Gospel) The Spiritual Riff-Raff is what motivates our Love. Is our love perfect...NO! We too are struggling like you who are leaving...we too want our lives to be about us...we too don't feel like we have the energy or the drive to deal with other people's drama, but that is what we are committed to doing regardless of how bent and broken our efforts may be.
You say you want us to hear you before we debate you. The problem is you are not talking and if you do talk you are not speaking the truth. Most of the people who leave church won't be honest about their thoughts and feelings when they do talk. Most often it is the same language, "its not you its me". They won't allow others to ask pressing question and most often rather flee unannounced and unnoticed.
In conclusion, it breaks my heart that many are leaving churches. I certainly have had to deal with a great deal of departures in my 10 years of ministry. I have wept many tears over many people and most of them never knew it. Break-ups hurt both parties. I wish I could tell you many stories of reconciliation, but typically when people have made up their mind to leave there is little chance they will return. At the heart of the issue is you will never love the church and be satisfied in the church until you are in love with Jesus and satisfied with Him. Soon after you will grow to love what He loves, which is His Church. You will love like Jesus, unwilling to leave and forsake His Church regardless of their constant battles with sin and Satan. Your first step to reconciliation is just like ours. Humbling ourselves, asking God to forgive us for being to self-centered, seeking to know and love Jesus with all we are and praying He would unite us in His Body, the Church.
2 comments:
Thank you. As I muddle through some "traditions" and see God's grace is so much more than these traditions, I am encouraged to seek Him. Seems as though Jesus has been shelved for the sake of a program. Unfortunately, instead of pressing on, many decide to step out of the church. Honestly, I can understand reasons for doing that, BUT personal accountability before a Holy God remains. I can't shift why I do or don't do certain things because someone or something let me down or didn't hold to an expectation I have. We all have them, expectations, like it or not. To be real and transparent on a blog is difficult. But God's grace, mmmmmm, so beautiful. It's done.
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