It's sad to say that the majority of churches in America grow by transferring people from one congregation to another. It's not a transfer based on a move or relocation, but simply inspired by somebody getting mad at a pastor or someone else in the church and instead of making things right, leaving where they should be and bringing that baggage to another church with them.
Now let me say right at first if you are an innocent party this doesn't apply to you. Some people find themselves in a place of transition because God is dealing with them about making a specific move to a church to do a ministry or to be a supportive part of a ministry that is already at place in that church. If this is the case, there are no hard feelings left behind, and an explanation of why they have left their former church to come to yours has no baggage with it.
On the other hand, you have people swapping churches just like some people swap companions or automobiles. That may sound harsh, but it's time to speak the truth about church-hopping. It's been going on for years, but I believe that it is getting worse and worse as the coming of the Lord approaches. I have some folks who have gotten mad with me (I could say upset but that would not be politically correct) who have been in at least 5 other churches in the past 3 years. Apparently the church they felt led to go to, led them to another, etc. and etc. They have never transferred their membership because they have not settled down at one place for a long enough period of time. I do have a problem with that and I believe God does as well. It just proves that if they treat one pastor and congregation wrong, they will do so to another unless they get whatever ails them under the blood.
The more pastors I talk to are experiencing this same thing. I have wrestled with God about this in prayer in recent weeks. We used to build churches on repentant sinners, but we can't get sinners to come to church anymore because they feel they live closer to God than some of their friends who profess to know Christ. In fact, in most cases they show more loyalty than those who have preached a funeral for, visited in the hospital ( or a family member), did a wedding for, or spent hours counseling with, who get mad over some trivia thing and leave. To be honest that's why churches in America are facing a crisis of faith and difficulty today because people make up the church and the church represents the people that attend it.
Is there a Biblical solution for this problem? I believe their is, but it takes two parties to make it work.
Matthew 18:15-18 says:
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
If Jesus said it, it's supposed to work. So why don't we try it? Instead of getting upset because you didn't get your way or something offended you, be biblical! Get it under the blood and stay and help your church grow. Don't get caught up in every rumor, story, or junk that you hear. If you can't say something good then don't say anything at all. Restore, heal, and recover. Don't jump ship in the middle of the water because you might drown.
Two of the easiest words to say but hard to mean are, "Forgive me." Yet, if you say them and mean them your church can be healed, your relationships restored, and sinners just might come back to the church.
No comments:
Post a Comment