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Biblical Reasons for Leaving a Church?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Don, Aug 5, 2015.

  1. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    I know it's been discussed before, but I'm too lazy to look up the previous threads.

    What constitutes a sound, biblical reason for leaving a church? Or, alternatively, what situations may not seem to have a biblical principle behind them, but are valid reasons for leaving a church?
     
  2. Berean

    Berean Member
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    When you feel you are contributing nothing or don't feel needed find a church where you are.
     
  3. PreachTony

    PreachTony Active Member

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    Speaking from personal experience, I have moved from one church to another, and likely will again in the near future.

    My first move came as a result of doctrinal disputes. I attended an amillennial church (in that the overwhelming eschatology of the congregation was amillennialism, even though it wasn't necessarily something the church focused on in teaching and preaching) and a few men in the church began to follow premillennialism. They pushed so hard and so vehemently for the premillennial doctrine to become the established eschatology of the church that they brokered a divide between a previously close congregation. The church typically had 75-100 people show up for Sunday service, yet at the church conference on which the acceptability of the doctrine was voted on had nearly 180 show up. We knew then that they had, in essence, packed the ballot box, so we left. We found a new church to attend within a month and just a couple weeks later we joined them under the Watchcare until our letter could be received.

    Doctrine is an obvious reason for leaving. If you find yourself in continual disagreement with a church, you should probably separate yourself from them in gospel order, so that there are no hard feelings.
     
  4. blessedwife318

    blessedwife318 Well-Known Member
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    Doctrinal issues would be a big one. If there are things being taught from the pulpit that you cannot agree with, and also see it as a dividing issue, its time to leave. Trying to fight it out with the Pastor will only result in causing division in the body and that is very much condemned in the Bible.

    Open sin in the congregation not being dealt with in a Biblical Manner. My family was going to a church when I was in high school and they had recently hired a new youth "pastor". That youth "pastor" lets just say was a little too friendly with the girls, and when I told my mom and then the "pastor" what I had seen, we were told to shut up or leave. Needless to say we left.

    This may not be a part of what you were thinking when you started this thread, but I do think it should be said, but you can leave a church when you life takes a new direction. My husband recently got a new job, that required us to move 4 hours away, so that means we had to leave the church we were going to. Or another example was when I got married, I moved to a new state also meaning I left the church I was going to. My husband told me that he has been at churches that would discourage people from looking for jobs that would required them to move aways since they would have to change churches, but I don't think life changes are a wrong reason to leave a church.
     
  5. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    A good set of questions. Whenever answering these kinds of questions I always begin by noting it would have been shocking to those living in the NT era to have access to more than two or three church congregations in their respective geographic locale. Such a plentitude of options simply didn't exist, nor was it conceivable.

    I would says that some valid reasons are:
    Continual teaching of false doctrine
    Heretical teachings
    Failure of leaders to adhere to biblical standards of leadership
    Immorality that isn't held accountable
    Marked departure from biblical teachings of ordinances
    Lack of Gospel centered preaching and evangelism

    Some additional valid reasons, that might not be entirely "biblical" but are important might include:
    Significant personality conflicts between yourself and the leadership
    Your disagreement with leadership decisions that, if you stayed, would cause disunity

    Of course the most legitimate reason is
    God is clearly calling you away to serve another local church

    Clearly these are up for discussion. :)
     
  6. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    Good stuff, folks; keep it coming!
     
  7. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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  8. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    How about when your church doesn't currently have a pastor or deacons, nor an interim pastor; and when notified that a family has decided not to come back to church, the chairman of the trustees (who's basically running the show) basically says "good riddance; they were busy-bodies and gossipers"?
     
  9. Thousand Hills

    Thousand Hills Active Member

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    Sounds like someone needs to run him off. Why has no one else stepped up, is God possibly calling you to step up?

    Here's a couple of videos that might be helpful.

    Voddie Baucham -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr7JJmO_OJI

    Paul Washer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQeP47k38bQ
     
  10. Thousand Hills

    Thousand Hills Active Member

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    Good points Sue :thumbsup:
     
  11. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Not knowing anymore than what is posted here makes it difficult to respond to. If the chairman is correct about these people then there may be some merit to his attitude. When you have people in the church who seem to constantly be involved and or cause conflict and division then it may be best not to have them around.

    The question remains why have they decided not to come back. Is it because they did not get their way or is there a legitimate concern that would keep them away. If there is it ought to be a big one if their only resolution is to not come back to church.

    If they are just throwing a temper tantrum trying to get noticed then it may serve them well to just let them be.
     
  12. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    Hypotheticals, folks; based loosely on events I've heard about or experienced at different times.

    Another scenario: the wife says she can't give specifics, but that something about the pastor has her spirit grieved to where she can't bear the thought of stepping foot back in that church. When you tell the pastor you need some time to work this out, he tells you to be a man and drag your wife to church, or come without her.
     
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