My take:
None of the "sheep" in the church I pastor are mine. Therefore no one can steal them from me. I can't have "dibs" on anyone. If we are serving them and their needs are being met, we have no reason to fear them leaving and going somewhere else.
However, if we just expect people to put up with inferior ministry because "our" church is where they got saved, we're fools, IMO.
A few years ago, I had a number of folks from the local PAW church begin attending. There were some serious "secret" moral issues involved, which if came to light, would have destroyed the pastor. It's not my job to do that, so I left the sleeping dog lie. One of the folks was their choir director and also the pastor's Sec'y.
She now loves NLC, the freedom she has and is a blessing. The PAW pastor called her about a year ago and told her that the Lord told him to tell her that she needed to leave our church NOW! At first, I was upset, but she doesn't belong to me. I counseled her to do what the Lord led her to do. She knew what she would be going back to if she left. She decided to stay and now this man no longer has control over her.
I have far more important things to do than to worry about who is trying to take members from NLC. If all they are is members, then they WILL find someplace else who will love them. However, if they're family and receive ministry and love, they're probably not going to want to go elsewhere.
I don't fault anyone for leaving if I am too arrogant to do what it takes to minister to them or their family.
Anyone is welcome here and anyone is welcome to leave! That is freedom, and it sure keeps my blood pressure low!
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