Church Hoppers

[StMark]

Are you one? Do people view you as unstable? Have you had to live down the reputation of being a church hopper?

Do you know any? tell me about it

How many churches have you been in in your life? why did you leave? Did you feel justified in every case or, if you reflect back now, do you admit you was wrong in some way?

Is "church hopping" worse today then in years past? It's seems harder to raise up good pillars in a church then in years gone by. anyone else feel this way?

In your opinion, What is the proper protocol for leaving a church?
Is there a biblical set of guidelines?


Give me some thoughts on this

[Sister Alvear]

You have touched on a very serious subject.
I know there are reasons sometimes to leave a church...however we live in an age where many do not care for discipleship...they had rather do their own thing.
I have noticed on the mission field and most missionaries I talk to have had the same problems. Even people that come from the states most do not have a REAL calling they did not buckle down in the states and live in a dream world...when the going gets tough they back out. So it is with the American church. Not every day will be pie and icecream when the real work begins...faithfulness, tithes and offerings, church work, helping, putting the shoulder to the will...it is easier for some to join the forever discontent group or the revolving group that just goes from church to church.
Some people cannot take correction as long as you baby them, pay their bills, help them all is well but correct them and they are gone...
and like I said sometimes there is a real reason to leave but most of the time there is not...

[RandyWayne]

We have been pretty bad for over a year now but that is because we have known for that same amount of time that we're moving. It's hard to find a church and call it "home" when you know you'll be gone soon.

[Sister Alvear]

another example...say you pastor someone and give them advice...they do not like what you said so they go to another pastor and he gives them different advice...usually becauses he does not know the real situation...so they run over there...but in time something happens over there and the cycle of a church hopper begins.
If we stay anywhere very long there will be times we think of leaving...grass always looks greener on the other side...
Sometimes the excuse is given that the church has changed...I belong to a church and have belonged for 50 years...has things changed? yes...many things for the better.

I can remember a time when the do and do not list was much longer...I really appreciate a pastor that sees things and confesses he was wrong in certain areas...a wise man at least changes his mind a fool never does.

[Sister Alvear]

Maybe if you go to a church and you know you will not be long there it would be best to let them know that fact...

[chseeads]

I'm not one. I've been at the same church all my life.

I do know some that have been to every church in the country though.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

Maybe if you go to a church and you know you will not be long there it would be best to let them know that fact...

It's almost moot at this point since we'll be gone in almost exactly two months, but over the past year a big fear of ours is attending a specific church regularly and having to deal with "words of knowledge" claiming we shouldn't go. Past experience has shown me that this usually happens -especially if you become a big contributor.

[Pressing-On]

I believe that "birds of a feather flock together", so to speak.

Not every personality is going to work together. Therefore, each person should be allowed to find their church of choice and with God's leading.

A pastor should never hold a person. He should allow them to go and find out where they would be happy. If he holds on to them it's only going to cause stress for all involved.

We have had a couple that runs the gamut of churches in our area. We just let them come and do their thing. They will eventually burn out and go somewhere else. Why get concerned over it? There are other things we need to be doing.

If they are trouble makers, God will bring it to an end, eventually.

[ogatt]

rats jumping ship thats what they are.

my saints are born, borned again, married and burried right here.
if they want to leave i give them a list of approved churches in the area.

below is the list of approved churches you can go to if you leave here.












btw i will accept people from other churches if they will line up walk right and spit white

[RandyWayne]

I would also add that we strongly desire to have a single home church and we don't particularly enjoy not having one.