Have you ever left church? Why?

Question

Did you transfer from one church to another, changed "religion", or what..
I love my church but I'm thinking of leaving and not go to church anymore because I get really upset with some people. I find it harder to forgive 'christians' who hurt me than others. Though it doesn't change my faith, I just want to be alone.

Answer 1

People will do that to you.

My suggestion is to practice solitary for a while. Develop some of your own spiritual practices. Really work on developing that relationship with god. Then start looking for a church again.

It might help you find something that fits your style a little better.

I left Christianity (the religion that I grew up in) because I had a profound life changing religious experience.

Peace to you,

Pabs

Answer 2

Wish I could talk to you beyond this Q&A I went thru this in January after being at a church for years. We had so many changes. Our pastor left to pastor overseas, our new pastors messed up allot. We had a choir of over 20; the new person caused all but 5 to leave. They started saying to ignore the Old Testament. Tried to tell us how to raise our kids how to discipline our kids. Telling us we will be cursed if we didn’t attend every church event they offered. Allowed a woman whose husband was a known sexual abuser to teach children. Forgiveness is hard too. That part I can't talk about because of what I went thru there isn't enough space on this to tell that story. I loved singing in choir and they messed that up. I was called to teach drama and they held that over me to happen at a certain time and when that time came they changed their minds after months of preparation. The man was the pastor, but the wife was the controller of the church causing more problems than helping. That’s just to name a few of why we left. Now we are helping a past pastor start a church and make it better. We had a church of over 100 people, now there may be 40. Many left after we did. We had a great teen group, now there are so few. My friend who is starting a church is like the way the church was when things were better. So we are helping him. I am still of the same faith, same church denomination, just under a different leader. A better leader. Check out this site below. It has an adult Christian forum of wonder people. If you are a teen they also have a teen group. Kathyg is the moderator of the adult one along with many others great people. It’s a great place to visit when you are between churches too or just need a spiritual lift. You cam im me or even email me if you want to talk further.

Answer 3

Yes I have changed from one church to another about 20 months ago. I had been in that church for 20 years, and I was concerned about some of the doctrines which were creeping in, which from God's Word was not right.

I know as Chrisitans, we expect better standards from people, who are Christians, but we can never change others. They have to be convicted of their own wrong doing, but what I have learned, is that I gain experience and character by the way I interact with difficult people. We are called to forgive, and show love to our enemies, and if you go to another church, I can almost guarantee that it won't be long, before someone there will offend you too. It is when we learn to deal with the difficult people, and ask the Lord to help us, will we be more usuable for the Lord's work.

Please pray about this and have the Lord's direction for you, rather than go and make a mistake. I will pray that you know God's will in this decision, and you will find peace wherever the Lord wants you to be.

God Bless You.

Answer 4

I have left churches for various reasons. Distance, how boring it was, but most of all if my children were bored. I did however find a church that my children LOVE and that is where I will stay! Christians can hurt others just like 'normal' folk can. NONE of us are perfect. I say go ahead and find another church until you get the right one. Don't leave church all together as that can only make you feel badly.

Answer 5

Well there is no perfect church and if there was one then if you joined and were not perfect then there goes the neighborhood.

In my life God will use these problems with people to teach me.
Other times it is the Holy Spirit telling me to move, so I would wait and watch, the answer will show up real clear if you wait.

Alone + Christianity don't mix well at all unless you are one on one with God in prayer.

Now.. That said You have all the freedom in the world and heaven to go any place you please. Its all about your relationship with GOD through Jesus.

Yes I left a church once because i found out they cared very little about equipping the saints and loved fleecing Gods flock for everything from their Money to their Talents and time for their own gain. But I have found a church now that I adore and I can grow and worship and serve in peace.
God Bless ya.

Answer 6

Yes. I put up with years of mental abuse until I was finally able to escape. I put my foot down with my mother when I was 15 and said, no more. I'm 44 now - She's still enslaved and it breaks my heart.

I discovered my Paganism when I was about 17, and have not looked back since.

Go out on your own and learn, dear. You may find a much better relationship with your god. We Pagans sometimes say, "The magick's not in the stuff" meaning that the magick is not in the wand or the jewelry or the fancy equipment. The magick in inside you. And the same goes for your faith. Sitting in rows being told what to believe doesn't make you a Christian. The feeling in your heart does that. On your own you can reconnect with that, and then look for a church that suits you better. A wise Pagan grandma I know once told me, "It's possible to be a lamb of God without being a sheep."

You can do that. Good luck.

Answer 7

We do tend to hold fellow Christians to a higher standard of behavior -- but we also stand with them every week in worship admitting that we all have fallen short of who and what God calls us to be. Think of the church as a fire, sometimes it is just too hot in the center and coals jump out -- jump too far and the coal goes cold. People of faith need a community to sustain faith for life. So if you leave one community make sure you immediately find another to "keep you warm" It does not have to be just like the church you left -- it could just be a good Bible Study group and a shared time of prayer and worship. But it is community none the less..... Good wishes!

Answer 8

I have transfered from to a different church of the same denomination in the same town that I presently live, due to conflicts in the past church.

Your question, sorry, implies a little immaturity on your part as to the reason why you go to the church you are thinking about leaving. I know you have been hurt and probably by a few that are higher up on the ecclesiastical ladder. This hurts I know, and you feel hurt everytime you go and see those inidividuals and they dont feel a thing, and you remain hurt.

I advocate that you do several things.

First go talk to you pastor. You really need to, he needs to hear it from you even if you leave, why you are leaving, he will listen and hear your problems, and will give you advice, and will ask you to stay and try to persuade you to stay. This helps him see his or her congregation as a living unit, that has hurts, wounds, and sometimes deep cuts, that need to be healed and sometimes addressed. This will also help you to heal because you are confessing and releasing the hurt, and it seems that it will hurt more by doing it, if you dont it will hurt more in the long run, you need to and must in order for the hurting to go away and the healing process to begin

Secondly, you need to ask forgiveness of the wrong doer, not just for the wrong doer, but mainly for yourself. If you believe what the bible says - then it tells you to forgive those who mistreated you, abused you, hurt you - because in the same way God forgives you, if you dont forgive others of their trespasses God will not forgive you. This is not a formula to do evil and have it forgiven it is God's law of love - that we should love one another as we love God and since he first loved us and died for us and forgave us of our sins - we should feel merciful towards those who trespass against us.

thirdly, you can not remain a Christian for long alone. I used to think that you could, but you cant. You are a Christian and as such you are apart of the body - if you are alone are you still apart of the body, no not for long! God calls you to be apart of a local church where you can have fellowship, growth, and be useful for the kingdom of God. You can only do that in the local church setting.

You ask how do I know that - I am a pastor

Answer 9

Whether you realize it or not, you are a lot like Jesus. A careful reading of the gospels will reveal to you that the only people Jesus ever got upset with were the "church people." The ones who demanded that Pilate order Jesus' crucifixion were the chief priests and the Pharisees., the church people. Jesus often went off to be alone, but He went off to pray to the Father, not to abandon the church.

A couple of times, I left a church because I felt led to attend another church. I left a church once because we moved to another state. There in nothing unscriptural about leaving a church to attend another where you will be loved more than you are at your present church. It is unscriptural to quit going to church. :"Don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together."

My suggestion is that y ou pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you to a church where the Word of God is taught and practiced, and where the love of Jesus is exhibited in its members.

I once thought I had found a perfect church, but as soon as I joined that church, it became imperfect, because I am so imperfect.

There used to be a popular bumper sticker. I believed it to be true then, and now: "Christians are not perfect, just forgiven."

Answer 10

yes.
Church is made up of human beings and while many of the people in the church are Christians, they are imperfect. You will be hurt.
But you will also find those that will support you and know what you are going through. Church is a place to learn and grow and hang with people who believe as you do.

As for "changing religion" as a christian i know there is only one true "religion" Jesus. Now weather you go to a Methodist, baptist, reformed, christian reformed, and a lot of other BIBLE teaching denominations, i do not believe it makes a difference..that i believe is a preference, and not a fundamental difference. AS LONG AS the church is a Jesus following, bible teaching church.