I want to leave (well I sorta already left) my church. I don't want to leave God or Christianity. I simply want to explore other Christian churches. My pastor calls me and bugs me and says it's God will that I stay there, but I have bad feelings about the church and I desperately don't want to be there anymore. Am I going against God by going against a pastor, and where does it stay you have to stay in one church in the Bible?
2007-07-05 15:57:01 · 48 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
follow your instincts. if you don't think it's right, then leave and find another church. your pastor sounds like a cult leader.
2007-07-05 15:59:45 · answer #1 · answered by yarn whore 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Just because you switch churches doesn't mean you don't love God. My family has switched churches before but it wasn't because we didn't trust and believe in God completely but that we didn't like how the preaching went and wanted to explore our options. Going against a pastor is not in any way shape or form going against God. Exploring you options is a good thing. We are now at a church we love because we left that church and found this one with a few trials at other churches. Plus you can always go back to that church. Good luck and don't feel bad by what you pastor says what he is doing could maybe considered harrasment.
2007-07-05 16:06:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is wrong for your Pastor to call and bug you. He should be concerned about your welfare because you are under his care. But is sounds as if he is being too controlling. I was under a Pastor that sounded like yours.
He was very good to me. I thought that it would be a good idea that we would work together, so I got him a job working with me. Boy, was that a mistake. I began to see his faults and weaknesses. I prayed for months. He was an embarrassment to me because of his actions or lack of Christian actions.
After a while, he gave me an ultimatum. I had to leave him and his Church because I had to follow God instead of him. I left that same week and gave him the reason. He became angry and made scenes at work and made horrible accusations. I realized that I made the right decision. I was glad that I was there for over three years, but it was time for me to go. I hold no grudges and I still know that I was suppose to be there, but it was time for me to go.
If you are a "Born Again" Christian, follow your heart. The Holy Spirit will lead you to where you are suppose to be.
One other thing, make sure that you get a Spiritual covering over you. I will pray for your protection until you do. Let me know how everything is going.
2007-07-05 17:20:43 · answer #3 · answered by Apostle Jeff 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not wrong to leave a church if God is redirecting you. But consider your reasons for leaving. Are they valid? What is your motivation? Did you get offended by something that is really not of great consequence? Is their a good church nearby that you can join? Think about all these things. Having said that, I don't think a pastor should "bug" people. He should take "no" for an answer and just say "I'm sorry. God bless you."
2007-07-05 17:02:50 · answer #4 · answered by Cee T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you are not going against God's will.
You have every right to explore, as you say, another church. No one (not even a Pastor) can or should hold you hostage to a particular church. With that kind of pressure you are receiving from him, I think I would leave also.
Let God's Spirit guide you, then you will know which church you should be in.
2007-07-05 16:03:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
About a year after I became a christian I started getting restless. I wanted more from God, but just could not seem to figure out what it was. I heard of another church and went to visit. I saw them dancing and shouting and I loved it. Someone had a word from the Lord that said "Someone is looking for a church and this is where they are suppose to be" I felt as though a brick had fallen on my head. I knew it was for me. God did wonderful things in my life the year I was there, taught me alot. The church I was going to before was mad at me. Just make sure you pray and seek God. He will show you where to go and what to do. It is okay to change. You are in His hands, do not be afraid to step out in faith. Tell the pastor you appreciate that he cares about you, but you need to move on. You can always go back.
2007-07-05 16:07:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are NOT going against God. You're only going against your pastor. From what I've gathered by your question, you're NOT even contemplating a change of religion, just a change in where you worship. The FACT that he IS chasing after you is a very grave concern. It sounds like he wants to keep you as a captive audience, filling your mind ONLY with HIS view of things rather than allowing you to experience ALL that is possible within your Religion as a whole. Bassed on that, I think you DID make a good decision to leave that particular church AND I think you got out just in the nick of time, too. I wish you well on your continued journey.
Brightest Blessings,
Raji the Green Witch
2007-07-05 16:07:01 · answer #7 · answered by Raji the Green Witch 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Listen to your intuition and get away from that church. No one has the right to tell you where and how to worship. No, you are NOT going against God by disagreeing with a pastor. This one is NOT a representative of God, trust me, he's only trying to control you, honey. I seriously doubt there is anywhere in the Bible where it says you can't leave a certain church. Get out and go where you please.
2007-07-05 16:07:35 · answer #8 · answered by nolajazzyguide 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends on what God tells you, not what the pastor says or what he says God says (it could be that the pastor is speaking his own feelings, not the will of God). My family has been in the same situation; we didn't feel good about a church, left, and the pastor and his cronies have been on our tails pretty much ever since. Just pray and ask God for guidance (His will be done) and things will turn out all right. That's what my family did, and it worked out for us. :)
2007-07-05 16:03:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your pastor is not going about this the right way at all! Do what you think is best for you. I am assuming you have prayed about this, and since you are exploring other churches I say go for it! The pastor sounds like he has some issues of his own, and I would ask him nicely to please not call you for a while.
2007-07-05 17:36:21 · answer #10 · answered by 1901pink 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God has a plan and a purpose for you. He may be directing you to find a new church. Pray about it. If your Pastor is a sincere, Bible believing Pastor, he will want you to go to church where the Lord leads you.
2007-07-05 16:03:20 · answer #11 · answered by Jlk 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋