We’re going to break today into 3 sections of people who choose to leave the church:
- NonChristians Choosing the World
(People Rejecting Jesus)
- Christians Choosing the World
(Walking Away from Jesus)
- Christians Leaving to go to Another Church
(Walking into Another Christian Community)
NonChristians Choosing the World
The sad and very heartbreaking reality of following God, is knowing that most of the people around us will not follow Him.
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
In John 6:60-71, we see Jesus go through rejection and the 12 apostles feel the weight of it with him. Jesus preaches this incredible sermon, about how He is the only way to eternal life and the disciples respond in John 6:60 by saying:
“This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.
John 6:66-69
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Peter is basically saying, where are we going to go? We KNOW you’re the son of God, and there’s no coming back from that.
More than likely, those apostles felt like they were the one’s being rejected by those disciples who hadn’t chosen to give their lives to Jesus. Often today when someone has outwardly rejected Jesus, we as followers of Jesus feel like we're the one being rejected.
John 6:70-71
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
Of the 12 apostles who were still there, Jesus knew that one of them was there to stab him in the back, and He still chose to walk with him. We need to be willing to risk hurt and pain in order to walk people to the cross even if we know it could backfire and hurt us.
- Keep walking with them as long as you can.
- Don’t let them pull you away from God.
- Be faithful with the ones that God puts in front of you.
Christians Choosing the World
The majority of the time I see Christians walk away from Jesus, it’s because there’s something in the Bible that’s offensive to them. If we're all honest, a lot of what we see in scripture is uncomfortable and offensive, but it doesn't mean God isn't right.
- When you start to see them slip, call them out on it!
- None of us are exempt from this.
- If you see someone reject God and they hurt you in the process, forgive them.
Christians Leaving to Another Church
Christians that SHOULD leave to Another Church
Missional Calling
Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the LORD establishes their steps.
Differences in Primary Beliefs
For the most part, having secondary issues where you disagree with your church is totally normal, but there are some primary issues that you really want to line up with your church family on:
- What Salvation is and isn’t
- What Baptism means
- Inerrancy of Scripture
- The Trinity
- Who the Holy Spirit is
- Who the Gospel is for
Our pastors would gladly sit down with anyone to discuss those topics and show why scripture points us to those beliefs, but if it’s REALLY studied, we’re at an end pass and someone really believes that the Bible is not 100% true and they want to go to a church that believes that too, then I would bless them as they go.
1 Corinthians 1:10
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Christians that SHOULD NOT leave to Another Church
Church Hoppers
Some people just love to mix it up and move around every year or two… That’s a great way to NEVER GROW.
People Avoiding Conflict
Some people get frustrated and leave because it’s way easier to leave than to work through issues. Avoiding conflict really hurts us.
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
People Running Away from Community
Some people get uncomfortable being asked to be vulnerable and run away to protect themselves. If you tell people your deepest darkest stuff there’s a chance you CAN be hurt by it later. But I promise you if you keep it in, it’ll KEEP HURTING YOU forever.
Ephesians 4:25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
- Help people seek God to make decisions
- Don’t fall for people’s lies, even if they’re lying to themselves.
- Be secure in Jesus.
This is why we do discipleship so heavily in our church. If you’re feeling yourself begin to drift, SAY SOMETHING.
If you notice someone else drifting, talk about it in discipleship and get the help you need to be able to pull that person back in in love.
