Changing Churchs

[lorenski45]

I'm sorry for always asking questions, but as a new chrisitian I have lots of them.

I have been going to a really nice small church for the past 6 months since I was saved and I really enjoy going there. But I have noticed the last two months or so that I wasn't really getting anything out of the Sunday school lessons or feel like I have been growing in the faith as well as I would like.
I went to a new church last week and really like it. It has so many things to offer that intrest me, the people are freindly and I feel comfortable there. My problem is that I want to go back but feel bad leaving the church where I was baptized and saved. Should I stay at the church I am at or is it ok to look for a church where I will be happy and grow? I have been praying about it. I hope this is ot a dumb question.
Thank you for any input.

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings lorenski45,

Perhaps a good place to start thinking about this is Jesus.
The Church is His Body. Our part in His body is a blessing beyond description.

One thing you need to keep in mind is that you are always aware that as His beloved child, you are OK wherever you are. From there, be prayerful about your reasons to 'change churches'. We can look for things that please us and overlook the purpose that the Lord has in our lives.
We can chase after the things of the flesh and fulfill the desires of it, even in wanting a 'better' church.
You are God's in Christ Jesus the Lord, and therefore you are a living stone in His building. No matter where you are, one must ask the question...."what am I putting into the situation I am in?"

Some people get on a church hunt for all their lives and are never satisfied... this is because they are looking for something for themselves.

I am not saying this is what you are doing, but be prayerful before 'changing churches' that you do so with the right motive.

It should not matter where you go to church, because going to church is not what being a Christian is about. It is ever so good to fellowship with other believers for all the right reasons. So do not feel guilty to 'change churches'.

Stay in Jesus where ever you are!

Originally, the Church was the place/people in each town or city or district. These days there are a massive multitude of denominations. But there remains ONE CHURCH.... the blessed and forgiven, sanctified, redeemed body of Christ.

Speak to your fellow church members about it and see what they say. If you find them to be peaceful about it, then you have two options.....

one, to stay with such beautiful people of God

two, move on to another 'church' and praise God in Jesus Christ that He has given you such a blessed start in your life of faith.

If you find the people to be in any way un-Christian about the idea of you 'changing churches' , then it is probably best to move on.... but pray in quietness first.

Bless you,

Br. Bear

 

[lamplighter]

church

i agree with u mr.bear ur such a good person!

 

[jennie549]

I would probably say that wherever you feel that you are going to grow and learn it is fine. That is my personal opinion anyways. I grew up in a catholic church, but felt no connections and wasn't really learning anything, but now, the one church that i am in now, i feel so much more connected to God and feel like i am learning so much. So, i guess, just do what you feel is right

 

[Mr. Armenian]

Lorenski45,

My thought is for you to change. If you have given this a lot of thought and prayer, and still want to go, then go. I can understand the guilt of leaving, maybe speak to your Pastor at your current church. That might help.

If after all that you still want to go, then go. If you are at a point where you get nothing out of going to church, then why are you going?

 

[Cody]

Go where God takes you. Always pray about your choices. I also went through what you went through. I believe you need to go where you can learn the word of God and feel the Holy Spirit.

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings lamplighter,

Thank you for your kind words....
however, I must point out that all glory belongs to God.

In times past, I walked in darkness and had no thoughts or words for Jesus but bad and abusive. God, in His mercy and grace, revealed to me that Jesus died in my place. This was a double blessing of mercy and grace!
Not only did I come to realise that Jesus died for the sins of the world, but the very Lord I mocked and rubbished died in my place, for the mockery I directed towards Him.... where I totally deserved the punishment, He took it upon Himself......and then, to top it off, He made me part of His eternal body, the Church.

From that time on I have thought and spoken Jesus, every single day, all day. He gave me His life, so when you say I am good, I must point out, and make it very clear, that Jesus is the good in me. Without Him in my life, in fact, without Him as my life, I could not utter one good word about Him or His beloved bride.

All glory must go to God in Jesus Christ the Lord. He alone is worthy to be praised.

As a member of His glorious body of which, He is the head.... the head of the Church, beautiful to behold, I am forever indebted to Him.

I can also testify to His immense patience with me as I have at times been hard of hearing, and in matters concerning 'church', He has graciously shown me that two things are essential.....

one, that I attend church with Him in mind, not myself nor the type or character of the people who also go there...

and two, that the love He has shown me in patience and forgiveness, in bringing me light and joy where there was none, in encouraging me with His Word and granting me gifts of His Spirit....all these and more in love....that I should do give that same love that He has freely given me to the other members of the congregation, whether in my eyes they deserve it or not, (because, to be sure, I never deserved any good thing from the Lord) and to have fellowship in peace together with all who worship and adore Him.

Really, the two can not be seperated. He is one with His body, and we can not love Him without loving His body. So wherever a person goes to fellowship with other believers, it is His love that binds all together.

May you have His light and joy and dwell safely in His peace.

Bless you,

Br. Bear

p.s. .... "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." Jesus (John 12:46)

 

[ThatGuy]

If you're going to church for a "feeling" then you're going for the wrong reason, in the word is says to take your offerings and praises to the house that GOD chooses, not just any house (Deut 12:13-14). You stay in your church and build relationships with the people there, including the pastor, changing churches never solves anything.

 

[malysc]

Changing worship locations

I too, have had issues with whether or not to change locations. But the Lord is where we are, whereever we are worshipping. My problem was a church split and complete chaos and conflict. I found myself not wanting to enter the building. I could not worship peacefully. At that point I realized the Lord was allowing me to move on. There are several scriptures that support worshipping in peace, but I cant locate them now. Can you help me out?

 

[Br. Bear]

Hi again,

The following is about flocks. It was written in reference to birds, then when looking at some lambs, it seemed fit for flocks of sheep.... even us.

3 Flocks Of Birds

A Blue Wren and his family happily flitting around a freshly moved log pile.
A dozen or so Ravens gleaning fallen seed from the road.
A multitute of Sparrows all fellowshiping in a tree top.
I watched them fly to it and land in three or four groups. Some shifted around in their positions but all of them sang, whether in chorus or as individuals, I do not know, but their song was sweet to my ears.

Who told them to go to that tree? And, why weren't all the birds, of all three flocks, randomly scattered around the district?

Butterflies danced and beetles crawled as the clouds hung quietly in the sky.
Flowers in bloom from recent rains that brang green relief to the summer land.
Next to the tree where the multitude rested, was a dead tree where only a few birds perched. The vast majority chose the living tree.... who sent them there? and why did they stay close together as one flock?

As I looked across the land, past the nearby ants examining the logs before me, a herd of cattle also shared the same part of a large paddock. Again, why weren't they just spread randomly around? Who arranged them so?

A whirly-whirly kicks up some dust. Thousands of particles spinning together, no care for disunity at all. It blew right to me and passed me by, depositing some spare sawdust bits upon my page as I wrote. One puff and they all disperse from my pen's way. Even the flowers seem to group together, carpeting the green grass over yonder.

So my question is for you today,

Who brings His children together to dine at His table, prepared in love for them?
And, if He calls us to one place or another, where is it that we will be?

When we are instructed to 'consider the birds and flowers' to see how they do not care, may we also consider how they fellowship together and reap from such thinking a greater return from what we have been given as stewards of His love.

Bless you,

Br. Bear

ps... the living tree has lots of leaves which, together bring life into the tree. They all together were a splendid sight and were obviously one of a kind...><>