I may have covered this topic a few years ago when I had my blog at another location. Every now and then I get to thinking about what stops a person from going to church or changing churches.

My family moved to St. George about 19 yrs ago. We have never regretted moving here and for the most part we have always gone to the same church. Or should I say I have gone to the same church. There was one time though that I stopped going to my church and that was because of the new pastor that came. His calling I must say should not have been to become a pastor. How he ever got voted on to be our pastor is beyond me. During the short time he was at our church, I did what some would call church hopping. This went on for 2 yrs until others at my church seen that something was wrong.

During those two years away from my church I did find a wonderful little church that met in an elementary school. It was a Christian Missionary Alliance Church. I really liked their church doctrine and the people there. It was like a second home to me. I enjoyed mostly everyone I met there and I still talk to them. I like Pastor Marc and his family. I actually learned quite a bit from him and how to be a better disciple for Christ and to witness to others.  I never had the need to move my membership from St. George Community Church to Oasis though. In my heart I knew St. George Community Church was the place for me.

Eventually they did get a new pastor and he was wonderful. I adored his wife and we got to know his family. He is the kind of pastor I would consider a healing pastor. Pastor Lary and Donna had a hard road ahead of them. There was a separation in our church and lot of hurt that needed healing. God knew we needed them at this time. They were with us for a number of years and then we were blessed with Pastor Dean and Ruth. It was a very easy transition when Lary and Donna left. God blessed our church in many ways.

My daughters are both adults and married. They have their own families and needs. Beckiah and Jason along with their children have chosen another church that best fits the needs of their family. I would love them to come to my church, but they are where God wants them to be. My other daughter Jessica still does things with our church  every now and then and everyone at church misses her and still asks about Jessica, Jason and JJ. JJ went with me to church the other day and everyone loved seeing him and made him feel like he was home. He started to cry because he was happy they were nice to him. But I know that no matter what I say or anyone else says, that people have to choose a church where they can grow and where God wants them to be. I’m very proud of my daughters and their families for still going to church, even if it isn’t mine. But they are listening to God and doing what God wants them to do in their lives. I couldn’t be prouder of them. I’m honored to be their momma.

I asked my husband why he doesn’t like to go to church. And he was very honest with me. First he said that sometimes the music is so long or the pastor goes on for so long that he gets lost in the message. I then asked a friend of mine about the church she goes to. She said she feels like God isn’t part of the church. They do things and sing songs, but it is like going to church that is all about putting on a show or of hearing themselves talk. I had to asked about what they meant. They said when the pastor does everything and controls everything. It’s like they go on and on and their faith seems fake. They say the right thing, but it isn’t sincere. It’s all talk and no action. I didn’t want to ask who she was talking about since I know people from many churches.  I will have to do a blog on why people stop going to church all together.

One of my friends was going on about why she is having a hard time going to church. And she was saying that she feels like she is obligated to go. She doesn’t enjoy going because of issues that go on at the church. I didn’t go into the whys because I figured she would tell me why if she wanted me to know. But she doesn’t feel that she is where she needs to be. When she prays over her feelings and how she dreads going to church, she feels guilty by the answers she is receiving.

I can understand that because when I left our church for two years, I felt guilty and was made to feel guilty during that whole time. Not really by the pastor, but by some of the people. When I would go to church I had to breath before going into the church. I felt like I had this bitterness in my soul and that was really getting in the way of me enjoying the message for the day. During the sermon or the music, I would sigh to myself and I didn’t know how unhappy I was until one Sunday when I came home from church and decided I couldn’t do this anymore. This wasn’t where I needed to be at this point in my walk with Christ. When I started listening to God and checking out other churches, I felt like a boulder has been lifted off my shoulder. My bitterness was getting in the way of worshiping Christ. Many at my church didn’t understand where I was coming from, but I knew I needed something else.

If someone was to ask me what they should do if they were unhappy where they are going to church at or about checking out other churches. I would say to them to pray about it first. I would say that maybe God is the one putting it on your heart to go somewhere else. God may have other things in store for you that you’re not aware of. If someone gets upset because you are looking at other churches, then let them be upset. You have to go where God is leading you. If someone guilts you into staying at church and you are still unhappy, then you aren’t doing yourself, the church or God any good.

For myself, I love where I go. I have been there for 19 yrs and even though I went somewhere else for 2 yrs, I have always been a member. I may not always like someone who goes there and I may not like the message. But I know that God is the center of all things. And like all families, not all agree and sometimes we fight, storm out, but we come back. St. George Community to me is my family of God. I love the fact that they know me anywhere I go. I don’t feel like I have to be showy or someone I’m not. I don’t have to be politically correct. We are a melting pot of Christians that love the Lord and others. I can’t wait to see what is in store for our church when we get our new pastor.

I was looking for information on this topic so then it isn’t just my personal thoughts, but what the Bible says about leaving a church and looking for a new one…  So for any one out there looking for a new church or moving to a new area, here are some Biblical Scriptures to read and to see what God has to say about this topic.

Reasons to Leave A Church

1. Truth is not being taught

• Acts 20:29-31
• Rev. 2:12-16

2. Leadership is overly controlling and unloving

• 3 John 9-11

3. Leadership is biblically unqualified

• 1 Tim. 3:1-7;
• Titus 1:7-9

4. Pastor and/or leaders are living in sin

• 1 Tim. 5:19-21

5. Leadership does not deal with sin

• Matthew 18:15-18;
• 1 Cor. 5:1-13

What To Look For In A Church. On the positive side, here are some guidelines for choosing or staying in a church

Leadership

– are qualified

• 1 Tim. 3:1-7;
• Titus 1:7-9

– are godly examples

• Hebrews 13:7;
• 1 Peter 5:3

– are self-sacrificing

• John 21:15-19;
• Acts 20:31

Pastor

– teaches the Bible in depth

• Nehemiah 8:8;
• 1 Tim. 4:13;

– has passion to teach truth

• 2 Timothy 2:2;
• James 3:1

– has a passionate love for Jesus

• John 21:15-17
• Phil. 3:8

Congregation

– people are loving

• Hebrews 10:24-25

– ministers together

• Acts 2:42;
• Hebrews 6:10

– supports the leadership

• Hebrews 13:7, 13;
• Hebrews 6:10