The Biblical Approach to Church Shopping and Leaving Well

Oh, look, look, I, I'm j- I, I-- look, l-let me just g- let me give you an overview, and then, uh, you, you can, you can meander through it, Jack.

So, um, there's, there's reasons to leave a church, and there's reasons to not leave a church.

Um, and I've seen people do both.

There's also ways to leave a church, and there's ways not to leave a church.

Um, but then also, if you have left or if you've moved town and you're looking for a church, I would always say the Church of Jesus Christ.

It-- look, it is his bride, and it is his people, but yet how are you gonna be under the structural of Old Testament picture all the way through New Testament picture unless you find a local church to be a part of? Uh, that's, that is the local house that you bring your tithes and offerings to.

That's where we sow.

It's where we raise our kids.

And for those that disconnect with the church or the meeting or the fellowship of church and the growth with church, um, it's not good for us personally, but you've got to know it's worse for the kids, and it's worse for people looking on.

Um, and so it really is worth owning-

What, what do you mean, what do you mean it's worse for the kids?

Uh, I would say, oh, geez, all I've got is anecdotal.

I'm sure we could make up stats or find some, but from, from my, uh, from my experience, those that stay connected with church even though it's difficult, 'cause you're dealing with people, but also you're a person that we're dealing with, so please have some grace because we're giving you grace.

Not just you, Jack, everyone, everyone listening-

The, the metaphorical you

...

the metaphorical you.

So the whole point would be is that God says it's not good for man to be alone.

We-- he puts us within community.

He puts us within family.

He puts us within church, and so we are his ecclesia.

But h-how can I follow Acts chapter two, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' doctrine and fellowship," unless I'm being led, guided, taught, uh, uh, by, uh, by an apostle? The fivefold ministry, that is actually very clear.

Paul, wherever he went, setting up churches, left a leader to oversee a community as a shepherd.

And so you, you've actually got to, you've got to click right there, and if you disconnect, your kids aren't raised in the house of God, and that is crucial.

That is absolutely crucial.