I have been a member at my current church for more than 4 years now. I believe the Spirit led me to that place, at that time, with those people. That body has been a haven for me in so many ways. Through the church I have met a few folks who have helped me to know Jesus better and to find some measure of peace in my life. When I first entered through those doors, I felt that I was an integral part of a movement, of something big. Given the palpable energy and the Kingdom vision, I felt that this church and its mission were unstoppable. I felt that I was part of a revival. Yet as the years passed, my attitude slowly changed. Instead of feeling like an individual who belonged, I felt more and more like a number. I felt like my questions and voice could not be heard over the din, over the push to get the attendance numbers up, up, up. I was told again and again that if I felt otherwise, then my thinking was selfish or un-Christian. Instead of feeling like my church was a safe place to get to know Jesus, to move closer to Him, I felt marginalized and pushed to the fringes. My uneasiness and uncertainty turned into negativity, which caused me to not be fully present during worship. After much thought, I felt that I had reached a plateau in my church and it began to suffocate me.I spent some time recently praying that God would let me know in a large bold-faced font where I was supposed to be. If I was supposed to stay where I was or move on ... and if I was supposed to move on, where was I supposed to go? The whole idea of "church shopping" does not sit well with me. Well, two days after I prayed my prayer, a friend of mine and a pastor in the area announced that he was starting his own church. Hmmm, curious timing, don't you think? Could this be the large bold-faced font that I requested? Though I am a bit scared of change and trying new things, I think that I must check this out, especially if I am ever to reach the next level.
8 comments:
Go for it Daniel! Sounds like an exciting thing to check out. Who knows but "for such a time as this" you have been restless.
nice...so this is rob's church? def check it out man...let god move you when it is time...and i def know the feeling of being a number...
...your situation is very similar to one that I've experienced over the past year..after feeling that I finally had a wonderful church family where I loved and was loved...dissatisfaction about the pastor set in...and I felt the need to move on...I am still feeling like neither fish nor fowl even though I still hear the Gospel preached at my present church ...but I'm also still waiting for the Lord to show me what He has for me...and I miss my church family badly! 'Good Luck' with your transition...
Bill - thanks for the encouragement.
Brian - Yeah. He had his first service on Sunday and did a great job.
OJW - I am not a great fan of the mega-church or watching my pastor on a video screen. I am happy that they are bringing in folks, but ...
Yeah, I probably have different opinions on this than most. So...
If you leave, leave well. Talk to people you have been in relationship with. If there are pastors you have relationship with... talk to them. I'm not saying you are doing this (there are legitimate reasons to leave a church), but too many people treat churches like American Bandstand ("I like Byron, I give him a 42 but I can't dance to it!"). [sorry, obscure Dead Poets Society reference]. Even worse, we evoke God and talk about leading. Again, I'm not saying this is the case with you... but just be cautious about what you suggest to others is God's leading, and what is your will.
And in my opinion, it makes a difference how Rob is leaving your current church? Is it a split? A power play? Even if it comes across as an agreeable thing, it's not always the case.
Anyway, no need to respond. I don't suspect many of your readers will jump on the bandwagon here and agree... but I do have a different perspective. :)
Please heckle Rob during his sermon for me.
Paul - Is the issue that I am having with the church I have been attending for 4 years a problem with them or a problem with me? An important question that requires thought. I have been thinking about this for quite some time and the answer is certainly both. As I said, jumping around from place to place is not my style. This is not an easy decision.
Oh, and as far as I know, Rob's move to start his own church is being done in obedience to God and not due to some problems with where he was.
Thanks for weighing in. Your thoughts are always welcome.
Daniel... you may not want to explain it here, so email is fine. Two things:
1. Can you clarify your question for me? A problem for them or me?
2. Anytime a pastor leaves a congregation and starts a new one on the same area as the current congregation he is a part of, I have red flags go up. I don't know Rob. I don't know the situation.... but there ya go. I wonder how he sees the vision of this new church differently than the current congregation? (Other than him leading.) Might be a good question to ask.
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