I just read an article called "Confessions of a Church Hopper" by Lynn H. Pryor. It was great! Here are a few excerpts from the article - once again, not my stuff but Lynn H. Pryor's stuff...
Setting: Group Therapy for Church Hoppers...
"My name is Murray and I'm a church Hopper."
"I used to go to first church, but I didn't like the preacher's style. He was getting a little personal, you know? So I went to Lakeside...I liked it at first, but the potluck dinners had too much spice...So I went to Grant Avenue Church but I didn't like the way the pastor's wife dressed...Someone tell me what kind of hopper Murray is?...He's a Happy Hopper - one who expects the church to make us happy. If something isn't to our liking we move on to the next church...until something there doesn't make us happy...Let's review some other types...The Hungry Hopper who says...I'm not being fed - who's supposed to be feeding you anyway - you are, you feed yourself with Bible reading, study and prayer...The Healthy Hopper who leaves church because he thinks it's dying. He wants to be a part of a growing church...There will always be little things that irritate you at church because it's made up of people..."
Great article!
While this is a great article, I do believe that there are times in which God may call someone into a new church situation. But I also have known people that for the slightest reason want to leave when the going gets tough. There is a difference in the two. One hears a calling from God, the other hears a calling from themselves!
It's easy to criticize the church but difficult to put forth the effort to make it better!
In the church I serve there have been quite a few families that felt God's call to leave the church they were attending to help us here with new ministries. They have really made a difference and we have been very blessed and thankful that they heard God's call!
The next time someone tells you they want to leave the church, ask them if they feel called by God or themselves.
