(To start at the beginning of this series click here)
Somebody is going to leave.
Somebody is going to get hurt, or get mad, or generally not fit into
your congregation and they are going to leave.
So. There are many reasons
people leave. They may be going back to
the church where God really called them to grow. If that’s the case, then don’t get in the
way. They need to be where God called
them to be. Some may not be ready to live
their life one hundred percent for Jesus and church life is overwhelming them. It happens. I had several starts and stops at my
church. The first time I went I wasn’t
sure it was for me. I answered an altar call and gave
my life to Jesus. I got baptized in
water. I went a few weeks longer but
wasn’t ready. At least that’s what I
thought. I listened to the voice in my
head that said "you're too young to give up the party life." I really should have stayed but I didn’t. It took 10 years of hard living, lots of drama, and near marriage ending circumstances to draw me back to God. I visited the same church on occasion, each time
thinking I would try to make a go of it, but I couldn’t. All the while God was putting people in my
path to tell me of His goodness. To give
me chick tracks. To tell me Jesus loves
me. I finally sat down and read my bible
all the way through. I thought I didn’t
need “church.” That God was wherever I
needed Him to be. That he would be there
whenever I needed him. Which He was and
still is. After
reading my bible through I had a change of heart. God was there. But I wasn’t there for Him. How long was He going to pursue me through
His Holy Spirit? I saw myself in the
word of God, and I wanted more. I
wanted to give up the “party” life. I
went to other churches for a while, but nothing spoke to me. I was not called to grow in those
churches. Then I really felt I should go back to the
church where I was first saved. As the
pastor preached that morning, I recognized the scriptures that he was reading. I knew in my spirit that I was home. He was applying God’s word to my world. It really spoke to me. I felt as if someone had told him what I was
thinking. What I needed. From that moment on I knew I was where God
wanted me to be.
Somebody is going to leave.
It doesn’t mean that you should
leave too. In fact, don’t follow
them. Even when they try to convince you
to see things their way. You are where
God put you and He is the only one that can direct you, right? Pray, ask him
again if you must. Ask him, “Am I where you want me to be?” Pray that the Holy Spirit will show you and
keep you from influences that would take you out of Gods will.
Don’t be hurt when they leave. It isn’t your fault. You’ve friended them and invited them into
your life. You prayed with them and
believed God with them. Now let them
go. Just like you, they get to choose
whether to stay or go. And who are we that we should try to direct their lives? We are in charge of our own. If they confide in you that they’re thinking
about leaving, don’t ask why. In doing
so you open a door of bitterness that might suck you in. Instead ask what could change their
mind? Offer to pray. Then pray out loud together to usher in the presence
of God into your conversation. Guard
yourself. Let the Holy Spirit lead the
conversation. Don’t try to rationalize
staying or leaving.
If it’s you that’s leaving, then go quietly. Don’t try to convince people to go
with you. Who are you that you pull someone
from Gods will? Woe to you if you
do. And don’t be mad when, after you
leave, your friends from “that church” don’t fellowship with you as much
anymore. It just naturally will
happen. We saw each other all the time
because we were working side by side in the kingdom and now, we’re not. You’re working in another camp. That was your choice. Our conversations
will change too. They’ll become more
about the “weather” because neither one of us will want to come off as “judgy.” Also, our social circles will change and we’ll
have less in common. I’m not
leaving. Sorry you left, I pray that you
are in Gods will and that everything works out for you.
To read the next in this series click here.
To read the next in this series click here.
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