Intregrity, where does it go when a so-called Christian leaves a church?
I've seen this happen a few times over the past several years and for the life of me can't figure out what happens when they walk out the church door for the last time. No pastor there's no problem, they say. We're just looking, we need something deeper, we'll probably be back. Do they think pastors are dumb, gullible or what? Yet slowly but surely word gets back through the church grape vine that so and so left because of this or that, and a multitude of other things that were "no problem", give the pastor a break, tell the truth when you leave, most of us are big boys and and handle it as long as you speak the truth.
To me it's truly amazing some of the things I've heard, actually I've heard better stories from 3rd graders. If they're gonna tell a lie at least be consistent about it, don't change the reason for leaving with every other church member you bump into. Sometimes I wanna puke, at other times I get a real good laugh out of the reasons for leaving, yet there are some honest ones who do cause me to cry. Maybe I'll start collecting leaving excuses from other pastors and write a book, "Why I Left My Church and Other Hilarious Church Tales".
Nuff Said...Just Thinkin'
He who speaks the truth tells what is right, but a liar tells
lies. Proverbs 12:17 (New Life Version)
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
How Not To Leave A Church
I got this off my friend Rick's blog. I thought it was pretty darn good. I wouldn't change a word (and didn't):
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4 comments:
You liked his post because he used the word "puke" in it.
Or maybe it's sadly familiar :/.
I dunno what I think about your test blog. Ummm...do you really wanna know what I think...because eventually I'll have an opinion.
Robin,
Okay, so why don't you like it?
People don't want to admit how much of the real reason they leave is themselves. They're being convicted, or they're being petty, or they're wanting more control. Even if they said the "real reason," it would usually be a bunch of blame toward others. Most people simply don't see the church as a family to be committed to.
Yeah, this post is 'sadly familiar.' I have had a bunch of people leave my church. I know that people sometimes leave for a good reason - sometimes it's good even if they don't go to another church (for a time). But I have to say, for every person that has left my group... every single one of them hurts. It doesn't matter if it was my fault OR theirs. It still bothers me deeply. And, honestly, some people are just downright mean about it. But it's still sad... just like if a child runs away from home. Sometimes the reason does matter, but in my mind it doesn't matter at the time because the reason is almost always because there is a hurt there. And that's what makes me sad. And, yes, sometimes mad.
(Just thinking through this).
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