Is it wrong to church hop?

[Goodbook]

I wonder if any church has members that dont go for a while and the pastor actually goes to see them to see if they ok. Like the lost sheep parable. And then picks them up and carries them home.

 

[WolfGate]

I wonder if any church has members that dont go for a while and the pastor actually goes to see them to see if they ok. Like the lost sheep parable. And then picks them up and carries them home.

Yes, that happens. Honestly it is easier in smaller churches but large ones can do it as well if they make it a point for pastors and elders to regularly go through their rolls and make sure they have seen and somehow touched each of their members recently.

 

[Vi]

I remember hearing a sermon from John McArthur abt this and you can go to Grace to You and listen/read it. This is brief introduction... It made me look at church membership as something God designed for us.

"your local church plays a significant role in your spiritual life. In most cases, the local church is the primary source of Bible teaching, worship, discipleship, accountability, admonishment, encouragement, and fellowship.

Considering the vital role the local church plays in spiritual growth, it’s a wonder that so many Christians don’t feel the need to identify with a specific congregation through church membership. Rather than planting with one church body and developing deep spiritual roots, too many believers today seem content to drift among multiple congregations, landing wherever they feel their needs and interests are best served.

That consumer-driven approach contradicts the New Testament model for the church and bypasses the Lord’s design for spiritual growth and leadership. It also cripples the believer’s usefulness to the Lord and to the Body of Christ."

 

[catherine777]

During my spiritual life about 22 ,years from my NDE at age of eight i have tried different churches to find the truth:
New apostolic church( catholic type cult) - i got baptised,confirmed there and was official member until 2008 enough left in 2002 when i got saved.
Then hare krishna 2001-2002, not devotee
Hosanna full gospel church 2002 oct -2007 march
Rannamõisa charismatic lutheran church 2007 may -2011 aprill
Glory of zion int webcaster 2009 sept until now ( because of apostolic model of the church)
Helped in Elisha training centre 2007-2011, was partner
Helped in christ embassy 2013 dec to 2015 june not member.
Tabernacler revival ministries finland webcaster 2015- now ( bc it is connected with gzi)
12 steps groups from 2009.

What i am visited is when there interesting event
vineyard church
Focus church ( aog missionaries church)
Oicumenical icej prayer group
Charismatic fellowship church

In general bible says that do not leave your own church gatherings or in acts 4 it is seen that peter went to those who were his own ppl so i have kept this gzi webcasting as it is most better option and as in my town there is no strong apostolic model church and pastoral model is out for me. Enough some of the leaders think that via web is not possible to be member i believe it is possible.
And also i am working out my religious trauma so i am active one support group in Helsinki and trying to create similar here...

 

[Anguspure]

like go from one church to another. Say theres several different congreagations in your area. You want to try them all. How will you know if you dont try?
Or are you just meant to always stay in one church forever.

Or is it only wrong to church hop according to the pastor. If you pledged as a member do you have to keep that pledge? What if you didnt?

What it theres an issue with a church member or a teaching, or the pastor or preachers preach correct doctrine but dont actually practise what they preach?

Who really wants to stay where they not wanted and dont belong?

Church hopping as a phenomina is a symptom of poor or non-existent "Church" relationship.

If a person feels free to hop from one group to another then it probably means that they have not really been engaged with that group in the first place.

It is a major failing of the Church today that we think that by making somebody a "member" of a particular group that they have actually become part of the group, pretty much irrespective of the nature of their relationship to that group, or at least doctrinal grounds notwithstanding.

As the Church we are called to Love one another deeply from the heart in close relationship with one another as the family of God.

In my experience the last thing I ever wanted to do, when I have Loved or bern Loved in this way, was find another family to be with, irrespective of any theological/doctrinal differences. When I have been forced to leave these groups for other reasons I have been distraught and heart broken about it.

 

[Kristen Johnson]

For me, I am committed to my congregation, and to a particular denomination (United Methodist.) So, I stay in my Church regardless of the pastor. But, I tried several different churches within the denomination before committing to one. I think it's important to figure out which congregation you feel the most comfortable in. But, I do think we should commit to one eventually, because the fellowship is so important.

 

[VanillaSunflowers]

I don't think it is wrong to church hop as you seek the one that you feel God called you to attend.
I've done so since I arrived at my new address. There's a church down the road from me. Their parking areas are full to overflow on Sundays.
I ventured into that one soon after I arrived thinking it would be lovely to also exercise and walk to services. Nice service, friendly people. Until the pastor and his wife and a deacon approached after service and asked if I was new. They knew I was but that's a way of breaking the ice.
Then I was told if I wanted to join I'd have to bring five years worth of my W-2's next service . They'd schedule a meeting after church so we "can review them together". This way they'd know what to expect in the way of tithe.

So no, I don't think it is wrong to hop. I hopped right out of their office and plan to hop right on by that money pit from now on.

Trust God. He'll show you where he wants you. He did with me. That's why he sent three devils to talk about mammon as a condition of membership in a chamber of hell fronted by wolves in sheep's wool when I was church searching.

 

[LionDog1]

Test the Spirit, go where the Spirit leads. Remember a Church is where 2/3 are gathered.

 

[sk8brdkd]

like go from one church to another. Say theres several different congreagations in your area. You want to try them all. How will you know if you dont try?
Or are you just meant to always stay in one church forever.

Or is it only wrong to church hop according to the pastor. If you pledged as a member do you have to keep that pledge? What if you didnt?

What it theres an issue with a church member or a teaching, or the pastor or preachers preach correct doctrine but dont actually practise what they preach?

Who really wants to stay where they not wanted and dont belong?

Why would it be wrong to church hop?

About 12 years ago, I tried finding a new church. I hated the traditional church and wasn't being fed from it. I must've tried about 30 churches within a span of 4 years. I found 1 other that I liked as it was a more modern type of a church and was very different then most churches. I had been attending a church called Emergence and, they were first set up to be set apart from other churches only having highschool and college kids attend and for me, that was awesome. I was getting fed so well in that church but then after only a year, they opened it up to allow everyone to attend and that's when things changed and where they became like all the other churches around the area where they mainly focused on the parents in the room and forgot about everyone else under the age of 30. I went from getting fed spiritually at that church every week to maybe once every few months. It was pointless to attend so I stopped going.

I then started to go to this church called Liquid. Very cool church with awesome pastors. They even have church online. Check it out. www.liquidchurch.com

 

[David Hunter]

I suggest reading Thom Rainer's book I Will! It helped me when I was seeking out a place to worship.

Just remember... no church is perfect. Only Jesus is perfect.

 

[Kit Sigmon]

like go from one church to another. Say theres several different congreagations in your area. You want to try them all. How will you know if you dont try?
Or are you just meant to always stay in one church forever.
Goodbook: What I do is research the church group(s) I would like to visit, if they be like-minded(keeping to bible and doing what it say) then visiting that church group would be like going to visit more of your family. Personally, I like visiting more of my christian family in Jesus.

Or is it only wrong to church hop according to the pastor. If you pledged as a member do you have to keep that pledge? What if you didnt?
To me, all believers that be in Jesus, are members of the same family, an that we are accountable to keep in fellowship with church family regardless if they are at home or traveling about. To me, it's part of good vacation planning to include fellowshipping with other believers who make up the family of the Lord. Our vacation got pushed back a bit because my father in-law passed away, but me and my husband we're talking earlier today about contacting the church that's near where we will be vacationing at, they have an online website an I've been watching some of they services, I've read their church beliefs, mission statement etc. and all that stuff is keeping with what be in the bible...I will phone they minister an asks him some questions an if everything checks out, we will take part in that church's meetings, there's also another church we will visit also but it's in another State, Spokane, Washington (we've been to it before) going to that church was like meeting up with family, we were made to feel right at home! That church even opens early an they have a sit down breakfast together, nothing like breaking bread with the family....that was the first time I'd ever been to a church that did that.

What it theres an issue with a church member or a teaching, or the pastor or preachers preach correct doctrine but dont actually practise what they preach?
I'd say there'd need to be some serious prayer done before going to the church leaders/board or elders etc with the charge(s), and I'd say that you'd need witnesses/proof to prove whatever ever the charges are...bad doctrine, false teacher/false preacher etc.

 

[Goodbook]

Im thinking of being a mystery worshipper. Kinda of like a mystery shopper but with churches.

I will report back to Jesus my findings.

 

[keembo]

This is an interesting subject. We are the church. The body of believers is the church, so you really aren't going to church anyway. You are going to worship. Although I worship at one regularly in the evenings on Sunday, I worship at many others and rotate through them randomly on Sunday mornings. This allows me to meet and know other believers in my area, so that when I am in town I can know others and greet them. I like this method. It might mean that giving is spread around through various places of worship, but that is OK. It also allows me to meet other pastors. Doctrine is important. Stay blessed. At least try and go worship someplace, but to me going to many is a reward I enjoy. God bless.

 

[Larry Wilgus]

like go from one church to another. Say theres several different congreagations in your area. You want to try them all. How will you know if you dont try?
Or are you just meant to always stay in one church forever.

Or is it only wrong to church hop according to the pastor. If you pledged as a member do you have to keep that pledge? What if you didnt?

What it theres an issue with a church member or a teaching, or the pastor or preachers preach correct doctrine but dont actually practise what they preach?

Who really wants to stay where they not wanted and dont belong?

Any believer who scripturally understands the purpose of church will first of all ask the Father where He wants me to serve. When that is settled, you'll support the pastor's vision and become active in the church to function in the gifts God has placed within in each of us. I Cor 12 and Rm 12 gives extensive details on giftings, administrations, and need for one another. Staying in a local fellowship forever has guidelines for its justification - primarily if the pastor is feeding the flock. This issue is the major reason of much unsettling in today's churches - the hired shepherd is fleecing the sheep instead of feeding the sheep. Pastors manage to remain in their pulpits, spewing ignorance and misleading statements against God, only because the naive and gullible people continue to grant them authority to stay. The over-all church today has acceptance blatant lies against God because they also are scripturally ignorant.

When an issue with a church member of a teaching rises above their comfort level, they back-bite between themselves instead of going to the pastor or individual to confront the issue. Pastors often make keeping peace the priority instead of acting as a moderator to make a decision, thereby displaying weak leadership. I'm all for correct doctrine, but to find fault with the pastor for his behavior contrary to his teaching has to be sorted out - scripturally. None of us can live this Christian life perfectly and mercy within scriptural guidelines in the Bible should be extended.

Pledging or non-pledging membership is only as effective as the spiritual growth level of the leadership and the believers. Sadly today, commitment is becoming a foreign word in our culture.

Staying where you aren't permitted to function in your gifting should be the only reason to leave a fellowship, other than God is promoting you to another level of leadership within the body of Christ. To leave because you don't like the coffee or donuts, or don't like the color of carpet is carnality gone to seed.

 

[Larry Wilgus]

I don't know if you'd call me a "hopper", but I have been a member of at least 5 churches over the past 19 years. For me, doctrine is king. If a church is clearly teaching/practicing against what the Bible teaches I won't darken its doorstep. Or if I'm already in and then find that out, then I'll leave.

Of course, the more you hop the less likely it is that you'll form deep relationships with anyone in a church, but maybe that's not high on your priority list. I want to form relationships, but not at the expense of sound doctrine. Also, if you don't feel welcome after giving it an honest chance (some churches are cliquish) then you probably are smart to take your business elsewhere.

Doctrine is the key, but serving is next in line. 1 Cor 12 and Rm 12 give extensive details on our individual giftings that should be functioning in the local fellowship. Feeling welcome is relative, and most of that is reciprocated upon the friendliness of the individual. Asking God where He wants me to be feed and serve is the priority.

 

[Larry Wilgus]

Been a christian 5 years..regularly attended 2. Have visited probably a dozen different ones.

I dont know if thats good or bad but pastor said something in his sermon disparaging ' 'butterfly christians' but you cant blame them for wanting to spread their wings and fly. At least we not fat caterpiller christians eating all day and not doing anything but eat.

'Butterfly Christians' continue to fly when pastors aren't feeding the sheep. Most pastors have a shallow understanding of scripture. They manage to remain in their pulpits, spewing ignorance and misleading statements about God, only because the naive and gullible people continue to grant them the authority to stay. We have a scriptural epidemic of lies against God spreading across our land, and no one rises up to confront false doctrines. Most of the church has no idea of our assignment and continually go back to church to get God off of their backs. This is tragic!

 

[Inkfingers]

like go from one church to another. Say theres several different congreagations in your area. You want to try them all. How will you know if you dont try?
Or are you just meant to always stay in one church forever.

Or is it only wrong to church hop according to the pastor. If you pledged as a member do you have to keep that pledge? What if you didnt?

What it theres an issue with a church member or a teaching, or the pastor or preachers preach correct doctrine but dont actually practise what they preach?

Who really wants to stay where they not wanted and dont belong?

It might seem that I'm about to be pedantic (someone on the internet being pedantic? gosh surely not!) but I truly am not.

You are not church hopping, there is only one church. You are congregation hopping, looking for one (and a preacher) that best fits your understanding - and there is nothing wrong with that unless done in a fickle manner.

 

[Goodbook]

Coffee or donuts lol. Im not that shallow, or a policeman.

The person has been confronted and it turns out he didnt listen, so the next is to take two and three, and if they still dont listen then tell it to the church.

I think the worse thing for anyone to do is to grieve the holy spirit because when they do that theres no way you can fellowship with them.

 

[Vicomte13]

like go from one church to another. Say theres several different congreagations in your area. You want to try them all. How will you know if you dont try?
Or are you just meant to always stay in one church forever.

Or is it only wrong to church hop according to the pastor. If you pledged as a member do you have to keep that pledge? What if you didnt?

What it theres an issue with a church member or a teaching, or the pastor or preachers preach correct doctrine but dont actually practise what they preach?

Who really wants to stay where they not wanted and dont belong?

You know how I have to answer this, right?
Still, if you find one parish to be better for you than another, then attend Mass in the parish that is more appealing to you. If you've just gotta have Latin, there's always one parish somewhere in the diocese that does the Latin Mass, so go there (you may have to drive a far piece to get to it)

 

[Vicomte13]

Some churches only allow members to vote or have other governing rights

What a concept! Voting and "Governing rights" in CHURCH!