Switching Churches

Below are my thoughts in red to the LifeWay research.

Here are the top ten reasons LifeWay Research found why people switch churches:

 
1. The church was not helping me to develop spiritually. (28%)  Not the church’s responsibility but is resolved in small groups.  Growing larger and smaller at the same time keeps people around for more than seven years.
2. I did not feel engaged or involved in meaningful church work (20%)  Maybe the church does not communicate opportunities to be involved.  People get involved with things they become comfortable and learn not to do not fear the work in the church.  Commit to everything else but the work of the Lord.
3. Church members were judgmental of others (18%)  We are all sinners and fail each day.  Focus on the Lord and not on people to find ways to help others understand and love people where they are today in life.  We have not walked in their shoes so when point at others you have three fingers pointing back at you.  Try it.
4. Pastor was not a good preacher (16%)  Pastor’s dynamics for presenting the message is known at one month as it is in six years.
5. Too many changes (16%)  Excuse - since every day of our lives we encounter change but this excuse is just that an excuse.
6. Members seemed hypocritical (15%)  See # 3
7. Church didn’t seem to be a place where God was at work (14%)  Seeing life change is evidence of God at Work.  Having one child giving their life to the Lord is important but not the call of the church as commanded in Matthew. 
8. Church was run by a clique that discouraged involvement (14%)  This happens more than we like because it is a slippery slope that usually takes seven years to develop and mature.
9. Pastor was judgmental of others (14%)  Pastors can “play” to the big givers and stay away from others then in small groups talk down other churches. Members, and pastors.
10. Pastor seemed hypocritical (13%) As a youth I heard the singing group, “Happy Goodmans” and helped them break down after the show.  They had a great testimonial but as I was loading equipment in the bus one of them was smoking a cigarette and dropped a box on his toe. (No correlation)  He let out with a string of curse words and everything he had said on stage was gone.  It is a shame but pastors can be caught up in the same situation of not living what the preach. 

Don't look for an excuse to move from one church but evaluate if the church where you are serving is meeting the vision of the church which brought you to a local church in the first place.  The vision should be to reach the lost and not just be a social setting to show off your outfits.

Jump in to the cause or find a place where the reasons for leaving do not creep in.  Leave because you are being called to do more for the Lord so you can be blessed by the departing church and experience the vision found in Matthew 28.