When to Leave Your Church
June 23rd, 2008
(By John MacArthur)
Leaving a church is not something that should be done lightly. Too many people abandon churches for petty reasons. Disagreements over simple matters of preference are never a good reason to withdraw from a sound, Bible-believing church. Christians are commanded to respect, honor, and obey those whom God has placed in positions of leadership in the church (Heb.13:7, 17). However, there are times when it becomes necessary to leave a church for the sake of one’s own conscience, or out of a duty to obey God rather than men. Such circumstances would include:
If heresy on some fundamental truth is being taught from the pulpit (Gal. 1:7-9).
If the leaders of the church tolerate seriously errant doctrine from any who are given teaching authority in the fellowship (Rom. 16:17).
If the church is characterized by a wanton disregard for Scripture, such as a refusal to discipline members who are sinning blatantly (1 Cor. 5:1-7).
If unholy living is tolerated in the church (1 Cor. 5:9-11).
If the church is seriously out of step with the biblical pattern for the church (2 Thess. 3:6, 14).
If the church is marked by gross hypocrisy, giving lip service to biblical Christianity but refusing to acknowledge its true power (2 Tim. 3:5).
This is not to suggest that these are the only circumstances under which people are permitted to leave a church. There is certainly nothing wrong with moving one’s membership just because another church offers better teaching or more opportunities for growth and service. But those who transfer their membership for such reasons ought to take extreme care not to sow discord or division in the church they are leaving. And such moves ought to be made sparingly. Membership in a church is a commitment that ought to be taken seriously.
We have left two churches. The first one, because it changed from a Bible preaching church to a purpose driven church and the second because a very new pastor found fault with several strong, Bible-believing Christians in the church and took radical action against them. It was difficult both times. Now we are too cautious to become official “members” of the church we’re attending in case the new minister (when they get one) has fallen into apostasy.
It is great to see a leader say that one should be careful about leaving a church. I get so tired of Christians taking a ho-hum attitude toward church membership. I must respectfully disagree however, with the last paragraph. I believe the teaching of scripture is that God sovereignly places us in The Church and that that means he also sovereignly places us in A church. To leave that assembly because I like another preacher or another place is more convenient is to advocate that the local church is all about my needs and desires! I am a little shocked that Dr. MacArthur takes this position. I think his past writings tend much more toward the view that our purpose as members of the body is to worship and uplift the Name of God and to minister to each other. I just don’t see how I can have that kind of focus but then casually leave my church for another for some selfish reason.
God puts us into a local body and the picture is of a marriage. The only cause for me divorce myself from a local body (apart from obvious things like moving away!) for another local body is to be able to point to one of the scriptural problems listed in this article.
I have to also respectfully disagree with Dr. MacArthur on moving membership to a church with better teaching or more opportunities for growth. This creates a competitive spirit among local churches that is a deterrent to the gospel and undermines effective ministry. I see this in my own community and it saddens me. Rather than being focused on reaching the lost, we’re more focused on wooing and retaining the saved. Dissatisfaction in teaching and opportunity should be a catalyst to promote growth within a church, not an excuse to head for the door. Stay in your church and help encourage and initiate change. Don’t discourage your pastor and elders by checking out.
I am in a deeply biblical church, but I can still use this article to examine myself within the context of the local church. I see it as a warning to make sure I (Richard) do not contribute any of these qualities to our local body.
[JA] If heresy on some fundamental truth is being taught from the pulpit (Gal. 1:7-9).
[Am I promoting any idea that is contrary to the truth of essential doctrines?]
[JA] If the leaders of the church tolerate seriously errant doctrine from any who are given teaching authority in the fellowship (Rom. 16:17).
[Do I approve of — even tacitly — the grossly false and harmful teachings of a fellow believer, allowing them to infect others?]
[JA] If the church is characterized by a wanton disregard for Scripture, such as a refusal to discipline members who are sinning blatantly (1 Cor. 5:1-7).
[Do I stick as close to Scripture as possible, acknowledge and/or defer to other mature believers, and sincerely struggle with the correct application of God’s Word? Do/Will I submit humbly to my spiritual leaders should I require correction?]
[JA] If unholy living is tolerated in the church (1 Cor. 5:9-11).
[Do I live/speak in a way that would bring shame or even ambivalence to Jesus Christ? to His body at my church? Do I live above reproach, even if my choices are not necessarily sinful, so that I do not become a hindrance to others?]
[JA] If the church is seriously out of step with the biblical pattern for the church (2 Thess. 3:6, 14).
[Do I support the efforts of my church to follow the pattern of biblical teaching when I talk with others and with the way I live and breathe in the life of the church? Do I humbly submit to these practices even when no one is looking?]
[JA] If the church is marked by gross hypocrisy, giving lip service to biblical Christianity but refusing to acknowledge its true power (2 Tim. 3:5).
[Do I believe all the right things yet do none of them? Do I ignore any of the things I know is right? Am I partially obedient (and thus, completely disobedient)?]
May God grant me (or others around me) the ability to see where I fail and grant me repentance for correction.
John MacArthur writes: “There is certainly nothing wrong with moving one’s membership just because another church offers better teaching or more opportunities for growth and service.”
I’m also as suprized as Jon Bell at this statent by Dr. MacArthur and I strongly disagree with him. I pastor a small church, yet I believe that my teaching is as biblically sound, if not as eloquent as Dr. MacArthur’s. The “opportunities for growth and service” in our little church are certainly fewer, but not inadequate. And there is nothing preventing a Christian in my church from beginning some new ministry if God so directs them.
This notion that believers are justified in leaving one church merely because they feel the teaching or ministry program is “better” in another church is pretty discouraging, especially coming from someone I respect and love as much as John MacArthur. We may as well close down the smaller churches and all of us who are not as gifted as Dr. MacArthur (or any of the other fine teachers on the public airwaves) ought to find some other occupation.
Now, perhaps Dr. MacArthur didn’t state his views with enough care. Or perhaps I misunderstand him. I’m open to correction or clarification if you can provide it.
With Respect,
Steve Lamm
I have to agree with Steve Lamm in the comments above. Leaving a church because the preaching/teaching is unbiblical is one thing; leaving the because the teaching is inferior is a wholly other matter. In this day and age when you can get literally dozens of great teaching a week through podcasts etc., when you can get the equivalent of a seminary education through Itunes, the need to move to another church for better teaching is virtually negated.
Let’s call a spade a spade. While it may be true that many members leave a church in cavalier fashion, can they really be blamed when it is pastors, of all people, who set the trend when they switch churches with the fickleness of a junior high school crush? Most pastors (average term = 4 years) fail to demonstrate the kind of sacrificial faithfulness we might hope to expect, and instead yield to the calling of a higher salary and more influence in a more visible church.
I wonder, too, what Dr. MacArthur (or anyone else) would say about “When to Stay at Your Church.” Is there a point at which a biblical believer MUST leave? I would say that this is as much an agonizing decision as when to leave for many people.
I grew up in a church which has manifested some subtle yet serious problems in the last few years. I left a couple of years before many of the “old families” in the church finally began to leave. It has plagued my conscience for quite some time as I’ve seen I had some bitterness and contempt in my heart when I left, and even now as I’ve worked through that, I wonder if I had stayed I would have been able to make a difference by ministering to those people I cared about, even if I felt it was “too late” for the leadership. I don’t know and won’t ever know. But even though I didn’t stay, it hurts when I see Christian abandon ship at the first signs of “heresy” without even attempting to snatch those they can out of the fire (so to speak).
I see this statement as just the opposite. I can see leaving a larger church for a smaller one becuase there is usually more room for “service” because the workers are few. Through this is see a greater chance for spiritual growth and fellowship. Often times the smaller congregations have better teaching but have less members because the preacher is not an “ear tickler”. I would certainly hope that one would move their membership from a watered down style church to a more biblically solid church because that church “offers better teaching”.
Steve
“I pastor a small church, yet I believe that my teaching is as biblically sound, if not as eloquent as Dr. MacArthur’s. The “opportunities for growth and service” in our little church are certainly fewer, but not inadequate.”
Then Steve if this is the truth about your church, then you do not need to worry about people leaving for another church. And I am sure John would agree. (I don’t claim to speak for him, but it would be my answer.
On the other hand, if a person who desires to learn and serve, can not find that in a small church or a larger church, needs to find another church where he can.
If a person desires to serve and for reasons that are not biblical are used to stop him or use him in his spiritual giftedness, then its time to EXIT.
We may as well close down the smaller churches and all of us who are not as gifted as Dr. MacArthur (or any of the other fine teachers on the public airwaves) ought to find some other occupation.
I don’t mean to be hurtful, but my heartfelt opinion is “I agree.” For some reason it hurts me when I drive through a five mile stretch of road and see half a dozen or more small churches, many of the same denomination.
I always imagine them (extrapolating from my personal experience in the small churches of my youth) full of stubborn and prideful people who refuse to change or bend–not clinging to the Bible or Doctrine, but clinging to doing things “just so.” I think I’ve see more of the Satanic ideal–better to be captain of a sinking ship that ride in one that’s going to make it–in churches that in anything in the world.
I once heard that D. L. Moody was asked what his greatest contribution in life was and that he replied, “I talked 100 young men out of becoming preachers.” I believe that a street sweeper who sweeps streets well is more glorifying to God and more useful to the Kingdom than a preacher who preaches poorly.
No disrespect but this sounds really bad:
” There is certainly nothing wrong with moving one’s membership just because another church offers better teaching or more opportunities for growth and service.”
Really bad. We as the Body of Christ has somehow raised “teaching” (which is monologuistic and unbiblical) as a priority. Teach yourself. It isn’t hard to pick up a book on bible study methods and get a conocordance and even a lexicon. What if a wife left her husband because he was teaching her good enough in the scriptures? I don’t get with this one. We have become spectators while someone comes and commentates on the bible for 45minutes to an hour and if we are entertained enough by “good teaching” we run to more gifted expositor. Shame, shame, shame.
You guys are quoting John M. at the end of this article but forget that he began the article by saying “Too many people abandon churches for petty reasons.”
I think he needs to be given a chance to explain what he meant in the last paragraph as it harmonizes with the first.
I do however agree with your statements regarding the reasons for leaving a church. We actually covenant together for accountability and encouragement for membership in our church. Since I have covenanted with this group of people I need a pretty strong reason to break that covenant. In other words, they would have to break it with me first by violating the scriptures in some way.
There are better preachers in the area than the one at our church that preach the Gospel better but none who preach a better Gospel. I do not go to church to be entertained but to worship my Lord with likeminded believers and to be cleansed, convicted, encouraged, and strengthened.
This is a very good reminder for me. Thank you for posting it.
Jeff
The context of the aforementioned Sentence (for example, the following sentence begins with the word “But”) should be considered before jumping to the conclusion that Dr. MacArthur has suddenly gone over to the dark side.
It seems to me that most of us are missing the point here. Dr. MacArthur said, “There is certainly nothing wrong with moving one’s membership just because another church offers better teaching or more opportunities for growth and service.” There IS nothing wrong with that from a biblical perspective. But most of the reactions are coming from the perspective that someone might leave “my church” to go to another church. If we are truly focused on the kingdom of heaven, however, “my church” loses its significance. What we should consider most important is that people find a local church where they can best utilize their Spirit-given gifts and talents in service to the Lord Jesus Christ. Are we really so wrapped up in our own self-importance that we cannot rejoice when a believer finds a place they can joyfully and successfully serve even though it may not be in “my church?”
We also seem to have jumped to the conclusion that “better teaching” somehow relates entirely to quality. The complexity of the student/teacher relationship requires us to understand that no two teachers are going to present the same material alike, and no two students are going to learn alike. The “best” teacher is the one who can relate the material in such a way that the student can properly assimilate it. My teaching may or may not be “as biblically sound” as Dr. MacArthur’s, but this is not the point. I don’t need to compare my teaching and preaching to that of anyone else, and I am not jealous when a learner finds someone else to be the “best” teacher. That simply means that they relate to that teacher in such a way that they comprehend what is being taught.
I believe that “my church” is the best church in the world. But I have also come to understand that “my church” is not going to be THE church for everyone. If I am genuinely concerned about the growth and development of each individual, I have to be willing to recognize that I may not be the best teacher for them. I also may not be able to provide the opportunities for growth and service they need. If those opportunities exist in another church, I will gladly encourage them to become members there. After all, it has never been all about “me” and “my church.”
Thank you, John, for the post. It reminds us that we are not as important as we would like to believe we are.
I love you all in Christ,
Richard
There are almost no churches out there anymore that are ‘O.K.’ That is pathetic, but its the truth. The great falling away is happening and the apostasy of the church is also happening. IF you can find a decent God fearing truth preaching church out there today, you are very blessed! They are few and far inbetween. And, the tares have taken over.
Last year me and my wife left our church of 15 years. This has been one of the toughest decisions I had ever made. It really affects us very much, but it was affecting us more not making the decision.
Latin America has an explosion of prosperity gospel growing in our churches, not solid and biblical preaching from our teachers, and idolatry to our pastors.
I do not know how it is in the United States, but in some churches in the Dominican Republic (where I live), they see you as a sinner when you leave your church, but I believe it is very important in this time of apostasy and relativism that we are right now, that we look for a place where the truth of God is being teach shamelessly and the body of Christ is alive.
It was hard leaving our friends and family for 15 years.
Jeff,
I think you are correct. Dr. MacArthur’s main points are right on. He lists some good reasons for leaving a church. And I do think his main comments in the post should soften the impact of what he said in his closing comments which I took issue with.
Also, I don’t want my earlier comments to be misconstrued. I have HUGE respect and admiration for John MacArthur. He was my first pastor, and in my opinion, he is one of the finest Bible expositors out there today. He also has a big impact on my own preaching.
Lionel,
You write: “We as the Body of Christ has somehow raised “teaching” (which is monologuistic and unbiblical) as a priority.”
If you actually think that teaching the Bible is unbiblical, you need to spend some intense time studying the pastoral epistles. And, what exactly do you think Jesus was doing when He preached the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7? You think He was having a nice dialogue?
Adam,
If all you are doing is “extrapolating” and “imagining” from your own youthful experiences, then perhaps you should think twice before you imply that the pastors of the small churches you drive by are contributing to the “Satanic ideal” by sticking with their churches.
You know, my experience has been a bit different than yours. I know many fine pastors of small churches who study hard, preach good, biblical sermons, evangelize the lost, and minister to God’s people with effectiveness. I think God wants them to stay right where they are and continue to minister as they have.
I agree that “poor preaching” is indeed all too frequent. Most of the time, it has little to do with a man’s talent, and more to do with his lack of preparation and skills, both of which can be remedied by hard work.
I don’t think anyone on this thread has suggested that a believer must quietly endure poor preaching. The issue is should a believer leave his present church where the preaching is good, and the opportunities for ministry and growth are adequate, for a church where the preaching and ministry opportunities are better?
Charles,
I agree with most of what you say. But My personal experience has been that many believers do leave their churches for some pretty shallow reasons. Most of the time, it has little to do with their inability to find avenues of ministry, and more to do with their desire to find somthing a little more to their liking in some non-essential area (like music, or children’s programing, etc.).
This kind of fickleness on the part of believers really hinders the effectiveness of a small church where the ministry of an individual can have a greater impact.
Steve Lamm
I guess I’m in the minority here. I actually agree with Dr. MacArthur. Why should I stay and continue not growing if my pastor or church does not provide ways for me to grow?
I also think that many of you pastors are taking this too personally. It’s not as if people are leaving God…they are just leaving your local Church for another. Do you want fully commited members, or do you want apathetic ones?
As someone who lives in Cali, where church “shopping” has become a mandatory necessity here, I can relate to what Dr. MacArthur is saying.
Usually these articles are parsed out of a longer message or series so we should be careful about taking John to task on the last paragraph. However, with that being said, He did not encourage people to leave a church for better teaching etc., but that it was okay if they did, and I agree. It shouldn’t be taken lightly, but then I think that is what John is getting across in this piece.
Personally, I wish it was important to more people to have better teaching and opportunities for service (other than parking or greeting). If that was the case most of us who frequent this blog would probably have bigger churches and more people for us to disciple, edify, and train up in the things of God, as we are the ones who are more than likely concerned about providing good solid teaching for those the Lord has given us.
I served as an elder at a small mainline church and when I resigned, 4 other deacons resigned too. Issue? The role of women in church leadership.
I held a complementarian position and I was the only elder on the pastoral search committee for a senior pastor. A candidate was egalitarian and stated upfront in his communications to me that he supports women elders. I tacitly communicated to him that I could not vote for him if that was the case.
Long story short, this issue split up the church. Influential lay people with $$ in our mainline liberal church were and remain egalitarians, and their gossiping, back-biting, whispering, rumor-mongering, false accusations bred so much divisiveness and disunity that it was obvious that God was calling us to a much more spiritually healthy church. And we are blessed that we did leave. And I am very thankful that God (severely) tested me and gave me the opportunity to serve for a season in a mainline liberal church.
I agree with John that it isn’t wrong to leave for greater ability to serve elsewhere. Too many church ministries are micromanaged bureaucracies where creativity and individual gifts are discouraged. I’ve experienced a number of them. If you aren’t allowed to minister with the gifts God gives you, then finding a situation that allows it is fine. This can all happen in a church where the doctrine and preaching are good.
Hey Steve,
You said:
“If you actually think that teaching the Bible is unbiblical, you need to spend some intense time studying the pastoral epistles. And, what exactly do you think Jesus was doing when He preached the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7? You think He was having a nice dialogue?”
1. Who said teaching the bible was unbiblical?
2. Show me where the bible talks about pastoral epistles
3. Jesus sermon on the mount is one act in all of His teaching. How many times did He dialogue should be the question. Ding, Ding, Ding. A lot more than He monologued.
Now let me pose some questions.
1. How was the Jewish synagoue set up for teaching? One man preaching a 45 minute sermon?
2. How was the teaching set up in Corinth? We find that in 1 Corinthians 14
3. How about Acts 20 when Paul is “preaching” to those at Troas?
4. When exactly in Church history did the monologue begin? When “laymen” (a non-biblical term) became spectators and someone talked to them for an hour.
5. Finally when is it teaching when you can’t interact? How many classes have you been to when someone speaks to you for a semester with no interaction? But we go to “church” and do this for 50 years or so! For 45 minutes to one hour someone “exposits” the text while you listen with no chance of any interaction. Can you show me this style of teaching in the Bible besides the sermon on the mount? The answer is no.
So don’t be so quick to say I don’t think teaching the bible is biblical. I actually do believe TEACHING the bible is biblical but ain’t much teaching going on, just speeches! No different than a daily inarguration speech.
Hi pastor John,
I have a question I am planning to leave the church I attending now because my youth pastor …. is not living by what he teaches for example I tell that something that he thinks about me is not true anylonger was but not anymore from the past. I mean like 5 years already and I just dont know how to prove it to him I tell him over and over again and he does not listen he is just so stuborn. Well any ways he thought us not to live by the past and he himself does this is not the only things there is a lot more so anyway he said that I cant minister at my church because of what had happened from the past envolving him he thinks that whatever I do I do it to please him and to show of type of thing but deep inside of me I know the reason as to why I do what I do and for what. I cant do anything at all at my church. I’m a believer for about 2 years now.
Is this a christian approach to this issue?
Please answer ASAP!!!!!!!
Thanks for the points of when to leave. We left a church last year for the second reason stated. The church allowed a teacher to teach wrongly the doctrine of sanctification which was a big one for us. We had served in that church faithfully for 10 years, as deacons, as Bible teachers, we had and been established with the people and because we disagreed that they kept this man teaching other men wrongly the pastor asked us to leave? wow …there are times when you really need to go…and God moves you and its clear you need to go. We saw His hands in that and His Sovereign will for us to move. We have learned so much about sanctification and the walk of obedience from this new pulpit and church that we realized we were so stagnat at the other church just sitting on jusification preaching…the church was complacent. I would rather move on and change from the heart then to sit in complacency. The Lord is faithful to show us when its time to move…we are ever grateful that He has protected us so much over the years and that He has kept us in His Word, and has continue to grow us and change us in spite of stagnat teaching and poor doctrinal teaching.
Quest,
I appreciate your inquiry. I am by no means John MacArthur or even Jesse or Nate, but if you’d like, I’d be willing to share what I think is a biblical perspective on the issue. I’m afraid, though, that if I were to do that I’d need a bit more information about the issue at hand. If you’re interested, you can email me at mriccardi23[at]yahoo[dot]com. If not, don’t worry about it at all.
MIKE
Qwest,
I would endcourage you, before leaving your church, to sit down with the pastor or another elder and talk to him about it. Ask him what he thinks you should do. He may agree that leaving would be good, or he may talk to the youth pastor for you, or he may challenge you to examine your thinking. But, becasue he is in your church, and knows both you and the youth pastor, he would be in a much better position to give input.
Thanks,
Jesse
Thanks for answering I have talked with my senior pastor but its useless he is on youth pastors side this is what he told me:
I have talked with my senior pastor about this issue but briefly not all details and it looks like he does not listen to me I tell him and he is on the youth pastors side he told me to not worry or think about what he thinks but to worry about what God thinks of me well with that statement yeah I of course I agreed but it does not end here I mean its been way to long I have made lots of mistakes before I became a believer and I know for sure that i’m not the only one everyone has but then they learn from them and ask God to forgive I know for sure that God has forgives and I know that he forgave me but when I have apologized to my youth pastor it does not look like he forgave me even though he said that he did and that this issue has never bothered him but why doe he bring it up them and not letting me minister at my church choir,nursery,give out brochures? i’m so lost and confused need help!!!! as to what I should do.
We left our church last December because the Sunday School teacher start introducing secular/pop music to the kids, songs that doesn’t not give praise to God. The reason I got from the teacher is that, “Gone were the days when we sing Hymns, because the kids will start leaving the church, we must sing songs that can attract them to church.” Are we going to that extent of not praising God in the songs we sing? I did confront the teacher and even brought this case to the pastor.
To my disappointment, I was asked not to cause division in the Church and am encouraged to have unity in the Sunday school. I think we have missed the most important element of going to church which is to glorify God and not to satisfied man.
I really hope the church should influence the world and not letting the world influence the church. We are called to be the salt of the world, a preserve substance that cause a different.
Leaving a church is never easy especially with 3 kids, bidding farewell making new friends is already a struggle for us. I am very grateful to God for this experience which really cause our family to stay together and wait upon His grace and guidance.
I appreciate what MacArthur has to say about leaving a church that has fallen into error. In an elder-ruled church, that’s the only alternative. It’s worth noting, though, that in a congregationally governed church, there’s also the option of removing the leaders if they have fallen into deep and unrepentant error.
I have been going to a rural church in the midst of mostly
very weak churches in the area.Even so our church has dropped wednesday and sunday night services for a few Bible study groups and “cell groups” which replace sunday night church totally. these can be led by virtually anyone on many themes, Book study,mucic,games,as well as Bible.and they offer leader training.No pastoral epistles requirements are required as far as I have heard, even though as I see it these meetings at rather obscure and varied locals compared to the Church are Replacing Church Assembly.
Wednesday night the entire church is used for a great childrens program but Can’t we have both Church and the program there is enough room.I do go to sunday school and lisen to John MacArthur and Alistair Begg from time to time through the week.But I do not get the encouragement at church I have at times past when my churches I have attended had a full program..Also our preaching is topical to a large degree with lots of storys and jokes to my way of thinking.Please Help.I live in Ohio and would love to have the Lord move me to Pastor Begg’s church.Prayers welcome.
For a long time I couldn’t understand why Heb. 13:17 stood
out alone as an unconditional command to submit to church
leaders leadership when there were so many other passages
that warn believers of false leadership. In reading the
chapter more carefully, however, I discovered that verse 17
is a command to submit to civil authorities. Verses 7-9 of
the same chapter (Heb. 13) describe how one ought to regard
church leaders. When I read Rom. 13 I get the idea that the
civil authorities will behave according to the faithfulness
of the Christians that they govern. Submission to civil
authorities involves determining from their behaviour whether the Christians under their governace are regarding God’s word as they ought and responding accordingly.
The way I see it, Christian churches which have leaders that
place the focus on their own authority are already in deep
trouble. The job of church leadership is to help people
receive instuction directly from the Lord. If I perceive
that church leaders are attempting to discourage me from
determining the truth of a matter myself, or that they are
trying to diqualify me from understanding scripture, then I leave.