It’s A Choice!

Recently, I had to ask a volunteer ministry leader to step down from their leader position because they posted online that they did not agree with the vision of the church we serve in. It was not a one time instance and in fact, had been the position of this person for some time. I was not surprised considering every time we met, he questioned the church’s direction on just about everything. He’s on board with a different kind of church and really… that’s ok!

The problem I have is that this person CHOSE to go to the church and made the choice to want to be a leader in the church despite the fact that they were not on board with the vision and direction of the church. Being a very capable leader was what made this hard for me since, now I’m having to take on the day to day operations of this ministry and it’s hurting my ability to lead all of the ministries I oversee collectively.

Now, with this said, I think it’s funny that in America we all have a choice to attend the church that fits our preferred style. The amazing thing is that some countries, there isn’t that many church choices to choose from, if any. We’re pretty spoiled here in the good ol’ USA. The other amazing thing is that so many people think that the church was made for them and that until they find the one that makes them happy, they won’t be. They will criticize and complain about the one they are in without knowing they shouldn’t.

Oh, I get that there is such a thing as bad leadership, lack luster worship and low emphasis on the next generation, that happens in churches all over. Those churches are dying because they have lost their passion for the Gospel. They’ve become inward and misguided in vision and direction. When that happens, then I think there is probably a case for discontent and perhaps an honest conversation with the leadership to understand their vision. If they don’t see a problem with mediocrity or worse they don’t care then that’s probably a good reason to seek worshiping somewhere else. If however, your church is open to change or improvement and you have a passion to see it change, then if you have that burden, turn it into a plan and be part of the solution.

If however, your church is growing and people are coming to faith in Jesus on a regular basis and then you decide to come with an alternative way to do ministry, my advice to you is “to not to”, to quote Mater from the Cars movie. If you don’t like the way the church is growing or you don’t like the preaching style, then my suggestion would be to either CHOOSE to be on board with what God is doing there at that church or CHOOSE to be a part of another church. Go find a church that you can attend, serve and give at and feel good that you are still part of the body. Be part of what you believe is right. After all the church is not a building we go to but a movement we CHOOSE to be a part of. “Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many” – 1 Corinthians 12:14.

Brian