Why I Left The Church Of Christ: Several factors, including contentious teachings and scandal-plagued leadership, have contributed to a steady exodus of members from the Church of Christ. Some have even left due to personal issues, such as a failed marriage.
Since leaving the church has always been a personal choice, any of these explanations make sense. The influence of science in the decline of the Christian church cannot be overstated.
In this post, I will explain why Christians abandon the church of Christ. Join me on this journey to explore what the Bible says about the church of Christ.
Why I Left The Church Of Christ
Various causes have been given as the inspiration for their choice to quit the church of Christ. Some reasons are broad and have persuaded vast masses to leave the church, while others are specific and have only influenced individuals.
The following are some of the reasons why people left the Church of Christ:
- The misunderstanding of the term ‘church.’
- The attitude of Elders and Preachers,
- Differences of opinion,
- Worship pattern – (Worship items),
- Considering Christianity as a religion
- Hostility among members
- False Doctrines
- Science
- Relocation and change of leadership
- Scandals in Churches
The misunderstanding of the term ‘church.’
The church is not a physical structure, despite how some people today refer to it. People frequently said, “I’m going to church,” “our church is located 1 mile downstreet,” etc.
There is no truth to any of these. Even after being taught the truth, some converts to the Church of Christ continue to refer to the assembly place as the “church building,” but most Christians who have joined the Church of Christ do not.
Some people, however, “ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7), continue to refer to the church as a building, leading many new believers to incorrectly conclude that the Church of Christ holds a particular biblical position regarding the word “church,” even after they have discovered, through their study, that the church is not a building.
The attitude of Elders and Preachers
The attitudes of the appointed elders and preachers in those numerous congregations have driven away a sizeable portion of the church’s membership.
Some of the church’s leaders and ministers have lost sight of the mission for which they were chosen. They abandoned Jesus Christ’s and His church’s interests and began serving themselves (Acts 20:28).
These views are not representative of Christians generally. These are the faults of each party. A person should not abandon the Church of Christ because of these mistakes.
It is your responsibility as a member of that church to join with other faithful members to deal with the situation and chastise such elders and preachers for their misconducts in the church, just as Paul and other Christians in the first century did – Galatians 6:1-2, Galatians 2:11-14.
Differences of opinion
Some of those who have left the Christian church do so because of the beliefs of individual members. These groups may include some of the church’s most influential members and leaders. Their views haven’t changed much in a long time.
However, your spiritual insight may reveal that their opinion does not contradict biblical principles. Because this view is incompatible with their own, they must abandon the Christian faith.
These folks don’t seem to realize that the Bible commands them to “come to an understanding with a brother or sister in the faith concerning the matters at hand” (Ephesians 3:18); if they can’t, they should strive to “admonish and restore the wayward soul with the spirit of meekness” (Galatians 6:1).
Worship pattern – (Worship items)
The Bible does not explicitly state the worship pattern for Christians (Items of Worship). However, the demand to worship is unequivocal.
According to the Bible, God desires that we worship Him truthfully and in spirit. The first-century Christians gathered to worship – Acts 2:42:
- Studying God’s Word – Apostle’s Doctrine
- Having communion with God and with one another
- Breaking of Bread – Participation in the Lord’s Supper
- Praying Always
According to Acts 20:7, the disciples gathered to eat bread on Sunday (the first day of the week), and Paul exalted them to stand firm in the faith.
As a result, below is the sequence of the elements of Worship:
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-30, Matthew 26:26-27, Lord’s Supper
- 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Giving
- Matthew 28:18-20, Teaching
- Sermons based on 1 Thessalonians 5:11-19.
There is no set order for announcements, etc. Anyone can come in first or last place. In this case, the only thing that matters is that everything is done in spirit and truth – John 4:23-24.
So, once you fully comprehend that the things of worship were all done by early Christians and are ordered to be observed by Christians today, you won’t be concerned with the sequence – which comes first or last. And this will not lead you to a hasty decision that leads you to abandon the church of Christ.
Considering Christianity as a religion
Christianity is not a religion but a way of life for those who choose to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Christians were given their first name in Antioch because people saw them imitating Jesus’ deeds (Acts 11:26).
So, instead of thinking of Christianity as a religion, think of it as a way of life. Maintain your membership in the body of Christ by continuing to follow Jesus’ example in your daily life.
Hostility among members
Recent events have wounded some members of the Body of Christ. The church welcomes all kinds of people since it is an “assembly of believers in Christ.”
The inherent fallibility of human beings has contributed to tensions between some church members. Some churchgoers have been affected by disagreements in the praise and worship teams and by comments made by others.
False Doctrines
Some people have lost hope and left the Christian faith because of false and misleading teachings. Most of them say things started fine, but over time, they’ve seen the ideas shift in a way that’s contrary to what they learned in the Bible. Jesus foretold the dangers of following false teachers and their erroneous teachings.
People who have shown themselves to be conservative and watchful regarding the Gospel of Christ left the church as soon as they recognized it was being altered.
Since God cautions against mindlessly following the false teachers and the consequences of doing so, this is a valid reason why they left the church. They abandoned Christ’s church rather than follow its false teachings to their destruction.
Science
Science has also had a big influence in driving individuals away from the Christian religion. Information that opposes the teachings of the Bible is widely disseminated, with some of it being taught in schools. Evolutionary theories that attempt to refute the doctrine of creation have sparked debate among believers.
Some people have abandoned the creation theory in favor of scientific explanations. This probing and doubting have functioned as a catalyst in the death of believers’ faith, with some believing that evolution theories make more sense than creative ones.
Some members have left the Church of Christ because they feel more knowledgeable, particularly after being exposed to scientific theories.
Relocation and change of leadership
Some allegedly departed the Church of Christ after being forced to relocate due to unavoidable circumstances such as a job move. When they moved to these new regions, they could not find similar churches, so they adjusted to their new lifestyle without visiting the church.
A favorite pastor or church leader leaving a specific congregation has also contributed significantly to people leaving the church. Some congregations claim to understand specific ministers of the word better. When certain ministers are transferred, some parishioners lose the incentive to attend the church and leave the church of Christ.
We have additional reasons than the ones mentioned above for why some people have left the church of Christ. Some people have even blamed their misfortunes on religion. Individuals should not influence a person’s decision to leave the church. Because Jesus Christ owns the church, He should be consulted through prayer before departing.
Scandals in Churches
One of the biggest reasons Christians have left the church of Christ is the discovery of church leaders in scandals. These are the spiritual leaders who will guide the congregation on this trip. These leaders have always attempted to present a faultless life to Christ’s disciples, who have always respected them. These people have always attempted to replicate the lives of these leaders, hoping that it is the right way to live.
Unfortunately, some of these leaders have been living scandalous lives out of sight of their church members. These scandals have been revealed, leaving some church members bitter. Some have left the church of Christ because they could not handle the disgrace of their church leaders being revealed.
What the Bible Says About The Church Of Christ
- The church of Christ is built on the solid rock that even hell cannot prevail against. This is found in Matthew 16:18, which says, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
- As the day of Christ’s return draws near, the Bible also says the church of Christ should not stop gathering together and encouraging one another. Hebrew 10:25 has this information. “Not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the day approaching,” reads in this passage.
- Jesus Christ much loves the church of Christ, and Christ is considered its head, body, and Saviour, as stated in Ephesians 5:23-25, “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour.” Now, just as the church submits to Christ, wives also submit to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and died for her.”
Conclusion
As its patron, Jesus Christ can dictate how the Church of Christ will be administered. As we await the rapture, Christians are urged to be a cohesive church and to clasp each other’s hands. There is no such thing as a “Church of Christ” that watered down the teachings of Jesus.
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