When to Church Hop

Within the last year every member of my immediate family, including myself, has left a church to join a new one.  We each have a unique reason, but as I reflect I wonder what the Bible says about church hopping.

For starters, I left my church in Massachusetts to join one in Oregon.  The rest of my family members left a church only to join a different one in the same town.  Naturally I assume that I had the best reason.  But my hunch is that Scripture gives guidance and a healthy rebuke to all those who trade flocks.

I searched for "Church Strife" in my Bible study guide, and I got a list of verses from 1 and 2 Corinthians.  Apparently, the church in Corinth was a mess.  They had the whole gamut of problems starting with competing allegiences to mega-church leaders like Apollos and Cephas.  The problems ranged from petty arguments to people sleeping with their parents.  If you were a member of that church would you have left?

Of course there is no record in the Bible of anyone switching churches for good reason or bad.  People just didn't do that in ancient Palestine (unless it is recorded outside the Bible).  In all cases Paul's pleas were for humility, unity, and perseverance.  As an apostle, he viewed all the Christian churches, even the defunct ones, as his responsibilty.  He urged them to remember that they are "mere men" (1 Cor 3:3), and for those who think they are wise to become "fools" (1 Cor 3:18).  The point is that all problems can and should be worked out; just like in a marriage.

But times are different today than in the 1st century.  We are fortunate now to have more than one church in a town with many qualified pastors to lead us.  In the spirit of healthy competition, our churches are pressured to improve just by knowing that the church down the road has more comfortable seats.  So when one pastor preaches sermons that lean the wrong way, you have the freedom to go to the other pastor who preaches more in line with Scripture.  This serves to rebuke the inferior pastor while edifying the body of believers...or does it?

In the New Testament, there are cases of false teachers who were to be heartily rebuked (Tit 1:10-13).  But what about the teachers who were true believers led by the Holy Spirit, just a bit inexperienced and mistaken on occasion?  Turning to 1 & 2 Timothy is helpful in finding the answer.

The reason we have these two letters in the Bible is because Timothy needed them.  He was wonderfully gifted and anointed by God to lead the church and preach the gospel, but he was inexperienced and imperfect.  Paul loved Timothy as a son, but he kept close watch over him so he wouldn't mess up.  Paul parented Timothy in simple ways, like, "Stop drinking only water," (1 Tim 5:23) and instruction on how to rebuke an older man (1 Tim 5:1).  But the bottom line is that Timothy was in charge, and if he screwed up he screwed up.  There was no plan B.  Paul never told Timothy that if he failed the church would fall apart.  That is because the church can not fall apart (Matt 16:18).  If you think a church can fail, you are wrong. 

I've seen many churches trade members with others, including my own.  In every case the reasons were avoidable but real.  I've witnessed church hopping because of adultery in the congregation, accusations of child molestation, frustration with the pastor, boredom, and lack of connection.  I've never seen anyone go to a church that was any better than the previous one.  More friendly or more entertaining, yes, but not better.  All churches are churches full of sinful Christians who lack wisdom.  The church as we know it is not the way God knows it.  He looks down and sees his children as one church divided by man-made differences.  It must seem so silly from his perspective to watch believers trade churches, passing each other on the road all the time.  There is no perfect church.

On the other hand, God leads us various places for various reasons.  Often there is a need in one church body that can be filled by a member of another church.  Missionaries do this all the time.  Are you a doctor with some free time?  Does your church need medical care?  If not, why not use your talents in a church that does--perhaps in Africa?

Other times, there is a partnership that needs to be formed, so God orchestrates transition of believers.  Maybe God has a ministry planned for you and someone in another church.  Maybe your future spouse is at another church.  Maybe there is a mentor for your child at another church. 

If you think God wants you to switch churches, you are most likely wrong.  But there are occasions, and I commend those who have the courage to leave their church family and go to another.  Just be sure your motives are selfless, loving, and humble.  If the leadership has been misled, you should pray for them and encourage them.  If their views have gotten so off base that you can't take it anymore, that is not a reason to leave.  Most likely, it is a test of your faith. 

Jesus is the head of our church; none other.  If you left your church for any other reason than to serve different members of the body (Php 2:3), you should repent.  If you are a pastor that welcomes church hoppers, you should keep a keen eye on who you are welcoming.

"...so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." - 1 Cor 1:10

As always, comments are encouraged and welcome!