When to Leave a Church

Many pastors will not give their people the Scriptural reasons for leaving a church due to the fact that they are afraid that some will leave. While this may be so, there ARE Scriptural reasons for leaving a church.


But before we list the reasons one should leave a church, let's first look at some frivolous reasons some choose to leave a church:


1. Personality Conflicts- This is no reason to leave a church. You should reconcile and serve God (Matthew 5:24).


2. Money Conflicts- Unless there is embezzlement, underhanded dealings that are not above board, or Scriptural grounds you should get over it. Remember it's not your money. It was given to the Lord through your local church.


3. Direction Conflicts- Unless the church is going a direction that is contrary to Biblical principle be careful about leaving. Be sure you disagreement is Biblically based.


4. Hurtful Conflicts- Many will leave a church because of hurt feelings. Someone once said, "The church is not a museum for Saints. It is a hospital for the hurting." I heard a great Pastor say "Hurting people hurt people". Everyone gets hurt, but we must deal with our hurt Biblically. You should not leave because of hurtful conflicts; you should resolve them and continue serving the Lord.


Now that we have dealt with the wrong reasons for leaving a church, let's look at the Scriptural reasons:


1. When the Congregation Dismisses You (1 Corinthians 5:1,2,9-13; Matthew 18:17)


2. When you are Displaced (Acts 8:14)


3. When your Calling Demands it (Acts 11:22-26)


4. When the Scriptures are Diluted (John 8:31-32; Romans 10:17)


5. When the Leadership is Disqualified (1 Timothy 3:1-13)


6. When Teaching is Discounted (Romans 16:17)


7. When Conduct is Disorderly (2 Thessalonians 3:6-14; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 14:40)



Leaving a church is not to be done lightly. It is to be done with prayer and ONLY AFTER you have spoken honestly with your pastor.


REMEMBER: You felt God's leading to join the congregation of which you are a part. A good question to ask yourself in this decision would be: Did God make a mistake when he led you to join a particular church (by the way if God led you to join, there is NO MISTAKE) or have things really changed? If the church is still scripturally standing, preaching, and practicing the same as when you joined it, then the problem may not be with the church; it may be with you!


I read a quote on twitter once which read, "Some folks who say they had a bad church experience actually were the bad church experience." Make sure that you are not the bad church experience!

Also remember that there are no perfect churches:

The Perfect Church

If you could find the perfect church,
Without one fault or smear,
For goodness sake don't join that church,
You'd spoil the atmophere.

But since no perfect church exists,
Where people never sin,
Let's cease to look for the perfect church,
And Love the one we're in!

Our responsibility as Christians is to join a Bible believing (FUNDAMENTAL INDEPENDENT BAPTIST) church and serve through it til Jesus calls us home either by the rapture or death. Let's not look for reasons to jump ship, but rather look for reasons to stay aboard.

Too many today are always looking for greener pastures. It's just sad when they find them over a septic tank!

May God bless you as you faithfully serve him in the local church of HIS (not your) choice.

Those Dreadful Italics

THOSE DREADFUL ITALICS
By an Unknown Pastor

 

Another objection frequently raised against the Authorized Version is that its translators added words. The critic will point to the italicized words in the King James Bible and the babe-in- Christ stares at them with a mixture of dread, embarrassment, and unbelief "To think the book I trusted has been toyed with," comes the thought of doubt, sown as skillfully as it was in Eden.

First, there are words in the Authorized Version which are not found in the Hebrew and Greek texts. In fact, there are over 773,670 of them. Apart from an occasional allelujah, cumi or Apollyon, none of the words in an English Bible are found in the scriptures of any Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic manuscripts.

Second, we have translations because languages are different. I'm not trying to be insulting, but we live in a generation that does not know how to think logically. Since languages are different one must use different words in one language to make the EXACT statement contained in another language. Failure to use the necessary words would result in an interpretation or a paraphrase, but not a translation.

For example: I go to Mexico for a visit. I forget my toothbrush. Needing one to maintain relationships 1 go down to the corner store. I ask for a "cepillo de dientes." I need three words in Spanish to say the very same thing which one word covers in English. I am accurately translating.

Whenever the translators of the Authorized Version met with such a situation, they put the words in italics. This consent to absolute honesty stands as one of the great arguments for the A.V. text and the integrity of its translators. All versions must make such "additions" in order to bring a manuscript from one language to another.

The producers of the new Bibles not only fail to identify such places in their work, but, by pointing scornfully to the italicized words in the A.V., imply that they did not use such methods. Naughty, naughty!

Drinking from the Cup

Jeremiah 25:1-28 Drinking from the Cup

Introduction:

In this passage of Scripture, Jeremiah is commanded by God to go and cause the people to drink from a cup. There are several cups from which you can drink from: Some of the cups we will be made to drink from while others we will desire to drink from.

I. The Cup of Wrath:

• Ps 75:8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.
  



• Isa 51:17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.
  



• Re 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
  



• Ps 11:6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
  
  
  
  

  
  

II. The Cup of Salvation:

• Ps 116:13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
  
  
  
  

  Thank God that Jesus Christ drank the cup of the wrath of God on the Cross.
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Mt 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
    

Mt 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Now I am not appointed to wrath!

• 1 Thess 5:
  9-11 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
  

III. The Cup of Sufferings

• Mt 20:22,23 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
  

This is the Fellowship of Sufferings

• Php 3:10
  



• Ro 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
  



• 2Co 1:5-7 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
  
  
  
  

  
  

IV. The Cup of Remembrance:

• 1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
  

V. The Cup of Blessing

• Ps 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
  

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

The Church Family

Ephesians 3:11-l5 The Church Family v. 15

Here in Ephesians chapter 3 we read of the family of God! Who is in this whole family? Only those who have been adopted into this specific family! Galatians 4:4-4 "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Thank God that the Lord Jesus Christ was sent to this earth and die on the cross that fallen man might be adopted into the family of God. There are two truths that we can learn from this adoption.



1. We are wanted

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2. We are Accepted

Eph 1:6 To the the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The O. T. would not accept the gentile into full fellowship but in Christ Jesus we are accepted into the fellowship of the family of God.

There is nothing in all the world that can compare with being in the family of God! I am glad that I am in. How about you! It is a blessed thing to be part of the family of God. Why?


I. We have Family Relationships

A. We have a Heavenly Father

Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Ro 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Php 4:20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1Th 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

2Th 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

1Ti 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.


B. We have Brothers and sisters in Christ

Joh 11:52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Ac 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.


II. We have Family Responsibilities
A. Responsibility of Love

1Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

Ro 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

B. Responsibility of Forgiveness

Mr 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
NOTE: Forbear means to endure/ to put up with

C. Responsibility of Mercy

Lu 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.


D. Responsibility of Unification

1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.


E. Responsibility of Prayer

Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

F. Responsibility of Encouragement

1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.


III. We have Family Resemblances (Romans 6:1-5)

NOTE: The Word likeness means "Resemblance".

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Ro 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.


IV. We have Family Resources (Romans 8:31, 32)

A. We have help from our Father

NOTE: As an individual and as a church!

Ps 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

Mt 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Ps 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

B. We have help from the Brethren

I John 3:16-18, "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

2Co 8:14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

James 2: 15, 16, " If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?"

Ac 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

V. We WILL HAVE a Family Reunion I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Abiding in Christ Weekday Devotional Time

Beginning this week we are posting an audio devotional time that lasts approximately 5 minutes daily. These were originally just for our church family, but some have requested that we post these online. Hopefully these devotions will help your walk with the Lord. Check it out @ our church website: www.salembaptistcinci.com or just click the title above.