Yesterday we say that “free agency” (members leaving) within “teams” (the church) is for the most part inevitable.\u00a0 As a pastor, it can cause great distress when people leave the church.\u00a0 Instantly your mind is flooded with the questions of why or did I do something, or countless other questions.\u00a0 However, I want to encourage churches this morning to see that sometimes “free agency” is not only inevitable, but that it can also be a good thing.<\/p>\n
Ephesians 4:16 says, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”\u00a0 Again we should notice that the body is fitly joined together.\u00a0 In other words it is not only assembled properly, but it is also held in place.\u00a0 How is that done?\u00a0 Well we find the answer in the end of verse 15 when Paul writes, “even Christ.”\u00a0 In other words it is Christ who has brought each person to that particular church.\u00a0 He did it to make the body closer to what He desires it to become.\u00a0 Therefore, we need to realize that sometimes God give a person a new assignment within the same church, but sometimes God moves them to a new location.\u00a0 This is where open communication between a pastor, leadership, and church members comes in.\u00a0 When someone leaves, we need to discuss why.\u00a0 Rather than judge their motives, we need to hear them out.\u00a0 If a person has left for an unbiblical reason, then we are to admonish them using God’s word (Mt. 18:15).\u00a0 To admonish means that we warn them mildly or we counsel them against their wrong practices.\u00a0 This is vastly different than judging them or telling them they are wrong.\u00a0 On the other side, if we speak with the person and they tell us that they have been praying about God’s leading in their life, and they sense He is leading them to a new ministry, and we see that they are not doing anything unbiblical then it is our job to pray for them and encourage them.\u00a0 As a pastor, it is always interesting that preachers encourage their people to get out of the pews and begin serving God, but when someone tells us that God is changing their assignment, we get very upset and tell them they are wrong.\u00a0 I understand the hurt of losing people and how others in the church can begin to question leadership when people leave.\u00a0 But if the person is leaving because God has told them to get out of their father’s house to a land He will show them (a reminder of God’s call to Abraham in Gen. 12), then who are we to tell them they are wrong.\u00a0 We can rejoice that if God removes one, then He already has another person in mind to bring to the church.\u00a0 That person may not do the same thing that those who left did, but consider it God supplying His church with what they need, when they need it!\u00a0 What it all comes down to is this, an exercise in faith.\u00a0 Do we trust God to provide for us personally as well as a church?\u00a0 God is undefeated since eternity past and the Bible says that He is going to win in eternity future.\u00a0 I think we can trust Him as our head coach and general manager to lead us in the right direction!<\/p>\n
By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Yesterday we say that “free agency” (members leaving) within “teams” (the church) is for the most part inevitable.\u00a0 As a pastor, it can cause great distress when people leave the church.\u00a0 Instantly your mind is flooded with the questions of … Read More