DON’T LEAVE

By Rick Mathes

John 6:67  Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?”

The church needs a team to visit those who leave the church and at least attempt to salvage their walk with the Lord. There are many wounded Christians who were in the crossfire of members and unbeliever alike, sword to sword. I was asked once, “If you were Satan, how would you destroy the Christian church? I replied, “Leave them alone. They are doing just fine without the devil’s help!” Seriously, why do so many people walk away?

I think the main reason is that they find the gospel offensive. Being covered by the blood or by His lacerated body we are healed? The toughest is the Trinity and God Jesus dying. I recommend that you read “Hard to Believe” by John MacArthur Jr.

Too many turn their back on the church because of the persecution they are getting from friends, family and fellow workers that make fun of their effort to change their ways. Also, church members can be so mean with their gossiping and backbiting. Some of my most friendly neighbors are unsaved!

My kid brother, among others, just laughs it off. His attitude is the same toward Jesus as it is to any religious leader or the tooth fairy, for that matter. He believes Christianity is just invented to have an answer to those questions and events that just don’t make sense.

Some blow off Christianity because of their evil companions. When I gave my life to Jesus I worried about losing my unsaved buddies. Well, they ran for the hills and I thank the Lord for that because they weren’t the friends I needed to strengthen my walk with the Lord. Good Christian members have filled the gap.

Others just cannot tear themselves away from the sensual enjoyment that the devil provides in every direction including the church. In some countries the prostitutes start out their night in church praying for a successful evening!

Let’s give some the benefit of the doubt and excuse them because the situation has changed. They may have a new job, change of homes, death, divorce or other tragedy that needs our prayers.

The two most oft repeated reasons why fellow Christians leave the church is from sheer laziness or a complaint of what they believe to be unsound doctrine. It all cases, it is painful to me that when I quit going to the traditional churches, no one who said they loved me did or cared to even call me. I have since become an ordained Baptist minister and have my own little chapel of believers that worship together with me.