Comments on: Are You Ready to Quit Church?

By: Tweets that mention Maurilio Amorim » Are You Ready to Quit Church? -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention Maurilio Amorim » Are You Ready to Quit Church? -- Topsy.com — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:34:20 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Maurilio Amorim , Lois J Teston MD. Lois J Teston MD said: RT @maurilio: Are you ready to quit church? My take on a popular book http://ht.ly/3ZU5P [...]

By: Lindsay Goodwin

Lindsay Goodwin — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 17:00:00 +0000

I think Julia’s (and others’) first mistake is trying to find a church like that of their childhood. They were *children*. Church then wasn’t what they thought it was. As we grow up, we lose a lot of our innocence about the shortcomings of the local church.nnThe problem is that people just want to quit. They want to give up on everything. They’ve got enough energy to throw stones and point out the problems, but they’re too lazy to dig in and try to help, try to effect change.nnMy husband and I left our local church nine months ago, not because it was imperfect. We had known it was imperfect since the day we joined. We chose to leave when it became apparent that everyone, from the top down, was content (even happy) with the status quo. The refusal to grow or admit weaknesses was disconcerting.nnNow? We’re actively pursuing the solution to this problem. We’re getting more involved with the Global Church, and we’ve started to take discipleship seriously…in our home and in our community. nnThe solution? It’s time for the local church to embrace criticism. It’s time for the critics to focus more on solution formation than consistent criticism. It’s time for all of us to remember that the Church is not ours…and we’re called to be a family, to work together. (At all costs…)nnI don’t know how to get that started other than to allow the Holy Spirit to get it started in my own life and pray that others join the journey.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 07:56:00 +0000

First, I want to apologize to all of you who have been hurt in church and by Christians. I know what that feels like and I pray that God will heal us all. I have experienced both sides of the issue (i.e. being in and out of church, as well as, being in and out of leadership). People do crazy things for different reasons (e.g. fear, jealousy, control, pride, etc). None of us are perfect and all of us want to feel loved and appreciated. God is a gracious and merciful God. Many times we as human portray God as a God who is not, due to our limit understanding of him. God is not a condemning God, because if he was he would not have sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us. All of us sin and fall short of the glory of God. Christianity has never been about a set of rules or about sin. Instead Christianity is about relationship with God, Christ and one another. Our limited understanding of this causes us to become legalistic, because we try to make God accept and love us. However, what we fail to realize sometimes is that God already loves and accepts us (John 3:16).Truly, as believers we try to convict and change one another and do the work of Holy Spirit. We place rules and regulations on one another about what needs to be done. It is God who convicts and it is God who changes us. This is especially true for new believers. Christianity is a process of change and growth in our relationship with God. This generation wants everything in a hurry, so we try to accelerate the process. Doing so only causes discouragement, despair, anger, frustration, etc. Any changes due to the hand of man instead of the hand of God will ultimately fail. All of this being said there is only one thing that can truly heal the church and cause people to stay in the church (i.e. both the local church and the church at large). Jesus Christ must be at and remain in the center of the church. Let’s all be honest with ourselves. It is really not about the music, building, etc. It is about Christ. If Jesus Christ were in the back alley preaching to the homeless multitudes of people would come from all over to hear him. If Jesus sung the same hymn every week, we would listen. It is not the size that matters either, because there were multitudes everywhere that he went. It is about the power of God and the anointing, which breaks yokes and sets people free. Yes, it is true that Jesus Christ and the early church never used billboards, advertising and marketing, media, etc. The fame spread due to word of mouth, because the people’s needs were getting met. I am not saying that using technology and media are bad, but I am saying that when the early church existed they were not needed. It is okay to use these things to spread the gospel as long as the things do not become the focus.When the church as a whole begins to take their eyes of the things of this world in terms of how success is measured and focus solely on the task that Christ left us with which was to continue his work than the people will come and the people will stay. The early church did what God mandated for them to do and it grew and flourished. I spoke earlier about being loved and accepted, as well as, Jesus Christ being the center. However, there is one more piece to the puzzle in terms of keeping people in church. People need to be and feel needed. It is much easier to decide to skip church and go to the ball game, sailing, golfing, etc. when you do not feel that your physical presence is needed there. However, I know that it is important for all of us to be in fellowship with one another, because God gave each of various gifts and talents to be used to continue his work. There is only one body and each of us has a function and equal importance in the body. I pray that we will all find our function and places in a local body (i.e. church, mission, group, home church, etc) that needs, loves, and accepts us.

By: Sailor

Sailor — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:30:00 +0000

I have lots of thoughts on this, which I'm sure wiser people can say better. (especially since I have no credibility on the matter seeing how I am in that 25-45 demographic…*snark, snark*) Nevertheless, I had all but given up on church, despite being a devoted Christ-follower, because of the politics and legalism. But thankfully, a move across state lines landed me at Crosspoint, and I am rediscovering what church was intended to look like. The hands and feet of Christ. Great music never hurts though… :0)

By: Maurilio Amorim

Maurilio Amorim — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:47:00 +0000

@Fade That's a great idea. I do google alerts, but have not done one for those leaving church. You should write about them.

By: Fade to Black

Fade to Black — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:33:00 +0000

Ever do Google alerts? For over 2 years, I’ve been monitoring “why Christians are leaving church” and “what people of faith say about traditional church services” and “drop in church attendance” – plethora of answers.

By: dr. darrell a. harris

dr. darrell a. harris — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:36:00 +0000

hey anonymous-
i'm not so sure watchdog has crossed any lines yet.

speaking out against and challenging the church for having become a worldly industry does not necessarily render one as de facto bitter.

bringing tithes into a storehouse that pays for such endeavors certainly gives me pause. it just doesn't seem to square with the holes in the hands of the son of man nor with his words about how we are to serve him (the hungry, thirsty, alien, naked, sick and prisoner.)

advent shalom~

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:31:00 +0000

I'll direct this at the Watchdog.

I think we agree as far as prognosis, as to what is wrong with the Church at large. But after checking out your blog... you need to chill. While we can and arguably SHOULD question many of the powers that be in our leadership we also need to understand that they are very human and prone to err (as are we) and they are going to be giving an account to the almighty for what they have done (as are we). Now THAT should be a very sobering thought.

I happen to have known Maurilio going pretty far back, while I do disagree with a lot of his ways and means I do not question his motives. I'm wondering about yours though.

You've crossed the line, take that from someone who has been there and done that (even recently!). It's so easy getting caught up in being RIGHT that we get wrong really quick, boy do I know.

Root out the weeds of BITTERNESS, they will choke you. The battle belongs to the Lord.

-Jud

By: Michael Robison

Michael Robison — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:51:00 +0000

Hey Man….For obvious reasons this is a very near and dear subject! We have really seen so many people just leave church in the course of the last year. The problem is simply that no one seems to have "the answers" as to how to stop it. The answer as I see it is really simple. We are called to a relationship. A relationship with God and a relationship with each other! So, if our focus can be on relationships, we might curb this from being so rampant. People who have relationships will stay connected in a church even when they walk through tough times. They stay for the people and not the circumstances!As far as Mr. FBC JAX…….He seems to forget the scripture that says we are to go out and "compel" the people to come in. In our world we need to be creative and attractive. the same reason that Jesus spoke in parables. If you, or some other consultant, can be part of the team, then great. Thanks for what you and the A Group do for churches. Peace Bro! M

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:02:00 +0000

If you are a Christian in fellowship with only one other Christian… you haven't quit the church. In fact you are probably finally experiencing REAL Church !!! In the last year barna polls, the Pew survey, WC's "reveal" and a similar study at granger have blown the last several decades of "conventional wisdom" right out of the water.The Church has done an excellent job of drawing people in but has FAILED to disciple people.I think, especially as our economy shrinks (which very few of us even feel the effects of yet), the Church is in for a heck of a lot of fat trimming. It won't be the massive industry that it is right now.We won't go to massive gatherings where we blend in and pay people to do the ministry. We'll meet in houses and cafes and we'll all be tent making ministers. We'll value the Truth of God's Word and cherish it as a precious jewel once again, like the Bereans did. We'll realize that if we hold it up high we won't need marketing or boasting of our good deeds to bring people to God.-Jud