Hello. I’m Leslie.
I’m a Pastors wife and a Worship leader…
and I’m quitting church.
…
The Pastor thinks he’s Superman…
The other Worship Leader sings all the wrong songs.
The Youth Pastor is a punk.
The Associate Pastor is too happy.
The Children’s Director has the gall to ask me to serve in the Children’s ministry.
The building is too cold, the lights are too dim, the sound is too loud, the coffee is too bitter, the parking lot too small, the chairs are too pink, the walls are too tan, the greeters are too friendly, and the rest of the people are not friendly enough.
so. I’m quitting church.
It’s too messy.
It takes too much effort.
It’s too emotionally draining and heartbreaking.
So. I’m quitting church.
Great! Now my Sunday mornings will be free to go shopping*.
(*Sarcasm emphasized)
***
Sometimes quitting church seems like easier thing to do… the popular thing to do.
In fact, this past Sunday, September 15th was National Back-to-Church Sunday.
Wow.
So many statistics are showing people are quitting church by the masses.
I enjoy reading church leadership articles, from a variety of sources.
Much of what I read leans toward the decline of the American church in morality, and also in attendance… yet other articles cry the opposite.
***
The church is full of broken people ~ and we are all in desperate need of a Savior.
The church is messy.
The church will disappoint.
The church will fail.
and I’ll write it again…
The church is messy.
The church will disappoint.
The church will fail.
However, Jesus never fails.
He uses imperfect people for His divinely perfect purposes.
It sounds crazy. And it is crazy.
Jesus doesn’t need us ~ but He chooses us ~ and He wants to use us, His church.
To reach the people who are broken and dying, living without Christ, in this messed up world.
From the inside of our hearts ~ to the inside of our homes ~ and to the ends of the Earth…
He needs us ~ His people, His Disciples, to rise up, reclaim our voice, and be who He has called us to be ~ His church.
So whether you’ve just quit church, just returned to church, just started visiting a new church, or have never left church… don’t give up on church.
Jesus loves His Church ~ His Bride.
And regardless of how much we mess church up, we can be sure of one thing – God is in control.
He is moving.
He is working.
He is shaking.
He is stirring.
He is rescuing.
He is restoring.
He is redeeming.
He is renewing.
The story is already said and done.
Jesus is coming back for His Church.
We are all invited to be part of the story.
So as tempting as it might be, don’t quit church.
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. {Hebrews 10:19-25 NKJV}
…
Are you quitting – or committing – to church?
I would love to hear your thoughts from where you are on your journey…
In Him, Leslie
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. {Hebrews 10:19-25 NKJV}
…
Are you quitting – or committing – to church?
I would love to hear your thoughts from where you are on your journey…
In Him, Leslie
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. {Hebrews 10:19-25 NKJV}
…
Are you quitting – or committing – to church?
I would love to hear your thoughts from where you are on your journey…
In Him, Leslie
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. {Hebrews 10:19-25 NKJV}
…
Are you quitting – or committing – to church?
I would love to hear your thoughts from where you are on your journey…
In Him, Leslie
…
Are you quitting – or committing – to church?