man praying at church

The Church Isn’t Meeting My Needs

Over the years I’ve watched many people come into the church excited only to be MIA within a few short years. It’s one of the saddest parts of being a pastor. Nothing breaks my heart more than to see people slip away from the body of Christ and drift back into a lifestyle of spiritual complacency and apathy.
 
It has been often stated that the number one reason people leave the church is due to a feeling that the church failed to meet their needs. In other words, there was some expectation they had for the church that was not met.
 
In conducting dozens of impromptu “exit interviews” over the last 20 years, I have found that many of these came as a result of misplaced expectations. In other words, they expected something from the church that the church never promised.
 
I can think of five unrealistic expectations people have of the church off the top of my head. Here’s my unscientific list.
 

What the Church Can and Cannot Provide

 

1) A church is a place to gather weekly for worship, but it’s up to me whether I will experience the presence of God. (John 4:24)

 
Preferences surrounding music is a frequent source of discontent for unhappy members. One of the biggest misconceptions people have is to mistake music for worship.
 
Music is not worship. Organs, pianos, keyboards, drums, choirs, guitars, orchestras, lights, smoke, speakers, hymnals, screens, projectors, and soundboards are not instruments of worship. They are accessories for music.
 
Worship is not singing. Worship is surrendering. If you attend a large group gathering of Christians committed to honoring Jesus and walk away without having worshiped, the fault is yours, not theirs.
 
Don’t blame the music, blame the mirror.
 

2) A church is a family I can belong to, but it’s up to me to develop friendships. (Proverbs 18:24)

 
So many people join our churches but never invest in relationships. They simply attend services. They treat the church like a fast-food restaurant – get my food and get out quickly and with as little interaction as possible. But sooner or later life happens, and when their world starts coming apart they have no relational safety net. They suddenly expect “the pastor” to “be there for them,” like he’s a spiritual Genie. Just rub the lamp and *poof*, there he is! But that’s not even the biblical calling of pastors.
 
According to Ephesians 4:12, pastors are called to equip the members to be the hands and feet of Jesus. God designed the church to be a community of connected Christians, not a collection of customers waiting to be served. We tell our people, “If you join this church, but never develop any friendships here, we promise we will let you down. It’s just a matter of time.”
 
Disconnected people eventually disconnect.

3) A church is a place where gifted teachers will explain the Bible and how I can apply it to my life, but it’s up to me to align my life with God’s truth. (James 1:22)

 
“I’m not being fed,” is the oft-repeated mantra of the self-centered saint.
 
How many times have I heard this phrase brought up by disgruntled church members. Once, when someone told me they were leaving the church because they needed deeper Bible teaching, I thought about the last several series I had done and so I asked the person, “I just finished up a relationship series. Tell me, is your marriage hitting on all six cylinders? On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being perfect, how would your spouse rate you? How about your parenting skills? Any room for growth there?”
 
They didn’t really respond.
 
I continued, “Let me see, the series before that was on Money. Let me ask, are you living on a detailed budget? Are you giving 10% of your income back to God? Do you save 10%? Do you have an emergency fund? Do you have 3-6 months in savings? Is your retirement on track? Are you debt-free?”
 
They began to break a sweat.
 
I thought about the series before that one. “I taught for 8 weeks on personal evangelism. So just out of curiosity, how many people have you personally shared your faith with in the last 3 months? 6 months? Year?
 
I realize witnessing is tough, which is why we designed a church with the unchurched in mind. So, tell me how many unchurched people have you invited to church recently? Can you name at least one person, who is far from God, that has come to church because of your invitation within the last year?”
 
Silence.
 
“So let me get this straight. You say you’re not being fed and that you need some deeper preaching, but you don’t even do the stuff that my ‘shallow preaching’ addresses.
 
Hmm, I’m not sure it’s my preaching that needs changing.”
 

4) A church is a place where I can use my gifts, passion, skills, personality, and life experiences to serve, but it’s up to me to become a servant. (Matthew 20:28)

 
It’s been my experience that some of the most vocal critics in the church are often the least engaged. They have a lot of suggestions, but no skin in the game.
 
It’s a lot easier to criticize from the bleachers than it is from the ball field. People who aren’t serving in the church are often one change away from becoming disgruntled.
 
I believe that the metric for maturity is ministry. I am never impressed by someone’s Bible knowledge, but I am always impressed by unselfish service. Serving in a ministry that delivers hope and healing to hearts and homes immunizes us from apathy and keeps us trapped into the mission.
 
There are two kinds of church members. Those that are serving and those that believe they are deserving.
 
Only one of those will make you like Jesus.
 

5) A church is a place where I have the chance to change the world by fulfilling the Great Commission, but it’s up to me to actually become a person of impact. (Romans 10:14)

 
Finally, perhaps the greatest misconception of all is when we think that the church’s primary mission is to meet my needs.
 
Churches exist primarily for their non-members. They exist to bring hope and healing to a broken and hurting world.
 
They do not exist to serve the whims of whiners.
 
There is no perfect church because there are no perfect people.
 
There are only imperfect churches filled with imperfect people striving to make an impact on this broken world.
 
Whenever we forget the critical nature of that mission and begin to focus on pettiness and preferences, we grieve the heart of God and we fail the mission of the Master.
 
As a pastor, I’ve heard plenty of those who have let me know how the church has let them down, but I’ve rarely heard from those who have realized how they’ve let the church down.
 
The needs of a lost world are too critical for us to waste time.
 
Let’s get busy being the hands and feet of Jesus.
 
Originally written and published on October 21, 2014

Here’s a follow-up post in response to the MANY replies: https://pastorbrianmoss.com/time-to-find-a-new-church/

225 Comments
  • Lesa
    Posted at 20:03h, 21 October Reply

    Good thoughts.

    • Matt Busby
      Posted at 23:01h, 28 October Reply

      I am slightly amazed. SO, some people no longer physically go to your building, put money on your plate, stroke your ego in some way, and this means that they have fallen into apathy and a lifestyle displeasing to God and they have ‘left the church’, and now all those scriptures about the faithful falling away suddenly apply to them?

      Hahaha….you people. If you could only HEAR YOURSELVES.

      • Faye Perry
        Posted at 12:47h, 29 October Reply

        Mr. Busby did you actually read the article or scan the headlines!
        Just wondering.

        • Jen
          Posted at 15:28h, 30 October Reply

          Sorry Faye, read it word for word three times. Walked away with the same conclusions as Matt. A pastor with this attitude and arrogance is exactly why I walked away after 40 years of being a life long church member. I feel like too much of the modern church is focused on whatever emotionalism rock star pastor’s are bringing to the stage. Education, context, knowledge so the spiritual journey is grounded can’t come from one line scripture references that a series is based on. Dig deeper, discuss more, pray longer and question, question, question. When the questioning gets shut down and discourse is stopped a lot of people walk away

          • Betty Dains
            Posted at 01:38h, 01 November

            I don’t think most people leave the church because of the Pastor. If that were true, they would search for a new church, correct? I think most people leave the church because they’ve fallen in to temptation. Whether that be of a sinful nature, or just merely leaving the church that Satan knows will keep them grounded in the word. The devil knows what to say to you…and to me. He knows how to lure you away from the church. It’s a fact that the more we hear the word, read the word and have fellowship with likeminded people the more focused on God and fufilling his purpose in our lives we become. I’m no Bible scholar, but I don’t think your personal opinion is formed solely on a church and the Pastor – in most cases – all on your own. If the word of God is being taught.. And the church provides fellowship, I don’t know why anyone would complain. If the word is being altered and you find a pastor to be of false teaching, or you get involved in the politics of the church. That’s a different story. And like I said earlier, wouldn’t you then look for another church. Not walk away completely? I’m not judging you. I don’t go to church currently, myself.. And I know why I walked away. It had nothing to do with the church and I’d be doing myself a disservice to place blame for my apathy on any church. We need the fellowship and teaching provided in church to stay grounded in the word. I know many of us tell ourselves we don’t… But that is just untrue.

          • Lynette Walker
            Posted at 19:26h, 01 November

            Absolutely. Well said, Jen. The article doesn’t address pastors and churches’ issues… if leadership is human, and capable of misdirection, how many church members leaving does it take to cause leadership to ask what God might be doing in their church? What changes might need to be made? An assumption is being made here that only the spiritually immature leave…

          • Brian Moss
            Posted at 22:04h, 01 November

            You may want to read Part 2 of this posting. I think that may help you to see a bigger picture of what I am trying to say.

          • Lance Rengel
            Posted at 14:40h, 03 November

            Good questions Lynette. Those are the questions I desired to ask my pastor that got him so angry he refused to speak with me anymore. I was constantly fishing for men & women & children only to see the fish I had caught come through the front door and depart out the back. It was frustrating.

          • mike connaway
            Posted at 01:11h, 02 November

            This pastor does not seem to be coming from a place of a failed shrinking church. But rather a growing church that cares enough to not help people step up and stay connected. There seems to be a group of people forming that want to hold pastors accountable online. If you don’t like church don’t go! Find a church you like were you can hold the pastor accountable. But remember you must also being willing to be accountable. And it will be you the . lay person who will have to prove your true accountabilityfirst! You may feel that is unfair, but it the way the real world and church world and family world work. Grow up and proven your self and people will be lining up to be accountable to you. This pastor has 100s line up and seems kind and carring enough to reach out to people who got out of that line. Be upset all you want or you could be humble and ask him for advise. He seems to be kind and none combative even with those who confront his motives. I am blown away by his love, patience and concern.

      • Angela Cornelius
        Posted at 13:49h, 29 October Reply

        You are not understanding the message of these words. You are picking out words and leaving out others. Maybe you should read one sentence at a time and let it sink in without over analyzing it. I pray for you that you receive the Lord and these words with an open heart and understanding. Bless you.

      • Jewell_price@yahoo.com
        Posted at 17:16h, 29 October Reply

        Thank you, Matt! Exactly! Leaving a church building/organization is not necessarily the same as leaving your tau pith or becoming apathetic. How arrogant this writer is to suggest that is always the case.

        • Jewell_price@yahoo.com
          Posted at 17:17h, 29 October Reply

          *should have said…”leave your faith…”

        • mike connaway
          Posted at 15:18h, 03 November Reply

          Arrogant is such an over reaching word. It would be like this pastor saying because people left his church they are not saved. Its to over reaching! HE IS NOT NAME CALLING. some people leave for good reasons, some leave for bad reasons. If someone leaves for an unhealthy reason a good shepard will teach and disciple on the subject. All people have been hurt in life and if you attend a church and you should you will be hurt. How we ALL deal with hurt will determine our maturity level. Pastors and lay people alike. Why not get behind this pastor and let him do his job. He seems to have a healthy thriving church! Have you ever thought he might just be awesome?

      • JD
        Posted at 14:54h, 01 November Reply

        What you are not understanding is the writer is speaking to those who go to to church to be entertained or expecting everything to be about them. Whether you go to church or not, if you don’t have a spiritual life, a relationship of giving and receiving, then wherever you are you won’t be satisfied, fulfilled and realizing your value.

        • Christianah
          Posted at 23:33h, 11 November Reply

          Thanks JD for that clarification for the readers who may have the information misconstrued in their minds

    • Mike Mills
      Posted at 13:17h, 21 June Reply

      Yes. The attitudes of some here may confirm what this pastor is talking about. And he is doing something that many fearful pastors won’t do — talking directly and honestly to his congregation. That is not arrogance. That is what Christ Jesus did. We need more of that, and we. And WE need to look at our own lives, with humility toward God.

      • Brian Moss
        Posted at 14:08h, 21 June Reply

        Thanks Mike! I clearly have a lot more to work on in my own journey, but am so thankful to have a church family where we are all a work in progress. 🙂

  • Yvonne Mariner
    Posted at 04:07h, 22 October Reply

    I think that was great if you happen to know a church in great mills Md please let me know

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 16:03h, 22 October Reply

      Hi Yvonne! I wish I did. Sorry. We do have an online service 6pm Sundays at http://orbconline.churchonline.org/

      • Jason Miller
        Posted at 22:31h, 25 October Reply

        Doesn’t an online service obviate your point #2?

        • Brian Moss
          Posted at 23:40h, 25 October Reply

          Great point Jason! I believe online should only supplement in circumstances where one cannot physically attend. I’m old school. 🙂 PS: I had to look up ‘obviate’ LOL

          • Deb
            Posted at 03:09h, 26 October

            What do you do if you feel rejected by the church. What if church makes you sad?

          • Brian Moss
            Posted at 11:27h, 26 October

            Of course I am unsure of your particular situation, but I would tell you not to give up on church. Sometimes we may be in the wrong church if it is unhealthy. I encourage you to seek counsel from a godly trusted friend.

      • andrew olson
        Posted at 17:07h, 27 October Reply

        So true but weren’t many of those “false expectations” created by the churches marketing apparatus. You reap what you sow comes to my mind.

        • Brian Moss
          Posted at 22:15h, 27 October Reply

          hmmm, perhaps. Guess it depends on the church…

    • Melanie
      Posted at 14:13h, 23 October Reply

      Hi Yvonne, We would love to have you visit us at Life Community Church of God: 22512 Chancellors Run Rd, Great Mills, MD 20634. 🙂

    • Larisa
      Posted at 14:35h, 23 October Reply

      Yvonne, I just moved from Great Mills! I went to Life Community Church of God. Pastor Brian and his wife Amber are amazing people who LOVE Jesus, and I terribly miss my church family! It is located on Chancellors Run Road. Service is at 10:07, website is lccog.com.

    • Brian Shepard
      Posted at 15:03h, 23 October Reply

      I pastor Life Community Church of God in Great Mills MD (www.lccog.com). If our church does not fit your doctrinal preference, I will personally introduce you to a local church that does. I will make my goal for you to find a church that will help you accomplish what this article is presenting.

      God bless you on your search and remember, I am more than happy to help you.

      Pastor Brian Shepard

      • Brian Moss
        Posted at 15:17h, 23 October Reply

        Thanks Pastor!

      • Sam
        Posted at 03:01h, 28 October Reply

        Great response Pastor. It’s great that you would do that.

    • Ryan Taylor
      Posted at 01:45h, 27 October Reply

      I just wanted to throw out a church suggestion, although it is about 20 minutes away from Great Mills.
      River Church of Southern Maryland, in Hughesville. Small church, but great family environment with passionate worship and a strong word.

    • Mark Dooley
      Posted at 11:36h, 27 October Reply

      Yvonne … check out Redeeming Grace Baptist – meets at Kings Christian Academy in Callaway / Great Mills area. Currently a site of Leonardtown Baptist, but becoming an autonomous congregation January, 2015. Visit http://www.rgbcmd.org. Like Pastor Brian from Life Community said below if that doesn’t work for you we will do our best to help you find the place God has for you. God Bless!

    • Maria
      Posted at 22:30h, 28 October Reply

      I attend Cornerstone in Town Creek- right across from the Walmart in Lex. Park MD, turn onto Town Creek Dr. and go 1/2 mile. Would love to see you there! 9am and 10:30am

  • Jesse
    Posted at 15:09h, 22 October Reply

    Good thoughts, only issue I would have is the church is not a place it is us, you and me. The church is not a place to gather it is the people who gather somewhere

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 16:04h, 22 October Reply

      Totally agree Jesse. Thanks for sharing that. The church is a body not a building. We are on organism not an organization.

      • Greg
        Posted at 11:57h, 28 October Reply

        I read the linked post. #3 in the post gives an excellent example of an opportunity for a Christian brother to reach out and help another brother in need. Often, when I am at the local church, I’m having good fellowship with brothers and sisters. While talking to a friend, I could be scanning the crowd and praying for an opportunity to reach out to someone. It’s easy to fall into clicks and, also, to enjoy fellowship when someone two feet away is silently in need. May the Lord help us to wake up and reach out to the needs that surround us inside the local church.

  • Tim Justice
    Posted at 16:14h, 22 October Reply

    If I may, I would like to humbly submit a counterpoint. I believe you raise many valid points, but there is another side, one I feel is important in this dialog:

    http://squarepegchristian.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-i-wish-church-understood-about.html

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 17:32h, 22 October Reply

      Great feedback Tim. I totally agree with you. There’s so much more that we (read I) can do to help all of our members experience what Christ designed the church to be. Blessings!

    • Nathan
      Posted at 20:21h, 23 October Reply

      As Brian said, I agree.
      I would encourage you to remember that there are always two sides to a relationship conversation. That is to say, that even if you have a different perspective, you don’t necessarily disagree.
      From what I read in your response, I see more of a reminder to the “church-goers” that they have a responsibility as well. So, I read more of a “This is the other side of the point” rather than a “This is the argument to the point”.

      With that said, I will again remind that you are spot on. Same message, two different audiences. 😉

      God bless.

      • passerby
        Posted at 19:28h, 26 October Reply

        good article, but have to also agree with Deb and Tim.
        I used to be one of those who spoke out against ppl leaving the church (for the same reasons Pastor Brian mentioned) until it happened to me once. I felt rejected from week 2 to year 2 when i finally decided to move church. Served in ministry, did Bible studies, etc., and kept telling myself it was my heart issue. i didn’t just not feel fed, but drained after each service with people just too cool for me, impatient with me during my lowest spiritual points, but uninterested to find out why. friendship truly is a two-way street.
        Even if I was not as put-together and outwardly more broken as other church-goers, Jesus died for me just the same and doesn’t love me any less.
        I’ve seen a lot of pastors make these statements, and it is mostly true, but I think pastors should also be flexible to change instead of using them as a justification.
        if it’s not just me, but the ENTIRE congregation who secretly agrees they are not being fed, maybe it’s the pastors’ heart issue too. they may be just too nice/afraid to tell their pastor. (not that you are, Pastor Brian. I don’t know you: just happened to see this while surfing the internet).

        • Brian Moss
          Posted at 01:34h, 27 October Reply

          Totally agree. Pastors are called to lead, feed and sometimes weed.

    • Tim Johnson
      Posted at 16:14h, 24 October Reply

      If you want to have a big church…get good actors, singers, and musicians. Works every time. The pastor should learn how to give average to above average sermons. Caring for the flock is a waste of time. The church will not grow that way. That’s basically what the author of the article is saying. And it’s true. “Congregation, quit making my life hard. I want to sing and dance.”

      • Brian Moss
        Posted at 06:33h, 25 October Reply

        I don’t sing or dance but I have been considering taking up juggling. 🙂

        • Tim Johnson
          Posted at 14:48h, 26 October Reply

          You should get some juggling lessons. It would be very entertaining for your congregation. If you can’t sing and do plays, then hire someone who can. Just be aware that they will eventually have an affair with someone in the church….oooops.

        • Rita Curry
          Posted at 21:16h, 27 October Reply

          I have to say that some of the replies I am reading are just down right hateful. When people have been hurt in a church they tend to lose confidence in churches. We can always find something we dislike but instead of leaving why not stay and pray for that church. Maybe you are the person God wants to use to help them.
          If you have that much anger then if your prayers don’t change the church maybe it will change the way you see that church. No church is perfect and if you are looking for the perfect church you might as well stay home because the minute you walk through the door it will become imperfect. ..Sorry Pastor Brian but you are being too kind to people who haven’t gotten their own hearts right. God Bless You.

          • Brian Moss
            Posted at 22:20h, 27 October

            Thanks Rita. I think most of it is just pain. Unkind responses never help a person who’s hurting. Blessing to you!

          • Tim
            Posted at 18:10h, 29 October

            I believed that in my last church situation that if we (me and my wife) stayed, we could help. We found that was a lie as the next six months got worse. I’m all for if it’s a bad church…RUN AWAY AND DON’T LOOK BACK! We tried another church later, one that helped heal us from the one we left but they ended up just turning into an online church. My experience from the evangelical Christian church has left me wondering if I’ll either trust another church or if I’ll ever be dumb enough to be vulnerable enough to trust a church who’s pastor receives a paycheck and who teaches it’s members to shun those who “divorce the church” by leaving the congregation.

            And before you judge my motives while I was a member of my former church, I did serve in many areas including foreign missions and on the church’s board for buildings and grounds. I even led a team to Honduras the year after I left. When you see corruption in the church that will not be corrected when confronted, you have every right to get out of there.

    • Ellen
      Posted at 06:06h, 27 October Reply

      good points!!!

  • mike connaway
    Posted at 21:37h, 22 October Reply

    Just reposted! It is intresting to me that you would get comments about the church not being a place or building since you never stated either as a definition. The new testiment never proclaims an individual as the church but it does teach every individual should be part of a local church. Local=location. Your points are only powerful if there is a commitment to a local body of believers. Very good blog!

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 15:15h, 23 October Reply

      Thanks Mike. Glad you enjoyed it!

  • Marilyn Glavin
    Posted at 13:28h, 23 October Reply

    Loved this article. More folks “in the pew” should see this! A great discussion tool for boards and committees, too. In the old days, only seminary students had direct access to this style of information, now every church- goer can see it and think about it. Or at least every church- goer on my Facebook page!

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 15:16h, 23 October Reply

      Thanks Marilyn!

  • Michael Parnell
    Posted at 17:49h, 23 October Reply

    Great article. The entire Body of Christ needs to read it! It is also a great sermon starter or outline. I just may use it in the very near future. For sure, I am going to suggest that everyone read it.

    Thanks.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 18:40h, 23 October Reply

      Thank you Michael!

  • Tony
    Posted at 22:39h, 23 October Reply

    having been a choir member most of my life, I don’t understand how you have arrived at the conclusion that singing praises to our God is not worship ! Most choir members consider the songs we sing as an offering of praise and not a performance to impress man. Music stirs the souls of the believers and opens the hearts of Gods people to receive the Gospel message . Is the Father not glorified by the praises of His people in song?do the Scriptures not speak of praising the Father with songs?

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 23:39h, 23 October Reply

      Hi Tony. I think you’ve misread me. My comments were not exclusive, but expansive. Worship can include singing, but is certainly not limited to singing. Worship is so much more. I define worship as Willingly Offering Reverence, Submission, Honor, Intimacy, and Praise. So keep on singing bro!

      • Andy
        Posted at 02:24h, 25 October Reply

        No, you are totally right. Music, even directed toward God is not worship. We have done a huge disservice to Christianity by encouraging this idea that worship is some kind of existential experience, whether personal or corporate.
        I adore and praise my kids when its appropriate. I never worship them. I know the difference.

    • Sharon
      Posted at 00:40h, 28 October Reply

      I really disagree about music not being worship. What brings one closer to the ultimate being than floating upward on a single note cleaving the world and showing the way. So, I have to admit that for me music is vital for worship…and, ah, I prefer hearing good classical organ music and singing the older hymns. I do understand the need for music that reaches many people; I just miss the other.

  • Emily
    Posted at 22:46h, 23 October Reply

    Good points. I do feel that sometimes the worship argument is a valid one in the modern church. You can have all the bells and whistles but if it is all about entertainment and not about Christ, it CAN lack what is Biblical about worship. We rely on the people leading worship to do just that–actually worship. If instead their concern is more with if their harmony is spot-on or if the bassist is a bit off rhythm, or if their reason for playing music is self-promoting, it cannot help but hinder the worship of the body. If the lyrics are without Biblical foundation, that hinders worship. So my advice to any pastor hearing this over and over as a reason for leaving–listen and ask yourself–is our worship truly Biblical? Does every song worship God, or are some of them “Jesus is my boyfriend” type of songs? Are the songs we sing lyrically strong? Have we emphasized the sound of worship over the content of worship?? Just something to consider.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 23:40h, 23 October Reply

      Amen Emily. Thanks for reading.

  • Valerie
    Posted at 06:35h, 24 October Reply

    While I agree with your article, your comment about people leaving the church and back to their old ways is wrong. Just because I leave A church, doesn’t mean I’m leaving THE church. We have made a hard decision to leave our church, one that took us a few years to make.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 08:50h, 24 October Reply

      Hi Valerie, my statement wasn’t meant to be all-inclusive. My comment was that my heart breaks for those who do disconnect altogether and fall away.

      • Jesus
        Posted at 10:44h, 27 October Reply

        Whenever the Apostles tried to blame the people or ignore someone who wasn’t with the program didn’t I always tell them things like ‘you feed them” and show them by example to minister more to that person. Maybe the person who had no answers for your attempt to justify your preaching was overwhelmed with some great need they didn’t feel able to express. I think the better response as a pastor to them would have been “How can I be better. How can I meet your needs specifically. I want to. I’m sorry my sermons aren’t doing that. Tell me how I can minister to you personally. Can we have a deeper private study together where you choose the subject? Are their more specific needs you have that I can help you get filled? It’s my job to meet your needs. Please let me.’ p.s. My church does not exist merely for non members. It exists to meet all real needs of of all my children. If you feel unable, help them find someone who is able and humbly apologize for failing them so that they never stop seeking my leaders who can do better than you while you continue to learn to serve more deeply. . – God

        • Brian Moss
          Posted at 11:40h, 27 October Reply

          The fact that you have spelling errors and that you had to submit this twice is making it harder for me to believe you’re God. Sorry.

          • Deb
            Posted at 14:17h, 27 October

            Seems like you don’t much care about people?

          • A Christian Observer
            Posted at 23:52h, 28 October

            There’s a nice American-Church-Leader response. Deflect attention away from the excellent scriptural point: You give them something to eat. When you are tired. When you have little to give. When it gets demanding. Your derision of those with spiritual needs and your insulting tone speak volumes, good shepherd. And Deb – Good observation…An authentic sheep who knows the masters voice and runs away from the others.

  • Rachel
    Posted at 06:44h, 24 October Reply

    What beautifully written words! I know that when I find myself starting to grumble about the church I am in (we move a lot, military), it is generally because I am NOT involved in serving in some capacity. Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece that serves as a great reminder that it’s NOT ALL ABOUT ME!!!

  • Shelley Jones
    Posted at 11:43h, 24 October Reply

    My husband and I Pastored a church for several years and I understand to the fullest your post. I am in complete agreement but would like to add, what you are speaking about is actually for the matured christian. These things, in a perfect world would be awesome. Unfortunately, The new and young Christians have to learn these things and so I believe that is why we as the elder must go above and beyond to demonstrate in action. We must make extra effort to make them feel special and welcome… try and make the music as enjoyable to listen to as possible and as versatile as possible. Sometimes it is hard to concentrate on worshiping when the music is uncomfortable to listen to… If I were to add anything I believe one of the key things to keeping people growing and planted is getting them actively involved. No matter how old they are in the Lord. Of course a new born Christian can’t be leadership but they can assist and in that process learn and grow and have a sense of belonging. This was a thought provoking article and I hope many step into a deeper understanding of the church body by reading it. God bless

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 14:49h, 24 October Reply

      Great feedback Shelley. I can see your shepherd’s heart shining.

    • Kathy
      Posted at 15:30h, 27 October Reply

      Agreed. I have recently recruited an adult babe in Christ to assist me in our Junior Church (no teaching). She is well into her 40’s with no Bible background – she doesn’t know the stories and comments each session she is in of how much she has learned. This opportunity has served her in 2 major areas: (1) It is making her feel like she is important to our ministry and fits in. (2) It is teaching her basic Bible truths. Our ministry reaches out to all that come and promotes involvement to promote unity.

      • Brian Moss
        Posted at 22:00h, 27 October Reply

        Awesome sauce!

  • Jana
    Posted at 13:40h, 24 October Reply

    Everyone, even the most faithful of church members go through seasons of difficulty. Whether it be to test us or to grow us, God can allow us to go through seasons that I call the wilderness which causes us to feel very distant from Him and the church. They could also have come under some spiritual attack that they need help with. So many times we look at the choices people make by leaving a church or being critical of the church and become offended by what they are doing or saying. Instead of seeing it from a natural perspective, maybe those of us who are in the church should be asking God, “What is really going on with my brother or sister?” Maybe they have been offended by someone in the church. Maybe they are not being fed. There may be another reason for their offense other than what is going on in the natural sense. Instead of being offended by their offense, which is what the enemy wants, maybe we should be the church and see past the offense to get to the root of what is really going on with them. I see both sides of the coin on this issue. However, I think it takes serious spiritual maturity to cut through the offense, and allow God to help us work through things with our brothers and sisters who are in there hard seasons.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 14:48h, 24 October Reply

      Love your heart. Thanks Jana!

    • Just Ducky
      Posted at 15:25h, 29 October Reply

      I too am blessed by all the responses, as I see the needs. We, my family, of pew sitting for years. This was all we did, show up and think that was sufficient. Until, we got involved in caring for others, wow what a difference. This changed our whole world. Our changing to a congregation, or body was the best thing for our family. The need for what we had been praying for flew wide open at this new congregation. I am so proud of my children and my wife for the growth strides they have taken. I have not seen them want to participate more in God’s work in many years. So, sometimes change is needed not because someone is leaving the body of Christ, but because they are moving to a different partof the body of Christ where they can be used. I would also caution people, be careful what you pray about, God might just find a whole bunch of things related to your prayers to get you really busy. P.S. just because someone changes congregations does not mean they are leapers to the people of the old congregation. As we grow it is a must that we move forward towards Christ.

  • Brian Shepard
    Posted at 14:35h, 24 October Reply

    Brian,
    You are a saint. Your response to this “feedback” has me smiling from ear to ear. You ecclesiastical obedience to the scriptural mandate love your brothers and sisters is praise worthy. Of course, all the glory goes to God.

    Keep up the good work.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 14:50h, 24 October Reply

      Thanks Brian!

  • mike connaway
    Posted at 15:11h, 24 October Reply

    I appreciate your willingness to encourage people to express other opinions. Being a nice pastor is very healthy.
    I do believe there are many people that need us to lead the way of gaining trust for Gods house though respecting their hearts. But I also believe the enemy of our soul is also deceiving people their pride. They unwittingly confuse people to distrust because their own hearts have been offended.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 15:16h, 24 October Reply

      Thanks Mike. I wish I was a little nicer. I have blocked a couple of responses which seemed especially mean spirited. But overall response has been very gracious. Pax

  • mike connaway
    Posted at 15:17h, 24 October Reply

    I appreciate your willingness to encourage people to express other opinions. Being a nice pastor is very healthy.
    I do believe there are many people that need us to lead the way of gaining trust for Gods house though respecting their hearts. But I also believe the enemy of our soul is also deceiving people through their pride and hurt. They unwittingly confuse people to distrust because their own hearts have been offended. Hurts can cause mercy or blind judgement to rise up in us.

  • Kevin
    Posted at 17:43h, 24 October Reply

    Brian,

    This is a great post that I am sharing on every venue I have access to. I am a newly minted youth pastor and our church is going through a phase that is explained by many of the things that you mentioned in this article. We have lost many people because of the mentality that the church is only to serve them instead of them serving God, through the church.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 06:32h, 25 October Reply

      Hang in there Kevin, I’ve found that’s more the exception than the rule. Tons of awesome others-centered Christians out there!

  • Mark
    Posted at 21:07h, 24 October Reply

    The title says it all to me.
    When people enter not only a church but the Christian faith thinking only of themselves. then they have the wrong concept of what being a Christian truly mean.
    Selflessness over selfishness is a core element of Christianity

  • Lori
    Posted at 02:25h, 25 October Reply

    Well said! I especially found the IN N OUT Burger reference to be true. When we get involved in other aspects of church in addition to worship services, like sharing meals, joining a smaller group, finding a way to serve, we feel more love for and kinship with each other and, I believe, feel ourselves growing more like Jesus to boot. It’s up to us, the members and church leaders to be loving examples of how to serve with glad hearts and be involved, and I believe this is one way we’re all fed. Thank you for this thought provoking piece!

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 06:29h, 25 October Reply

      Thanks Lori

  • Foppe VanderZwaag
    Posted at 13:56h, 25 October Reply

    Excellent perspective.

    “There are two kinds of church members. Those that are serving and those that believe they are deserving.”

    Never thought of it this way. Then I also realized that de-serving actually means not serving. Apart, of course, from serving self.

    Thanks!

  • Sonya Grady
    Posted at 14:11h, 25 October Reply

    Thank You Father God that we are blessed as we come and blessed as we go in Your name (Your nature). Thank You for forgiveness when we move in error. Let us not speak death over each other. Let differing opinions and situations not cause us to crucify each other, but instead cause us to ponder and seek You even more. Let us not mistreat each other by word or deed. Let us not hinder Your anointed, but instead to lift them up and encourage them. Let us not be so worried about outward appearances while inside we could be rotting away with anger, strife, malice, envy and death. Let us accept You as both KING and PRIEST in our lives, letting YOUR blessings and YOUR work have its’ perfect work in our lives. Let us be more concerned with really knowing YOU than seeking to please each other. Let us be more concerned with a personal relationship with You instead of placing importance on what others think of us. Let us find rest in You as You are putting Your fire to the things in our lives that need purification. Let us not accept fingers pointed at us with scorn or mockery, but trust YOU that YOU are changing us in YOUR way. Let us not judge another in haughtiness. Let us not condemn or criticize. Instead let us be thankful that Iron sharpens Iron, and that we are FOR each other on this journey. God, YOU are our true judge. Let us seek YOU God, realizing that You bring situations into our lives that cause people to come and go. Let us love and encourage each other while we are together and not speak death over each other when we are apart. Let us not value organizations, programs and well-thought schedules more than we value our time with You. AND let us not value alone time with You so much that we leave Your body out. Thank You for bringing YOUR balance into all of our lives. Thank You Father that YOUR true church is not a kingdom built of walls but of living stones jointly fitted together. Let us fellowship in the way you have for us at each season of our lives, not being offended when the season changes. Let us not hold others to OUR expectations, but encourage each other in YOURS. Let us not do the things our grandfathers and fathers did for the sake of tradition, but to seek you daily, moving when you move, speaking when you speak. Let us seek You for daily guidance, and obey Your living word. Let us not be offended, but exercise ourselves to have conscious void of offense to You and to man. Let us LOVE one another and lift each other up to You in prayer, for we ARE brothers and sisters.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 23:44h, 25 October Reply

      amen

    • Lance Rengel
      Posted at 20:17h, 27 October Reply

      Love your prayer Sonya. That is what pastors need to be reminded of; that they are supposed to be our brothers and not our lords. Peter reminds us that he is a “fellow elder”. May the pastors of today look in the mirror and stop seeing victims, and instead be loving leaders.

  • Allen G. Downey
    Posted at 17:35h, 25 October Reply

    Hi
    I am a denominational leader and would like your permission, with all due credits included, to re-post your article in a District newsletter I produce.
    Blessings

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 23:34h, 25 October Reply

      You have my permission. Blessings to you Allen.

    • Teresa
      Posted at 12:59h, 26 October Reply

      Consider this prayerfully…

  • Marty
    Posted at 20:49h, 25 October Reply

    What about when you have a family member (mother) in critical condition FOR 9 LOOOOOONG MONTHS and you have relationships and VERY close friends within the church. You have made the church well aware of the situation and a church member even works at the hospital and They see you EVERY SINGLE DAY, IN AND OUT, ALONE. No one ever comes to visit to see how you are doing?

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 23:35h, 25 October Reply

      I am so sorry Marty. I commit to personally pray for your mother. How is she now?

  • Paul
    Posted at 21:14h, 25 October Reply

    I agree with a lot of thus, but I left my last church because I tried to serve and was continually blocked. Leadership would shut me out because if they weren’t in charge, they didn’t want anything to be successful. I agree though a lot of people leave churches for the wrong reasons, but I would love to see an article about why people should leave a church, other than moving to another area.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 23:37h, 25 October Reply

      Thanks Paul. That’s a great idea. Believe me, I’ve been to some bad churches too. There are times we should move to another church.

  • j
    Posted at 23:08h, 25 October Reply

    Wow. You really are out of touch with the ones who would LOVE to attend a church but got screwed so many times by awful behaviour that got from Christians that i feel like i’d get more honest, compassionate caring from strangers on a bus than from you self-righteous pricks. Rot in hell – its where people like you belong. Deeds matter, not your flapping gums and the tripe you spew from them.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 23:44h, 25 October Reply

      j

      I am sorry you have been hurt. I agree that there are many churches with people in them and not all people are very nice. I too have found many non-church folks that I like better than some churchy people. But, thankfully I have also found some awesome Christ-like church folk that I want to be like. I pray you will find a church like that.

      Pax

  • Angela Hearst
    Posted at 23:32h, 25 October Reply

    This was a great read!

  • Star
    Posted at 23:50h, 25 October Reply

    Although I Agree with your blog on the people not going to church or falling away, complacent and only there for their own needs, it is only a fraction of those people. In my opinion as a Christian for over 35 years, it is much more than that. In the 1990’s charasmatic and church of God had movements that allowed the ppl to be misled. Calling it moves of God. When leadership took it upon themselves to whoo believers . It hurt the church very much. If anyone stood against it we were told we had a rebellious spirit. It was like we didn’t have a right to defend God. I

    believe that control and manipulation still are dominate I our churches. It is sad to put the blame on the ones who sit on the pews. Get back to the basics and go back to our first love.

    • Star
      Posted at 00:27h, 26 October Reply

      I apologize for not using the proper punctuation in the first comment and I don’t want to come across self-righteous either. But I have heard this so much until it hurts me also. When are the leaders going to step up and take their responsibility for this? I love the Lord and don’t want to discourage anyone, but I am one of those people who have struggled for along time with organized religion. Its all about doing whatever it takes to entertain the congregation. What about decipleship??? Entertainment lasts seconds, decipleship is the missing element in today’s church. I am concerned as well . Thank you Mr. Brian for having me share my comments in love.

      • Brian Moss
        Posted at 01:31h, 26 October Reply

        no apology needed. Blessings to you!

  • mike connaway
    Posted at 02:22h, 26 October Reply

    I can’t believe someone would blame charismatic pastors from the. 90s for this attitude in churches today. WOW…

  • Vicki Weiss
    Posted at 11:58h, 26 October Reply

    Thank you for this gift of instruction. Blessings to you.

  • Arthur Frymyer
    Posted at 12:27h, 26 October Reply

    The section about people leaving the church because they weren’t being fed really struck a nerve with me. You see, it’s not so much the quantity of food as it is the quality of food that causes people to leave.

    I was raised in a fundamentalist cult that fed us plenty. But rather than being nutritious spiritual food to help us grow, it was more like a box of rat poison. It was full of “Do this, that, and the other, and don’t ever do this, or this, or that, because if you do, you’re going to Hell.” A typical 3-hour sermon would have 2:58 of law, and MAYBE 2 minutes of “God loves you” if we were really lucky.

    If we insist on living by a list of rules, then we make the sacrifice of Jesus to be of no effect. We could have stayed in Judaism and lived under law and Jesus wouldn’t have had to die.

    Even as Christ loved us and gave himself for the Church, so ought we to love one another. Love does not seek to control, but to serve. Let us rejoice in the GOOD news of the Gospel!

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 01:23h, 27 October Reply

      Totally agree Arthur. It’s so important that our churches are preaching grace and truth together. It truly is GOOD news for messed up sinners like me.

  • Teresa
    Posted at 12:57h, 26 October Reply

    My opinion is these points come across quite offensively and attitudes demonstrated from this point of view may very well be why people go “MIA” …
    If we as Christians do not unconditionally love and reserve judgement for God we play right into the plans of our enemy. The church IS a place where hurting people come looking… Embrace them where they are. Their ministry may be just finding a place where it’s ok to occupy a pew without being condemned. If I were on the fence, this blog likely would confirm my fears not relieve them.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 01:25h, 27 October Reply

      Point taken Teresa. I know I don’t always come across as I intend when writing.

  • Josh
    Posted at 12:57h, 26 October Reply

    Even if I met all the criteria above, depicting me as a whiny baby throwing a tantrum in the grocery store isn’t the image that’s going to motivate my change.

    I’ve been in church since I was 6 weeks old. I was a PK, then I was a youth pastor, then I was a heavily involved volunteer, and now I’m a guy who’s still trying to shed himself of the lingering guilt from being immersed in ideas like that. I haven’t wanted to attend church in several years. But I have because “that’s what you do” and because “church isn’t about me” and because “people who go to church for their own needs are selfish jerks.” The last one is less said than implied.

    As someone who now attends church for only 3 reasons (1. My wife still wants to go, and I don’t want to pull her away from something that’s significant for her, 2. To keep up appearances and 3. When I visit my parents, I attend the church my father pastors out of respect for him), I’ve not only had to overcome the guilt I experience for not gulping down the church-membership-preserving talking points, but also the guilt I feel for manipulating others to come to church while their hearts are elsewhere.

    Is church valuable? Undeniably so. Is the church better equipped to do good than the same number of individuals operating by themselves? Undeniably so.

    Is everyone who doesn’t like church a spoiled baby throwing a tantrum. Hardly.

    I love God and I trust Jesus. I serve the poor and seek to disciple and train men to be who God made them to be (ironically, I feel I’m opposed by the church at every step of THAT mission, but we don’t need to get into all that). But if I could find an alternative to the traditional church, I’d never darken its doorsteps again.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 01:27h, 27 October Reply

      “Is everyone who doesn’t like church a spoiled baby throwing a tantrum. Hardly.”

      Great point Josh. You are dead on. I’m thinking of writing a blog post about when a person really should leave a church, but I hate going negative all the time. There’s so many good things about so many great churches.

  • patricia
    Posted at 15:29h, 26 October Reply

    I have not attended church in years.I am now over 50 .For the first 20 years of my life I was in a church choir
    Practising 2x weekly. I sang at one service but attended occasionally Sunday school
    For the second service but usually skipped out. My parents were very strict, my dad cold and could be somewhat abusive. We said grace every meal and prayer before bed. I did not feel any spiritual ness only church was a habit. I have many religious relatives
    But feel they view service to others as only meaningful when combined with devotion to Jesus.
    A reference I made once to a Higher Power in a 12 step Programme was referred to
    As “a watered down version of God”. I attended a Salvation Army church in the 90’s after they made a tape for me to take with me while I was caring for a terminally ill relative. This tape was not a copy but the singer actually spent a whole day recording these songs. The service was full of music which started to help me connect more but when the pastor was replaced the new pastors did not provide the same connection for me. Now I possibly consider myself perhaps an agnostic or at best a skeptical believer.
    I give to others
    And volunteer my services often. The only time I was ever called by my old church was
    During the stewardship,never during hard times. I have become cynical when
    Viewing the third world service religious people I know who seem to value that service
    Above local service right here. How can I get past my resentment for their self righteous
    Behaviour in my eyes?

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 01:32h, 27 October Reply

      Hi Patricia! I actually came to Christ through a 12 step program that was secular, so I totally get your point. Thankfully God is so much bigger than all of our crazy rules and religion. Sadly, churches are comprised of people and people are sinners. Thankfully, there are A LOT of wonderful churches out there full of wonderful people. Case in point, I am presently in Japan working with churches. I have found so many wonderful and loving people here. It is a reminder of how gracious our Lord is. Don’t give up Patricia. God loves you.

  • Peter
    Posted at 23:53h, 26 October Reply

    Not sure about The Great Commission ?
    My experience is with most churches in the western world is that they will give more to a visiting a Pastor/Preacher from another church who preaches for one hour than to a family who sells everything to move to the mission field, home school their children and live by faith year in year out as opposed to a salary.
    Money is a great revealer of the heart. Including the heart of a Church and in particular the Senior Pastor. If the Great Commission is truly a priority in an established Church or denomination it will be clearly evident in their finances.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 01:35h, 27 October Reply

      Well said Peter. The Great Commission has often been the Great Omission in many of our churches. We can do better.

  • Jonathan Watford
    Posted at 03:25h, 27 October Reply

    Hi Brian,

    While I agree with all points made in your article, I do have a thought to add…..

    The biggest problem with the church in the 21st century (which is the root of all above problems) is that we have stopped BEING THE CHURCH and started GOING to church or trying to Find A church. I am a firm believer that the gathering of Christians on Sundays is a biblical necessity. However, it was never the primary focus of the first century Christians nor should it be ours today. God put us in this family we call Church in order that we might support each other in living the Christian life everyday. We, as true, repentant, reborn creatures, have already been promised heaven and receive God’s grace to continually make us right in his sight. Christ on the cross made our unforgivable natures forgiveable.

    So, the fundamental problem is that we as “Christians” have failed in making disciples and have simply made churchgoers. We have failed to impress upon new Christians the gravity of what Christ has done for all of us and what a living in him is supposed to look like. The first Christians created a community called Church based on a mission to save the world. Somewhere along the way, I fear, we have lost that attitude as a collective whole.

    Thank you for your article, it is a message most needed!

    J. Watford
    Youth Minister

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 03:42h, 27 October Reply

      Well said Jonathan.

  • Miriam
    Posted at 13:48h, 27 October Reply

    Thank you for sharing, Pastor! I grew up an M.K. (Missionary’s Kid) so I was always in church whether I wanted to or not. I saw so many people in our home church that my dad planted come and go for various reasons over the course of 10 plus years. I never fully understood what it meant to be a “church goer” until I hit 16/17 when I fully gave my heart to the Lord. It’s not about me at all, which is the mindset of a lot of people going to church. Better to give than to receive. It’s such a beautiful revelation when you finally understand what that means and put it into practice.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 21:58h, 27 October Reply

      Thanks Miriam…blessings to you!

  • mike connaway
    Posted at 14:37h, 27 October Reply

    If people don’t like a church they will leave. If they can’t find a good church anywhere it might gives us an insight into their heart. I have noticed that most hyper critic’s have no facts on their side just feelings. Although a persons feelings are important they are not always founded on debating reality. Blogs like this have a high debate format built into the content. 1. Churches have founded more hospitals they any other group.
    2. Most major universities were founded by churches
    3. Church going oeople give more to charities outside there own churches than non church goer’s Remember the Salvation Army is an active church and one of the largest charities in history.

    • Ron Amundson
      Posted at 17:58h, 27 October Reply

      In the past churches did accomplish amazing things. Today though, we have churches selling hospitals and schools, and without government support many of their ministries would no longer be viable. In the past, seminarians were funded by the church. Today, they can look at a lifetime of paying off school loans, and despite the insane debt load they create for their students, seminaries are in a world of financial hurt.

      In a similar vein, churches brought about many of our advances in the sciences and the arts… Can you imagine the church funding guys like Mendel or Michelangelo today?

      We have greater economic output per person than any previous time in history… but our priorities are different.

      • mike connaway
        Posted at 23:37h, 27 October Reply

        Hospitals are being built in record numbers by church right now. Church members give to charities 2 to 1 in comparison to non church goers. The Salvation Army is the largest non-governmental charity in Americait by the way sees itself as a church that’s why there a Salvation Army churches in most cities in America

  • Reep
    Posted at 15:15h, 27 October Reply

    The “It’s up to me” theme made some very positive points. Another perspective, especially regarding #2 “Friendship is up to me”…many church environment cultures are not set up well to prevent the “club mentality.” So many new comers experience the brick wall as they attempt to build those relational connections. The many good points the article makes can end up becoming a defensive explanation of “It’s not our fault we are now growing the local Body of Christ.”

  • Phyllis Jackson
    Posted at 16:20h, 27 October Reply

    I have read these comments with an open heart and think it is good that everyone can express their thoughts w/o too much criticism. We can all learn something if we respect other peoples feelings. I have been in church nearly all my life playing the piano. I married a Music Director who became a youth pastor for 14-years building 3-large youth groups who still love us today. My husband, (now deceased) later became a pastor and we built a church from the ground up, serving there 31-years before his death. Today our son pastors and is planning to build again. I have since married another pastor whose wife passed away and together we are trying to continue building this church in a town of devastation from job losses to Mexico, etc. Drugs are everywhere. When my (deceased) husband first started our church years ago, I was a little bit scared because I was going into a critical job I wasn’t exactly trained for. I prayed “Lord, just help me love people as I should.” We had a successful church…Fast forward 37 years…Today I am still loving people regardless of their problems…I don’t claim to have all the answers the pastor may have, but sometimes all you need to do is have a listening ear, give people handshakes and hugs with a friendly smile and encouraging word to help them through what is sometimes a painful transition. Many times that is all they are looking for. Loving people who may be unlovely is not always easy but sometimes your kindness in spite of their bitterness or hurtful actions will show them God’s love. People know how to argue & fuss but they don’t know how to fight “Love”..You may be their last hope..Godly Love with prayer has helped fix many problems.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 22:01h, 27 October Reply

      Amen Phyllis. Thank you for sharing that encouraging word!

  • Travis Antony
    Posted at 16:43h, 27 October Reply

    I appreciate the points made, it is important to have realistic and biblical expectations of the church. The text indicates a serious and heart felt response to this issue. Which is why I don’t understand the graphic of the pouting child. You say people leaving breaks your heart and saddens you, and I assume this article is meant to reach these people, at least in part. And the first thing they see is themselves depicted as a pouting child? Having left a church I attended for eight years, I can tell you it’s a heartbreaking experience. You don’t get over it quickly, if ever. Reading your words, I think you understand that. So I don’t get the “kick them while they are down” nature of the graphic you chose. I get and agree that sometimes, believers need some tough, biblical truth. But not mockery.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 22:03h, 27 October Reply

      Excellent point Travis. My demented sense of humor sometimes gets the best of me. I think I saw myself in the picture as I know I am tempted to whine. I think I’ll switch pics though. Thank you for that word.

    • passerby
      Posted at 16:03h, 28 October Reply

      I definitely agreed with this comment, and it was very uncomfortable to see you as a pastor describe someone who didn’t follow your teachings as someone who is whiny and childish:
      “So let me get this straight. You say you’re not being fed. You need some deeper preaching, but you don’t even do the stuff that my ‘shallow preaching’ addresses.Hmm, I’m not sure it’s my preaching that needs changing.”
      My immediate response was, but aren’t you a pastor= shepherd? You may have won that argument 100%, but you could’ve lost his soul.
      Even mature Christians go through seasons of testing, where we feel spiritually dry and away from Christ. We, and the person you spoke to, may just be at that stage of life when you meet them at church. We probably knew/heard the teachings you preached, but if it was so easy to jump into obedience from that spiritual low by getting our acts together, we wouldn’t need accountability partners or community in the church since we can all do the Christian thing alone. I’m sure you also experienced, that when you’re in the pits, only the Holy Spirit can bring back joy. It was a sensitive point for me because when I was still praying about moving my church, the pastor I had respected before openly accused/judged me on Facebook. Needless to say I was greatly hurt, but also that finalized my decision to leave: while he recognized I was not doing spiritually well (at a very small church), he NEVER ONCE approached me to even talk to me, and he was ENTIRELY wrong about his judgments he made of me. Whatever feelings of regret that I couldn’t serve that church more, sort of evaporated that moment.
      That being said, thank you for the part 2 of your post.
      When you recognized the reasons for leaving a church (to seek a new place to call home, not just fall away) and also shared your experiences, it showed me that you definitely gave a lot of thought into all the replies and you’re willing to change your mindset to better serve not only the lost, but also the misfits and the stubborn of the saved. I hope you always keep your ears open to hear people’s stories and I pray God uses your blog/ministry to transform more of us laypeople to Christ’s image.

      • Brian Moss
        Posted at 22:15h, 28 October Reply

        Thanks Sarah – blessings to you.

  • Richard
    Posted at 17:02h, 27 October Reply

    The church is also in need to meet the needs of todays society. We have changed our doctrine to look as if we are so willing to accept and love others whom are different than us. However, we live and work in a society that goes 24/7. If you visit or patronage a business before or after the “one” time we offer the sacraments a week. The sacraments that we say are the means of “grace”. If you visit these places of business before or after worship services and on Sunday and do not feel empathy for these folks? Our pastors and leaders are true sheperds of their flocks. The pope said that Pastors that do not get out on the streets and pursue others are merely hairdressers of sheep. The church is the body of Christ, open one day a week for the most part and a half day at that.

  • Rose
    Posted at 18:50h, 27 October Reply

    Never read a truer piece! Thank you thank you!
    As someone said, there is no such thing as a perfect church. And if you find one, do not join; because it will become imperfect as soon as you do. Why – because you’re not perfect 🙂

  • Lance Rengel
    Posted at 20:05h, 27 October Reply

    Agrees with Josh. So many of us who have left the visible church and wandered off into the wilderness have done so for NONE of the reasons professional paid “pastor” Brian has listed. During the past 20 years I have served in 3 churches and with a local SBC Association. Not every pastor was “bad”, but each of them had some negative aspects (as we all do). The common theme though was that ALL of them were and are arrogant and would not allow anyone (except maybe another pastor) to hold them accountable. Pastors are not transparent, and if one dares to attempt to even speak to them about problems in the church(s) then you are summarily labeled as “divisive” and are made to leave.

    I served in a local church as an elder/Associate Pastor (unpaid) for 12 years. When I finally requested from the pastor that we needed to talk regularly about problems in the church he stopped talking to me for 3 months until my family and I left. He still will not speak to me 4 years later, and I have been to the church numerous times since we left. I thought this was unique to him. Maybe he was just immature. But since then I have found out this is a common way pastors get rid of people they don’t want at “their” church. Ignore them until they leave. Do they teach this at seminary?

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 22:18h, 27 October Reply

      Sorry you had those experiences Lance. I have seen some of those pastors, but I meet far more godly, humble pastors. Not perfect, but sincerely compassionate and loving.

      • Lance Rengel
        Posted at 23:49h, 27 October Reply

        Yes, you meet them . . . as a fellow pastor. You are part of the pastor club, and as such other pastors treat you differently than they will those not their peers. Just as cops treat other cops differently and teachers do teachers, so pastors cover for other pastors. It’s natural. That is why Galatians 2 is such an important chapter. Paul, the Evangelist, wasn’t having any of the chummy chummy hypocrisy; even though “even Barnabas” the encourager became a hypocrite too.

        I am not a pastor. I am an evangelist. I see things from another perspective, and as such I am treated differently as well. October is “Pastor Appreciation Month”. I am sure you received your envelope and the people praised you. What a GUY! Pastors all over the world got their envelopes and their praise. That’s fine. I am happy for all of you. The street evangelists of the world will wait a little longer; until the Lord returns or takes them home.

        My suggestion for you and some other pastors. Take come time to study, and I mean really study 1 Corinthians 9. Pastors use this to justify themselves being paid to preach. But is that what Paul is talking about? The pastors were being paid. Elders were appointed in the churches to teach and guard the flock. The Evangelists who came and actually did the planting were soon forgotten.

        • mike connaway
          Posted at 12:39h, 29 October Reply

          I’ve been a pastor for 25 years. Started 3 churches from 0. I did not know October was pastor app month. I have never got an envelope. I’ve preached around the world and know 100s of pastors, they don’t get the envelope. I think vain imagination runs a little wild sometimes on blogs because it is a world people can say what ever they FEEL like. This pastor who has served us all eell with his heart for people and his great instruction I believe deserves one of these envolopes!

          • Lance Rengel
            Posted at 14:58h, 29 October

            Hey Mike – sorry you never received the “extra” envelope in October. You did get paid for ministry for 25+ years didn’t you? You must have, since you “preached around the world”. Someone had to pay for you to do all of that traveling. And someone had to pay someone else to preach while you were somewhere else around the world. For 12 years when my pastor went on his annual Hawaiian vacation I preached in his absence. He never offered me a dime. Maybe I was a fool for not asking. I also taught a weekly Bible Study, served in the children’s ministry, taught evangelism, and led the monthly men’s prayer breakfast. Because I wasn’t the “paid” pastor and did not have a “title” I really did not exist.

            After he removed me from “his church” I went to another church. I preached a few times on Wednesday nights and I taught Evangelism Explosion weekly for more than a year. I never asked for any money nor was it ever offered. The pastor could not afford to extend a single dime for evangelism, but he could afford to go to Hawaii every year . . . and take his entire extended family with him.

            I read some of your other posts. I am not down on the church. I have a good perspective. I taught church history for 10 years. The problem is not the church, it is those who have taken control of the church and made themselves lords . . . the professional paid pastors who are not transparent and not accountable.
            You said, “If they can’t find a good church anywhere it might gives us an insight into their heart.” That is the type of pastoral arrogance we are talking about.

          • mike connaway
            Posted at 17:29h, 29 October

            There are many good churches and I will repeat myself, if no church is good enough for you, it might be you. Calling me names might help you blow off steam but it also gives me an insight into your heart as well. This is not my blog so I will be my last comment.

          • Lance Rengel
            Posted at 18:17h, 29 October

            Mike – nobody called you any names. You’re not reading what people are saying, or you don’t believe them. Many pastors are abusive & arrogant. It’s no small matter. The sooner pastors actually confront it and repent, the sooner the church can heal, be restored, and advance the Kingdom.

        • mike connaway
          Posted at 18:14h, 30 October Reply

          Pastor Brian I followed you blog about people leaving church and how it was tough on you when the reasons were based on false biblical expectations. As you know many marriages break apart for the same reasons. As a pastor I followed the blog which I rarely do. Your care and clearity was very balanced. I commented a few times but wish I would have only observed. I noticed something you did that I have learned from. 1.Those who agreed you thanked but did not over engage. They were not your target because you are not looking for fans. 2. Those who simply wanted accuse you tried to find some common ground so as not to fuel their hurts, self inflicked or not. 3. Others were hurt but still seeking guidance allowing you to pastor them even if they were hurt or not part of your local church. Thank you for your example and I pray great favor upon your ministry.

          Pastor Mike

          • Brian Moss
            Posted at 22:25h, 30 October

            Thank you Pastor Mike for your encouraging words. You are truly a Barnabas. Blessings to you my friend!

          • mike connaway
            Posted at 22:48h, 30 October

            I just read my comment and behold! A lot of grammatical errors. Lol cellphone device’s suck!

  • Robin A.
    Posted at 21:23h, 27 October Reply

    I must admit to approaching this article rather sheepishly, as we are seeking direction from the Lord about leaving a church where we have been members for over 20 years. Our problem is overcommitment and burnout in a church where the pastor appears to have given up studying for anything beyond alliterations in a sermon. But your article was helpful in nailing down our responsibilities within the Body. By the way, that picture is epic, although I was afraid of finding out if that’s how I was acting.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 22:22h, 27 October Reply

      Thanks Robin. Had to change the pic since it is off-putting. Honestly, I’m not really a blogger and never expected this many people to even read this post. Since it’s gone viral and outside of the context of my own peeps, I decided to pull the pic. I’m currently writing a follow-up posting on when it’s time to leave your church. Thanks for your feedback.

      • Robin A.
        Posted at 01:27h, 28 October Reply

        Can’t wait to read it. God bless you!

  • Tressa
    Posted at 23:44h, 27 October Reply

    There is a whole lot of DO here and not much of what has been DONE. What has been done for you? Christ died for us while we were still sinners. I see his name one time in this article and only to tell me what I need to do. Sometimes it is good to hear what has been done. Do I give enough? No. Do I evangelize enough? No. Am I a perfect wife? No. But praise be to Jesus that He did it all for me perfectly. If I am not hearing that every week, then no, I would say the church is not meeting my needs.

  • Jane Curran
    Posted at 01:42h, 28 October Reply

    We go to church in an area where every 4th person is related to one another. We have been here in the South for 10 years, and initially we were involved heavily in our first church here. We were there for 8 years! But no matter how many times we tried to become friends and interact with people, we were ultimately rejected. We would buy them lunch, pray with them, invite them over, etc… Our pastor was popular at our church, even though he was from another area too…but since he played football when he was a teen, he was accepted…strange, I know…but a cultural stamp of approval here). Our pastor liked us a lot and felt led to have us lead a ministry at our church. But we were often met with disdain because we were not related to anyone there. We finally left after 8 years, although the pastor had asked us to lead another church they would sponsor! We couldn’t think of who would actually want to help us with the new church!! We just could not take the utter rejection anymore. Even the pastor’s wife was unsupportive of us! Only the pastor could see our potential and hearts to truly serve and love the Lord. That’s been 2 years now and we have not found a church yet that has yet to be filled with cliques and reject us. This small town stuff really stinks!

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 01:48h, 28 October Reply

      So sorry Jane. That is tough.

  • Just me
    Posted at 02:41h, 28 October Reply

    Sometimes, what you hear from the pulpit is not what you are hearing from God. After awhile you begin to doubt God and find that you are not able to sift out the chaff until Thursday. When the breakthrough comes, and you see the places where the sermon put you back in bondage to the law, it is time for church again and it starts all over. I left the church for my spiritual health not because I was upset or had hurt feelings. To stay where I know what I have to share about God would cause strife and confusion isn’t what I want to do. And I can’t seem to not share about my God and how good He is. When the sermons tell me what I should be doing to be right with God, I want to jump up and say…. Jesus made me right…. there is nothing I need to do to be right with Him. JESUS made me righteous and nothing I can do will undo what He did on the cross. Yes, churches often talk about being made right with God at salvation but then turn around and teach/preach what we must/should do to stay right with Him. I left church when I could not recognize the God they knew and shared. {sigh} I miss corporate worship. I like being in church. I know God doesn’t require me to punch a time clock and do my duty there. If I could just sneak in for worship and leave without hurting anyone’s feelings I would do that. Although, some worship leaders like to beat on you in between songs too.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 04:56h, 28 October Reply

      There are healthy, life-giving, grace affirming churches out there. Don’t give up until you find one. It’s worth the effort.

    • Lance Rengel
      Posted at 14:39h, 28 October Reply

      Dear Just Me – Everything you said is where I am at as well. I still have one foot in and one foot out of the door of the visible church. I want to be part of a church, but also do not want to be divisive. After I began drifting away from the most recent church I was attending I would show up on Wednesday nights for the half hour of worship, and then would leave as soon as the pastor began preaching. I still do that on occasion.

  • Mandy
    Posted at 02:44h, 28 October Reply

    Let me preface my comment by saying that I’m a seminary-educated believer in full-time Christian ministry outside of the local church. I’m also a 35 yr old, never been married, childless woman. I know what scripture says about the church and its purpose. I know I’m extremely selfish at times (lots of the time), and I know that my “feelings” are often deceptive. I grew up in church and love being a member of a healthy church. I live in a seminary town in the south. There are strong, theologically healthy churches of every shape and form on every corner for 50 miles in any direction. So please keep those things in mind as I try to explain my current frustration with the modern church.

    Plain and simple, I don’t fit. I live 850 miles from my closest relative. I moved here for seminary and stayed for ministry. My “family” where I currently live are my friends and co-workers in ministry, but they are all married and have their own families here who consume their time. My family should be my church. But they’re all so wrapped up in their own family lives that there’s no room for people like me. Here comes that word again, I “feel” like I could drop dead on Friday afternoon and no one would notice until I didn’t show up at work on Monday.

    I get physically sick every Saturday night from dreading church so much the next day. I go to Sunday school and hear women go on and on about their children and husbands and I sit in silence because I have nothing to contribute to the conversation and they never notice. I sit in church surrounded by couples and children and listening to pastors preach about being godly mothers and fathers and wives and husbands. I’ve tried to build those relationships you talk about, but it’s just depressing because I don’t fit in their lives any more than I fit in the church. And to illustrate that fact, I haven’t been invited to lunch after church by anyone in my church (or previous church) in at least 5 years….and that’s probably a conservative number…and I was the Sunday school teacher for the women’s class for 2 of those years! It’s not like I was cowering in the corner somewhere! And those women I taught for 2 years are wonderful, sweet ladies who would be appalled at that fact. It just didn’t occur to them that maybe the teacher would like to eat lunch with someone other than her dog today. And maybe the reason they never considered it, at least in part, is due to a failure in church leadership.

    Now I’m in a place where I’m incredibly frustrated with church. I despise going to church. I’m southern baptist! That goes against the very fiber of my theological and ecclesiastical beliefs, but it’s just the truth. And I’m just so tired and sad that it’s come to this, but churches and pastors just don’t seem to care. If I express this, I’m selfish/whiney/pouty/must be living in sin/prideful/full of self-pity/have a mind set of being “deserving, not serving” and so on. And I’m just fed up for feeling guilty about being so disappointed in THE Church for being so unwilling to recognize what I consider a fatal flaw in reaching a lost world that looks increasingly an awful lot like me in a lot of ways.

    I’m a mature, committed, educated believer and I feel this way. Can you even try to imagine what going to church must feel like for those who share my circumstances but not my faith? Is the gospel so narrow-minded? Obviously not. Thank god that my commitment to Him is based on His grace and goodness towards me. Because if it was only on the church, as a previous post stated, I’d never darken its doors again.

    Yes, there’s no perfect church because there are no perfect people, but that’s no excuse to belittle the genuine hurt of people who believe that the church is failing in its mission to encourage and build up the body of Christ. And I’m not saying that was the intent of this article, but it’s how I felt when I read it.

    With that said, I so appreciate the way you’ve responded with grace to some of the other criticisms in the comments. Sorry this was so long! God bless!

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 04:53h, 28 October Reply

      Mandy, thank you for sharing your heart. You are not alone. Believe it or not, pastors and their families are often put into the same category. Who wants to hang out with a pastor or his wife? It can be VERY lonely. Add to that the fact that many seminaries used to teach pastors NOT to make friends in their church because it might cause jealousy. That’s a recipe for total isolation and incredible loneliness. I decided a long time ago not to follow that prescription. I am a strong proponent of small groups. Not Bible studies, but genuine life-on-life groups that accentuate true fellowship. Most people are not looking for a friendly church, they’re looking for friends. Sunday School never did it for me. Sadly, the environment works against developing real friendships. Small groups hosted in homes tend to foster greater intimacy. I won’t lie, it takes some real work to find a good small group, but it’s worth the work. I would recommend that you not give up until you can find a group of friends that can relate to your age/stage. That will probably never happen in a church service. It has to happen in a small environment. I commit to pray for you.

    • Deb
      Posted at 13:52h, 28 October Reply

      I identify with this. I am an old (66) woman, single, and about the only time I remember being approached by anyone after services is when I brought a man along with me once. Then some guy hurried over to welcome us because he thought we were a new couple checking out the church. My pastor seems to have taken a severe dislike to me because I (a) don’t believe that the earth is 6000 yr old, (b) am starting to wonder what they are doing at these miracle healing services because nobody seems to be healed of anything very serious or visible and (c) because I don’t believe that going to college necessarily makes you an atheist. I have been going to a Vineyard church. I was attracted to it because of all the energy in the services but I’m am now thinking “what was I thinking”?????

      • Brian Moss
        Posted at 07:53h, 29 October Reply

        You may want to read part two of this blog.

    • Amarantine
      Posted at 21:43h, 28 October Reply

      Yes, church can be a ‘families-only’ country club that avoids real relationship with anyone else. It’s about fitting in, and being seen to do the ‘right’ things.
      Church should be a 50/50. A place where you can take as well as give, not somewhere where you wear yourself out serve, serve, serving until there is nothing left to give. A few ascetics are suited / called to that type of life, and while part of church’s job is to remind people to care for others and not be selfish, it can’t demand absolutely everything from a person, because that would be a controlling cult, not a church where people freely meet to share the love of God.
      Above all church should be a place where you can be honest about yourself and not have to pretend or dissemble – or be a clone of everyone else.

      • Amarantine
        Posted at 21:50h, 28 October Reply

        Oops, that was meant to be a reply to Mandy.
        But Deb, seriously, your pastor hates you because you don’t believe the earth is 6,000 years old?! Hahahahaha! Gotta love Vineyard.

        • Deb
          Posted at 22:58h, 28 October Reply

          The one who preached the sermon about the world being 6,000 ur old concluded by throwing the Bible down on the lectern and saying “that’s the truth it’s settled, and I believe it!” So I questioned the lead

          • Amarantine
            Posted at 23:30h, 28 October

            Ooookaay….backs away slowly from the lectern…
            Do not question, dear sheep!

          • Deb
            Posted at 00:19h, 29 October

            Sorry, internet kicked off. I questioned the lead pastor about the 6,000 yr thing after the service and he said he didn’t believe the earth was Exactly 6000 yr old, but…….the guy who preached that sermon believed it and he’s an elder on the board of this church. Here’s my recent dilemma: i have a few friends here from different activities we have done but I can’t see giving money to this church to go out and convert people to something I don’t believe. The pastor avoids talking to me because I question what’s going on here. My church from childhood was Methodist and our small town Methodist church is nearly dead. Nobody goes. I feel lost.

  • Heather Feimster
    Posted at 06:27h, 28 October Reply

    Hi Brian – thank you for your vulnerability and strength to share something like this in our media-crazy world. It is a testament to your character and desire to hold your brothers and sisters in Christ accountable for not only their personal actions toward others, but their personal relationship with Jesus.

    As an expat living abroad, I’ve come to appreciate the church in a whole new light. It truly goes beyond the building, events, small groups. It is the thread that connects us with other believers – “A chord of three strands is not easily broken”.

    I will, however, offer this insight. As a mom of a toddler, sometimes the pressure to be “involved”, to “serve” the church, just adds to my to-do list. It becomes something to check off the list, something to stress over, something to be prideful of, instead of the humble servant act it should be. Church “burn out” by those who are always “doing” is very real, because the “doing” is no longer connected to the “serving”. Our culture glorifies “busy-ness” and if we aren’t careful, we will do that in our churches too.

    It’s paramount that we pay attention to our brothers and sisters in Christ – that we see them and approach them with love when they really just need a Sabbath – a break, a breath, a rest – from the “doing” in the church. Sometimes we all just need to “be” with God, to refresh us, to refill us, so that we may pour His love out again.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 13:38h, 28 October Reply

      Hey Heather – totally agree about the pressure issue. I believe being a mom is your first and most important ministry. I encourage mothers of little ones to do less church activity and more family time. In fact, we intentionally do less activities at our church for that very reason. Blessings!

  • Sherry Girvin
    Posted at 11:10h, 28 October Reply

    Dear Brian,

    I feel very sad about the member who left your congregation and received an exit interview about his ability to execute the instructions sermonized to him previous to his leaving your church. The love of Christ is what people are starving for not sound teaching. People are not being fed Jesus. The Bible says everything Jesus did on the Earth could not fill all the books of all the world. Everything Jesus did certainly doesn’t fill all the sermons in the world either. Marriage, money, witnessing; weeks of instruction when they just want to hear God loves them, how much He loves them, why their sin and shortcomings don’t scare God; they want to overflow with every spiritual blessing in Christ. They want to feel love from God. How much Jesus is too much? Can you preach Jesus too much? Is there any subject in this world in the short 2 hours (which includes worship)that I want to hear about except Jesus Christ? That is 104 hours a year (including worship)out of 8,760 hours in my year and my pastor thinks I want to hear something other than God loves me; some teaching besides how to be intimate with God. My relationship with God needs to be strengthened in those few hours.
    The world is a dark place. People return to it because there is no difference between the church and the world.
    Thank you for reading my response. Sherry

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 13:35h, 28 October Reply

      Thanks for your thoughts Sherry. No need to be sad about the member. He came back 2 years later and said I was right and asked to come back. Of course, we welcomed him with open arms.

    • Molly
      Posted at 17:56h, 28 October Reply

      So very right Sherry!!!

  • Nancy
    Posted at 14:35h, 28 October Reply

    I am in total agreement about my responsibility to the church, however, I am a displaced Yankee in a Southern state. I have hesitated to join a congregation because of the cultural divide. Then I met a few members of a local UMW who convinced me to try again. It was so nice. My husband and I attended services every Sunday for several months, I joined a group of ladies who were knitting dishcloths to sell to help with the cost of a new heating/cooling system, I was making good Christian friends. And then, the other shoe dropped. The Pastor while speaking to the children explained a Catholic sacrament,(Communion)this way, “The celebration comes from a heathen belief that the Priest is able to turn bread into God.” He ended the statement be explaining that Catholics base much of their church on voodoo. He then explained voodoo and by that point I was so upset I couldn’t breath.
    Suffer the little children to come and learn bigotry.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 07:56h, 29 October Reply

      All of us say silly things from time to time. Go to him in love and share your heart.

  • RustBeltRick
    Posted at 16:08h, 28 October Reply

    If you sell tomatoes by the roadside and no one’s buying, the LAST assumption you should make is that everyone driving by has bad expectations and therefore you don’t need to make any changes to your activities. There are reasons people leave churches, or attend out of obligation. Perhaps do some self-evaluation and see if there are some things you are doing to alienate people. Ask new questions. Don’t be defensive.

  • LauraA
    Posted at 17:21h, 28 October Reply

    Hi, Pastor Brian. I’m a bit perplexed about a conclusion you post in point 1 that “music is not worship”. Having been a part of church music since high school at a variety of churches with a variety of musical styles, I’ve never encountered a pastor who felt this way. Care to explain a bit more about how you arrived at this conclusion?
    Thanks.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 22:19h, 28 October Reply

      Hi Laura – my point is that, biblically speaking, music in and of itself is not worship. Music can be used to worship but worship is much more than singing. I define worship as honoring God with our lips and our lives. It encompasses every aspect of our lives. Hope this helps!

  • Chris
    Posted at 17:30h, 28 October Reply

    I left church not because of church, I left because of a god who couldn’t meet the simplest of expectations. Once I began to question the history of the bible, the origins of the church, and lack of logic and inconsistency in the bible, I realized the whole christian experience was in people’s minds and had no bearing on reality

  • Frank Mill
    Posted at 17:37h, 28 October Reply

    What I’ve learnt:

    1. Everything is ultimately all up to me.
    2. Despite this, I still need someone to explain religion to me
    3. Only serving the church will get me “like Jesus”
    4. The church/pastor decides whether or not a church lets me down, not me, because I am probably approaching faith from a selfish perspective, or I am confused, or different, or didn’t give 10% of my income

  • Molly
    Posted at 17:51h, 28 October Reply

    This article literally made me cry. I had been in church my whole life until 2 years ago when I finally walked away. I was not one of those people who complained about the music or didn’t attend core groups or sat stoic in the back. I was one of those 20 per centers who did 80 percent of the work. I was on the worship team and clean – up team and in the nursery. I went to the moms group and gave my tithe (more than 10 percent in fact),and when “life happened” to me, NO ONE even noticed I was gone. Not at just one church…at 3 separate evangelical, “bible believing” churches! I gave up on it because it is BS! And if you don’t believe that a pastor is supposed to “be there” for his congregation then you are the problem! Are you not also part of the “Body of Christ” or did you graduate from that when you became a “pastor?!” The the “church” as we do it in the US in 2014 is NOT what Jesus intended and I will never walk back into it. Jesus is not about budgets and building programs! And she sure as hell expects his “pastors” to shepherd his flock!!!

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 22:24h, 28 October Reply

      I am sorry you were wounded Molly. You are absolutely right when you said “Jesus is not about budgets and building programs.” Not sure if you read my Part 2 post but it may give you a little more clarity on my perspective or it may not. Either way, I am sorry you were hurt.

  • Laila
    Posted at 18:19h, 28 October Reply

    How sad that you did not take the “exit interview” or subsequent aired grievances as opportunities to self-reflect and consider the ways in which the church fails to meet people’s needs. Instead, you take the prideful stance and assume people are the problem, not you.

    You are wrong about the church not making promises. I grew up in church my whole life, and I heard plenty of promises. It promises that if you do everything they say (or what the bible says), you will be fulfilled. It promises that the christian life is the best life, and that all you need is Christ to have joy. It promises that serving is the best way to feel connected with God.

    Well, what about when that doesn’t work? What about when you feel empty despite the fact that you pray and read your Bible? What about when you are so exhausted from pouring yourself out and no one pours into you because “churches exist for the purposes of their non-members?” What about when the church encourages Doing Things and a religious dogma that leaves you with shame and guilt when you can’t measure up? What about when the church is spiritually abusive? Well according to the church, I must be doing something wrong.

    You may think that your church is different, that anyone who leaves in frustration must be ungodly or selfish or whatever. But this article proves that you are exactly like all the others. People like you are the reason people are leaving the church. It boggles my mind that pastors are so blind and blame everyone and everything but themselves. Ever consider that maybe, just maybe, you’re doing something wrong? Maybe the system isn’t working?

    Apparently seminary does not teach you self-reflection or listening skills.

  • David Drury
    Posted at 18:39h, 28 October Reply

    Brian:

    This is very hard for me to read.

    I am a church member, I am the son of a pastor, and have a seminary degree.

    When you talk about a person, upon exiting the church, who says that the church “failed to meet their needs” and then comfortably proffer that they “expected what the church never promised,” I hear animosity. I hear the gears grinding to come up with a plausible explanation. A defense. And then a list of five “Thou Shalt Nots.” On some level, the people leaving your church may just be looking for the New Testament.

    If they express disappointment, why do you see it as a challenge to the divine nature of the church? As opposed to the nature of the kinds of people that gather at and administrate church (broken, flawed, unique, journeying, etc)? Don’t you share in their holy disappointments? Because even when they are flippant or have outlandish expectations–like they thought they were signing on for a free membership in a country club–there is a very real disappointment buried in there somewhere, and I guarantee you it is a holy one. In spite of their expectations, no one who has felt loved well leaves a church. Feeling the presence of God isn’t a light switch. You know that. It is hard to make friends. It is difficult to serve, much less “change the world.” We all are trying to sort out the truth and align ourselves with it. We crave love. Do you have a corner on these markets? By the way, gifted teachers “explaining the Bible” is never a good thing. Gifted teachers walking with me into the promises, mysteries and difficulties of the Bible is a wonderful thing.

    What if, when someone says the church failed to meet their needs, you saw it not as an affront, but a gift? A chance at filling that which is missing by listening to them well , empathizing, apologizing, and coming alongside them not from the pulpit down, but from the gutter up. Pastoring is a cold, wet, muddy slog arm in arm with people whose middle fingers are directed at God. Anything less is not pastoring, right?

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 22:28h, 28 October Reply

      Great points David. I actually agree with you.

    • mike connaway
      Posted at 23:15h, 28 October Reply

      David son of a pastor, this blog is a case study in how people hear through their own life experience. I hear a pastor giving a gentle warning that is mandated in scripture. His ministry does not look desperate. His heart to me was amazing and humble. He did not sound bitter but rather deeply concerned. The parable of the sower clearly tells us people fall away and most pastors feel Gods heart when this happens. Wrong expectations in any relationship can cause problems and this pastor is an expert and proven to help us with biblical expectations. We all hear through our own life experiences and I hope people assume the best of this pastors intentions.I believe people could realy grow by receiving this word of wisdom.

  • Claudia
    Posted at 20:57h, 28 October Reply

    What I’m hearing here is that if you’re too introverted and “broken” to be as proactive as you suggest, then the church is no place for you until you’re better. Sounds like victim blaming to me, not Jesus.

  • Lisa
    Posted at 23:51h, 28 October Reply

    Brian, I have worked in a church for the past 20 years. I have made many lifelong friends. I love my church family. I seek God daily surrendering to His plan for my life. I have shared my hurts and disappointments with Him. He healed my heart when my husband of 25 years left me. Never once did it occur to me that my pain and sorrow would be healed by people, not even Jesus loving awesome people. Honestly, at that time the teaching I was receiving at my church was not helping me learn to walk through this horrible situation. It was helping many others in areas of their life, but not speaking to what I was going through. I knew if I went to anyone in the church and asked for counsel they would do their best to “be like Jesus” to me. Instead of blaming anyone for the fact that the sermons were not meeting my needs I took it upon myself to seek out additional teaching and encouragement. I still went to church every week thanking God for the opportunity to serve Him and to be served by others. My Pastor is not my Savior. My Pastor is man who works 60 some hours per week for fair pay. He truly wishes he could personally know and spend time with everyone that walks through the door. I work so hard on Sundays to make my rounds looking for anyone who needs a hug, prayer or a smile. I truly wish I had the super powers some people think I have as a church leader. I am one person, who loves Jesus with everything I’ve got. I love people and spend many hours sharing life and struggles with those who are hurting, but God won’t let me be perfect. So I point them to Him. I have been let down by my leadership in the past, but every time I sought God to show me what they did wrong; He pointed my finger right back at me. He insisted I forgive and love the unlovley. I did not like that answer, but 8 years later I see why He asked me to forgive and focus on Him. He is the only one who will never disappoint me. I completely understand where you are coming from and the true intent of your article. When you give it all you got with the best intentions only to be told, ‘you stick’ it hurts. But, we keep that to ourselves and set out to try again. God appreciates it and so do many, many others. Thanks for loving people! Keep on keeping on! You are on my prayer list this week.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 08:03h, 29 October Reply

      Lisa, you sound like a very mature believer. Blessings.

      • Ashley
        Posted at 07:12h, 01 November Reply

        So true Lisa.

  • Sheila
    Posted at 00:25h, 29 October Reply

    Some great points, but I do take issue with #3. I am so tired of attending “relevant” SS classes on money management, parenting, relationships, evangelism, etc. Whatever happened to taking a book of the Bible and going through a point-by-point, meaty study of it? The above subjects are important and I do think can be included in SS classes. But when that is all the church offers, for months and months, yes, I am going to start feeling spiritually starved. Just my perspective.

  • barbara lehr
    Posted at 01:21h, 29 October Reply

    i’ve been in a church for about 8 years after using my servants heart on an adventure of about 25 years giving and knowing i was loved by both staff and church members……then it totally imploded– about 15 people wanted to get rid of the minister and caused the entire collapse of this church. now i’m in a church — had surgery (back) Jan’14 and two times in July ’14. 9 months of surgery, and recoop time. Not ONE staff/minister person sent a card-e mail, phone call, or visit. when i asked for help with my husband’s chemo visits, i was told “oh we’ve got a whole committee that does that” and that was the end of it. i DO believe as a church member -there are certain actions that are expected — when they are not–(in my case) i do not ask, expect or even think i am going to be “serviced” by my church. i’m am still there (valued friends), but feeling loved is NOT one of the reasons.

  • barbara lehr
    Posted at 01:26h, 29 October Reply

    p.s. i KNOW i am loved by God and the relationship with our Lord is valued more than any situation in any church, but we are still human with feelings…..

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 08:07h, 29 October Reply

      Agreed. We all need to be loved and cared about. So sorry to hear about your husband. I pray you and your husband are doing better.

  • Allison
    Posted at 20:41h, 29 October Reply

    Actually, I left the church for none of the above reasons.

    I left because I was being bullied for being deaf. The church became a place of pain and rejection, especially after getting implanted at the age of 16. People would tell me that I hadn’t “been faithful” and hadn’t “allowed God to heal me by himself” because I’d moved forward with the procedure. (Twice.)

    They seem to forget that getting implanted made me stronger. I got my life back and I finally had enough with the teasing and bullying by both teens and adults.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 22:26h, 29 October Reply

      I would say that fits #4 and #3.

  • James
    Posted at 01:25h, 30 October Reply

    Fair enough points made here. I do wonder about the validity of the example provided in #3. Consider if someone was not being challenged in a classroom. The homework is remedial, the information uninteresting or worse, not applicable, and the instructor holds back when they could genuinely challenge. Why would anyone put any effort into that class? It seems natural that they would fail at most of the directives offered by the instructor; particularly, if the instructor encourages them to endorse the course and invite friends. If the student does not find the course worthwhile, naturally they would not endorse it to others, no pour any resources into it.

    I find this particularly interesting at “seeker friendly” type church models. Yes, milk first, but then if meat never shows up (in order to continue meeting the needs of the unbeliever and unsure), then why would people moving forward in their walk continue to stay or get more engaged/involved? That’s an honest question, and I’d love to get some perspective.

    Thanks for the thought-provoking post.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 02:27h, 30 October Reply

      Thanks James! a couple of notes. First, it’s important to define “meat” and maturity. I define spiritual maturity by implementation not just information. Many Christians define “meat” as deeper knowledge. Nothing wrong with that but needs balance. We’ve mistaken meaty Christians for mature Christians. Yes, churches should have varying degrees of biblical studies, but need to emphasize ACTION over knowledge. Knowledge puffs up; love builds up. Blessings to you my friend.

      • Ashley
        Posted at 07:09h, 01 November Reply

        Not Action over knowledge but action equal with action. The power is in the Word and faith comes with hearing sp does the healing of the broken hearted. It is essential to know what we are doing and to go more intimatelt in Him whicj happens by molk than meat

  • James Wong
    Posted at 08:24h, 30 October Reply

    We have been in this church for 20 years . We have great friends and wonderful fellowship but will be exiting soon, Why?
    The music is a concert of performers.
    Drums are overpowering.During prayer time and communion it is louder so that prayers cannot hear.Songs sung have no bearing to the message or the occason.During communion the songs dont reflect on Christ on the cross butother themes.Our excellent pastor just resigned.
    He was there 15 years but received no farewell gathering.
    James

    • Peter
      Posted at 19:15h, 30 October Reply

      Couldn’t agree more.
      Over the years I have prayed for many people down at the front of our Church and for the most part I find myself yelling in their ear. The music is normally so loud I can’t even hear myself let alone them.
      PS. I thought Faith Cometh by Hearing 🙂

      • Brian Moss
        Posted at 22:22h, 30 October Reply

        That’s why I am such a strong proponent of small groups. Great place to really give time to pray over someone without distractions.

  • Brian William
    Posted at 14:05h, 30 October Reply

    “Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away.” Mark 4:5-6

  • Hurting
    Posted at 18:11h, 30 October Reply

    Brian,

    Please just pray for me and our church. There is a great need in my church for much more sensitivity to individual’s true needs and hurts in my church (not just mine by the way) and when I tried to raise some awareness about it, I feel as though your article was used as ammunition against me. It grieves my heart, but when people can’t hear your heart, sometimes I think it’s better to leave and not cause more hurt.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 22:20h, 30 October Reply

      I commit to pray for you and your church this morning.

  • sabrina
    Posted at 00:58h, 31 October Reply

    I didnt read the whole thing. Didnt need to. I lost interest because there were to many hypocrites. All my life I heard about’dont adorn youself, no jewelry’ but what is all the fancy clothes and the make up but another kind of adornment!
    And the Christian attitude went out the door if they didnt like someone or something…they were to judgmental.
    And I was helped only to have it held over my head…we did this so u have to do this…or we wont do this if u dont do this…

  • Jordan Davis
    Posted at 16:39h, 31 October Reply

    I’ve spent the last two years serving as an Assistant Pastor in Church. Now I’m not. I have to say, I am flabbergasted by this article and it makes me not want to go to Church. The biggest thing I noticed is the lack of scriptural support for any of your points. You wrote this article from a contemporary American Church stance, not a scripture stance. Church IS supposed to be about its members. Their discipleship and their sanctification. Somehow we (and you apparently believe this too) equate going to Church with living a Christian life or being a good Christian. I’m so sick of this crap. Going to Church and being active is not what Christ asks of us. And YES I read the entire article. If someone isn’t being fed by your teaching and you reference a whole bunch of series you taught, maybe you should reference the scripture you taught instead. This article is a bunch of crap in my opinion and I hope no one else reads it and gets turned off.

    • mike connaway
      Posted at 00:31h, 01 November Reply

      Jordan, I believe Pastor Brian wrote this blog in belief that solid local churches need Christians to serve a liitle more and deserve a LITTLE less. Pastors, parents, and even presidents will use verbiage like this every so often. To be as agressive, appalled and condeming on such a grand scale seems like an over response to a pretty good blog, how be it not perfect. Thx for serving in ministry for 2 years it is a hard job and easy to get cynical carrying out the burden. I think this great pastor tried to share some other thoughts in his 2nd article. I think his heart was instructive and yes challenging but yours was way over the top judgemental. I think you owe this good man an apology. He doesn’t seem to be evil, just different from you. I would imagine 1000s whould say he has been a life saving blessing and tool in God’s hands. If you could soften your stance a little I’m sure this pastor could be a friend and mentor to you. He seems to me to be authentic and sharp.

  • Ashley
    Posted at 06:33h, 01 November Reply

    Can u provide me with Scriptire supporting the idea that the local church is only intended to meet the needs of the unchurched? Because Im pretty sure the Bible says to make disciples not just converts. Also, are u saying the churched dont need hope and healing as well? I agree music is not worship and relationships are vital. So is trust in ur teacher and if there are unmet needs than the pastor is supposed to be a prime example of service. Involved in routine direct contact with sheep just as a real shepherd does. Consider thepastor with the Pharasie spiritwho left the hury batteted man on the side of the road.

    • Brian Moss
      Posted at 06:48h, 01 November Reply

      Hi Ashley, good questions. I’m not saying that the church should only meet the needs of the unchurched. Certainly the church is God’s gift to believers for building us up in the faith. Yes, the pastor(s) set the example of modeling everything that is expected of a believer. Shepherd lead the flock from the front. Blessings to you.

  • Ashley
    Posted at 07:20h, 01 November Reply

    Forgive my typos Im on and old phone and I type fast. O meant not action OVER knowledge. Sorry.

  • Lance Rengel
    Posted at 15:09h, 03 November Reply

    “PASTOR” Mike Connaway said – “If you don’t like church don’t go!” Find a church you like were you can hold the pastor accountable. But remember you must also being willing to be accountable.”

    Mike – that is the problem. There aren’t any, or very few. Reading your comments I doubt you would ever tolerate any serious criticism from a church member. Look at your first sentence highlighted by an exclamation mark – “If you don’t like church don’t go!” That is your heart on this issue; “If you “the pew dweller” don’t like it here, go find another church where a pastor would be so foolish as to allow criticism.”

    The most recent church I was at the pastor even said in a sermon that he does not allow the congregation to hold him accountable. He has other pastors from his denomination hold him accountable. What do they know about what’s going on in the local church? Only what their fellow pastor tells them.

    You, and other pastors, are so defensive that you are not reading what the criticism is. Nobody is calling Brian an abusive pastor. What we are pointing out is that many, many, many Christians depart the church for reasons OTHER than the ones he mentioned, and the OTHER reasons are mainly due to BAD pastors and or bad leadership (I acknowledge that there are behind the scenes power people who try to control the pastor(s) as well).

    Mike I am sure you are a nice guy. But on this issue you need to take a step back and try to understand the hurt that Christians have endured from bad pastors. Being a pastor yourself you are unable to empathize, but you could at least not display show much scorn at at wounded sheep.

    • mike connaway
      Posted at 15:48h, 03 November Reply

      Its a blog so I got to the point. Text and blogs are hart to be emotionally intelligent in. Lol. I love criticism and surround myself with aggressive people. There are a lot of churches out there like mine. Infact my own blogs and online line communications is always look at by a team and sometimes i have to take them off. i cheated o. This one because its another pastors sobI went rogue. Lol. Probably why it didn’t sound to you like it should. Lol. i feel ya, I truely do! But I also feel this pastor. I will begin to pray for you by name. You just need a good fit where your valued. Keep trying it’s worth the effort

      • Deb
        Posted at 15:53h, 03 November Reply

        “Just remember y’all, your preacher’s not your God”. Kirk Franklin

        • mike connaway
          Posted at 16:18h, 03 November Reply

          I love that quote by Kirk Franklin also every pastor needs to knowthe church members are angels according to the Scriptureswe are all wrong and the Word of God is right let’s just be scriptual. all of us need more humility and all of us need to be part of the local church

        • mike connaway
          Posted at 16:18h, 03 November Reply

          I love that quote by Kirk Franklin also every pastor needs to knowthe church members are angels according to the Scriptureswe are all wrong and the Word of God is right let’s just be scriptual. all of us need more humility and all of us need to be part of the local church

  • Laura Hall-Schordje
    Posted at 01:50h, 06 November Reply

    I am not inclined to agree with this article because of some experiences I have had in churches. When the author says it is a place with gifted teachers, or a place where your gifts will be used, etc., it actually has to be a place with gifted teachers and who will utilize your gifts. I struggled a long time in my first church to volunteer in some meaningful way, but the old guard did not want to let go of much to younger members. If you want details to my stories, I can give them. Then there were places where I worshiped for several months, tried to join in groups at coffee hour for conversation, and months later had still never experienced a single person saying, “Would you join us?” Attending Bible study at a church for several months and finding it vacuous–and the pastor agreed but left it go on. And standing in church offering my pie for a bake sale, my talents in the kitchen and choir, and being told it’s all covered–even as I read in the bulletin they need help. You cannot give when people will not accept.

    This article is true only in a church that has the resources that he describes. Worship needs to be good (not perfect) because badly done worship does interfere with the ability to connect with God. Teachers have to be able. The church *family* needs to be open and at least somewhat welcoming. Nobody wants to fight to fit in. And I agree I can be a person of impact, but it is a lot harder in a church that is much more focused on making the budget than spending money and resources and attention on the world.

    I am a church pastor, 4 months into my current call. When someone tells me they are not getting fed, I ask what is the barrier to participation. The vast majority of people can name it. That was true in my current congregation. People told me “worship.” We worked on it, and it is much improved. People are inviting others and telling me they feel uplifted. Better worship is changing us all. Sometimes we really need to listen to people who are not feeling fed. We may not be offering the feast we think we are.

  • Mike
    Posted at 17:36h, 06 November Reply

    Some people leave churches for good reasons and there are many. Some people leave churches for bad reasons and there are many. I think the blog skilfully layed out the bad reasons. If no church is good enough for a person that gives us an insight into that person. If no church member is ever good enough for a pastor the same is true. Many pastors are not truely called and the grace to pastor might not be there. Education, care and even love is not enough to pastor over time and frustration and control can creep in. Not just shopping for church but praying and being lead by the Holy Spirit to a church will give a member grace because it is a call not a choice. More grace is needed in church everywhere from everyone. This Great pastor seems to have asked people to check their hearts and God’s heart before leaving a church. He sounds to me by his gentle responses to critical people on this blog that he is consistently check his heart. So refreshing to hear wisdom from a balenced pastor.

  • Robin
    Posted at 14:31h, 24 February Reply

    This is silly:

    “So let me get this straight. You say you’re not being fed. You need some deeper preaching, but you don’t even do the stuff that my ‘shallow preaching’ addresses.Hmm, I’m not sure it’s my preaching that needs changing.”

    Why not just get up every Sunday and say:

    “stop being selfish”

    Then, if people complain that the service isn’t challenging or enriching, tell them:

    “well, have you stopped being selfish? You don’t even do the stuff my ‘shallow’ preaching addresses.”

    you need to think a little deeper than this.

  • Liz
    Posted at 22:48h, 10 January Reply

    I have attended a lot of church’s. We have lived in 4 different states in the last three years. I knew from age 3 on that my life was for God and I am to pastor/ teach children in a non secular way.I do not have a capow moment of rebirth. Even when our third son died at 6 weeks I never blamed God my faith is strong. We have been homeless and you name it we cling to Gods words give thanks and push through. When we move to a new town our first plan it to attend a church and get involved. I have that to getter personality the one to ask if they need help and beg to be out to work. However the last few church’s we have attended DO NOT want the outsiders. They use first names during service and they don’t even call to check after 3 months of every Sunday and every youth Wednesday. I recently was told because I don’t hold bs (life happens im 18 credits ahort) I can not work in a church. (By a reverend) And also been told because I have been homeless that my feet are no planted and shows I can’t take care if my house or kids. (I’m a women lol) and I need to be picked by a human to serve. I have daily testomoines I joke with my husband that I swear were gypsys for Gods graces and blessings. I am a great asset to churcha for Gods abilities to provide.God called me to be a church planeter I know this. But to deal with families and youth focus. Any ways. In this day and age we need to be reaching MORE people with Christ out side the 4 walls. I enjoyed your article. I can not wait to find a place I can learn and grow with.

  • Tiffany
    Posted at 23:34h, 13 November Reply

    Once again a Pastor forgetting about the lost souls looking for God and are shunned because they dont know how to love god….. This made me cry and feel unwated and unloved.

    • Brian
      Posted at 13:34h, 14 November Reply

      Tiffany, I am so sorry that this article hurt you. Please know that was not my intention. You are absolutely loved and wanted. My blogs are primarily targeted towards church leaders, many of whom also feel wounded.

  • Michael Acord
    Posted at 21:54h, 03 May Reply

    I think is because you have people who want to do A work for the lord and no one wants to raise up people to promote the gospel and the get frustrated and leave and search for a place with right doctrine and a place that takes the message of Christ seriously and it’s hard to find a church that’s doing Ephesians 4:11-16 .

  • Michael acord
    Posted at 22:17h, 03 May Reply

    I am one of those people who have wanted to work for the lord and no one wants to help raise up and put forth in the ministry. I love the lord with everything in me but I have been wounded in my spirit .When I lead people to Jesus I can’t think of one church in this place to direct them cause I know they are about just numbers not the person who seeks for God. Christianity is more concerned about what’s on the inside religion is concerned what’s on the out side the way you look dress talk etc. I could go on but I won’t .

    • Brian
      Posted at 23:12h, 03 May Reply

      I’m so sorry to hear that Michael. Sadly, there are places where there doesn’t seem to be a healthy, disciple-making church.

  • Michael acord
    Posted at 23:20h, 03 May Reply

    Not here sir it really pathetic in my state West Virginia.Went to a place where the church was dark and asked why is this place dark and they said the pastor wants all eyes on him you couldn’t even read your bible .I said if your pastor was anointed the spirit would draw you to watch you don’t need to turn your lights off.And the y had this guy preaching and saying some people who have the Holy Ghost will go to hell I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.I’m so frustrated sir just don’t really know what to do.I guess stay home and wait on Jesus to come get me.

  • Michael Acord
    Posted at 23:23h, 03 May Reply

    Remember me in your prayers please.

    • Brian
      Posted at 10:54h, 06 May Reply

      Absolutely.

  • David Temple
    Posted at 02:57h, 22 May Reply

    In 1999, 70% of Americans attended church. By 2019, that number had dropped to 47%. What amazes me is that you so-called “pastors” still don’t understand that it’s your own arrogant refusal to take constructive criticism to heart that is driving them away— that and your finger-pointing toward those who have left. About 7,000 churches shut down permanently every year because of this attitude. Keep it up and yours might be next.

    • Brian
      Posted at 12:55h, 22 May Reply

      Hi David. I agree that the church in America is in steady decline and this grieves me personally. I disagree that it’s “about 7,000.” Lifeway Research shows it’s much closer to 4,000 (https://lifewayresearch.com/2015/12/08/new-churches-draw-those-who-previously-didnt-attend/). I also disagree that the sole cause of church closures is due to “so-called ‘pastors,'” though I’m sure that’s at least one contributor. Personally, I believe that healthy churches can make an incredible contribution to their community and do much to bring hope and healing to those who are hurting and broken, and you’re right, churches that don’t make this their focus will probably “be next.”

  • James Strickland
    Posted at 04:30h, 16 August Reply

    The author of this blog post places too much blame on members in not enough blame on pastors for bad relationships. As one example, the author seems to assume that their financial advice is Rock solid. Not everyone needs to save so much money. It is clear that the author gets his financial advice from Dave ramsey, which is fine, but many situations are different. That is one example of the author not recognizing the new ones of each individual’s situation.

    Perhaps the reason why the author has so many “exit interviews” with members is that he fails to recognize his own faults and isn’t a particularly constructive leader. The blog post really doesn’t seem to indicate much of an effort or an interest in understanding people’s needs or desires. Sure, lots of people make assumptions about churches that are not true, and have unrealistic expectations for their churches, but some humility tends to take us a long way.

    Many of the other commenters on this blog post seem to have had legitimately poor experiences at their churches, and they left. Every situation is different, and sometimes the onus can be on the pastor.

    • Brian
      Posted at 12:06h, 16 August Reply

      thanks for the feedback James. Of course, each blog is merely a snippet of any given topic and not an exhaustive analysis. I wrote a follow-up blog to this one hitting on some of the points you made: https://pastorbrianmoss.com/time-to-find-a-new-church/

  • Mysty L
    Posted at 10:03h, 24 January Reply

    I’m thinking of leaving the church I’ve attended for 8 years. It is not because I have not felt the presence of God or worked to be connected. I’ve led life groups and developed friendships. I’ve been on various serve teams over the years. I’m leaving because the church makes it clear that there is an “in-group” and the “rest” of us. The “rest” are constantly reminded to serve the church in some way and to partner on this or that project. It seems that as soon as one thing becomes debt-free, there is a new project to give to. I realize that tithe is God’s money, but you can’t keep telling me how great it is that there are never buckets passed for offering, but then every week remind me of the value of partnering for whatever this month’s project is. Meanwhile, the “in group” are having an entirely different experience at the church.

    But what bothers me the most is that I have never even had a conversation with my pastor. If you call the church, you get a phone tree that always ends up on a voicemail for whichever staff member you were trying to reach. I once had him answer a question on Twitter. It’s just so discouraging. I hate the idea of starting over to find another church…..which could be why people give up and watch the occasional broadcast on Sunday. And with all this, I think that somehow there is something wrong with me…..which seems to be what this blog post is saying. I’m not some needy person overall. Largely it’s me with my relationship with God. It would be, however, nice to be able to connect with the pastor when life gets hard. Waiting til after the service to go down front to talk to some random Prayer Team worker is not the same.

    • Brian
      Posted at 15:01h, 24 January Reply

      Hi Misty. Thanks for writing. I’m sorry that you’re dealing with these issues. Of course, since I have no firsthand experience at your church it’s difficult for me to really speak into it with any great level of discernment. Leaving a church is a big deal, IMHO, and so it deserves careful thought and prayer. I know the phone tree thing can be difficult, but I would encourage you to try calling again and ask if there is a pastor that you can speak with about this. I don’t know if you had a chance to read my follow-on blog https://pastorbrianmoss.com/time-to-find-a-new-church/, but maybe that will be helpful also. Please know that I will be praying that you are able to make that connection with someone from the pastoral team.

  • Que
    Posted at 13:21h, 08 February Reply

    People leaving the church because they are not being fed is legit. This is one of the reasons I left the church. I used to sit in the pew bored out of my mind because a lot of leadership don’t go beyond feeding the flock milk. Some of us need the meat of the word of God. We need more than the same messages we’ve been hearing since childhood. We need more than motivational speeches. We want to know why we are being attacked at night. We want to know about the incubus and succubus spirit that holds us down before waking. We want to know what God expects from us and are we living in a way that’s pleasing to him. We want to know about our bad behavior that hinders our relationship with Christ. We want to know why we’ve had to suffer so much pain in life. We need to know about the dangers of witchcraft. We need to know how to fight in order to break the enemies strong holds. I could go on and on nevertheless we need to know and want to know deeper things concerning the spiritual realm.

    • Brian
      Posted at 14:05h, 08 February Reply

      Dear Que, you are so right. There is a need for believers to be fully equipped (Ephesians 4:11-12) and yes, this takes more than milk (Heb 5:12). I share about some of the reasons a believer might need to find a new church: https://pastorbrianmoss.com/time-to-find-a-new-church/

      Hope this helps!

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