Why people should (not) leave the church

The church as an institution is taking a hit these days. It seems that in the hearts and minds of many the only institution that Christ ever established is no longer worth belonging to or even attending. I've written extensively about why many people are exiting the church, you can read about it here and here. You may also want to check out John Pavlovitz's thoughts on the subject.

I understand the hurts and concerns associated with the church. I have been both a parishioner and pastor in my lifetime and have been on both sides of many of the difficulties people describe with this beloved and frustrating institution. I believe that many people no longer have a love for the church because the church in many ways has abandoned the purpose for which it was originally intended.


Pastor and author Timothy Keller suggest that there are many "sub-text" behind the context for many churches, I think his observations may be helpful in our understanding of the challenges facing churches today. Keller says there are four "sub-text" in every context of church ministry. They are reinforcement, performance, training and worship.

1. Reinforcement: Keller describes this sub-text as the idea of gatekeeping. Many churches do not want to be stretched, convicted, or challenged.

2. Performance: This is a sub-text that emphasizes the talent, knowledge, gifting or abilities of the pastor, worship team or church in general.

3. Training: This is the sub-text that appeals to the "felt" needs of those attending the church. The result of this sub-text is a culture that "teaches or trains" in methods resulting in better or improved behavior and people.

4. Worship: This, according to Keller, is the most difficult but should be the aim of every church. The result of this sub-text is the that Christ becomes much "greater and grander than we ever thought"

The problem with these sub-text, Keller observes, is that they often become the main text of a church and ministry. Only when a church embraces the fourth subtext of worship can a church truly make progress in accomplishing the mission that Jesus gave to us.

I propose that there are three big reasons we should NOT leave the church.

1. Jesus died for the church. Jesus didn't write a book, raise an army, or establish a government. He founded a church. If Jesus did this for His church and declared that the "gates of Hell" would not prevail against it, then I believe the local church is worth my effort. If Jesus died for the church, then certainly I can get out of bed for church. Some will argue that all of this true, but it doesn't apply to a gathered expression of the church, but only to the individual people who make up the church. Certainly it is true that the church isn't bricks and shingles, but people. But those people have a local context, and we are called to gather regularly for fellowship, communion, and the reading of Scripture.

2. Your local church needs you. Yes your church isn't perfect, but neither are you. It is only in the context of community that we can love and grow together. Your gifts and talents are needed. Your imperfections are also needed to help others grow in Christ. Are you contributing to a local body of believers? Are you investing your time, talent, and treasure to further the cause of Christ?

3. You need a local church. You were never meant to live in isolation. Every time God saved someone in redemptive history, He immediately connected that person to a people. God will connect you to a people. A local expression of God's people is God's intention for your life.

So before you choose to leave your church, consider this from Acts 20:28, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."