HOW TO KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO LEAVE A CHURCH: 5 red flags that let you know it's time to go
Vložit
- čas přidán 15. 12. 2021
- Leaving a church should be a difficult decision in a believers life. But sometimes you just don't have any choice. In this video we take a look at the 5 red flags that indicate massive spiritual unhealth in a church and, consequentially, may be telling you it's time to find a new church home.
My website: aprilmelvin.com
Facebook Group: groups/MightyMamasTribe
And please like and subscribe to my channel!
So #5 actually happened to me and now it’s hard to like tell people why without like telling everyone why. Any tips on how to tell people that you ministered or fellowshipped with why you left without telling everything?
I’ve had to leave a number of churches. I must live in a bad area spiritually, but at any rate, you can tell people that you believe the Holy Spirit was leading you out. No further explanation is needed. If someone pushes you for more, you tell them that is your only answer and if they want more information they need to talk to God about it themselves. They are either a spy, or they are on a pathway out as well.
I told people at the church I was leaving for personnal reasons. Do not tell them why, they will come after you with a vegence, the likes you have never seen.
I just want to say, first, I am so sorry- and I agree with the other comment, just say personal reasons and let God handle it... the good news is, the longer that you're away from that situation, the easier it will get. Praying that you found a new church home too!
I told them why. At first was all the blood thirsty oaths as a Christian I had taken. After years studying what freemasonry is at its roots. The occult connection. Google it yourself. I have been warned many times. I had my own tracts printed to pass along at lodges and churches. I still do this.
Do not be quiet why you are leaving. Your gutsy confession could and will wake others. Just don't let all where you live and what car you are using.
#1 red flag - rainbow flag, which leads to red flag. Also, any other virtue-signaling flags. All of which lead to the red flag.
#1 red flag for me is people/churches who persecute people that don’t believe like them…and then call themselves a victim of said persecuted people. Always leads to more red flags.
My Summary:
Disclaimer: Carefully think about your decision
Ordered ascended
1. 4:00 Bible arrogance
2. 5:10 Pastor Worship > God Worship
3. 6:30 Peoples Opinion > Gods Opinion
4. 8:50 Inability to handle conflicts
5. 10:45 Lying Leaders
Excellent 5 flags. I've been a believer for over 30 years and I've witnessed all of this. Currently at a church that is not perfect, because there are people in it, however it's healthy! Thank you April.
Sadly I left my home church because of all the divisions that was happening due to gossip that wasn't being resolved. Also I left because some people tried to get rid of our first pastor. But he died in 2016. Then our second pastor left because of controlling people who always challenged our pastor and always wanted things their way. I was controlled, gaslighted, and abused constantly by that church. Now I am praying and asking God to help me find a church that God wants me to be in.
don't give up on Jesus keep seeking him. ❤️ i am praying for you
Sadly that is what I have witnessed too.
We are the church, maybe find a new congregation
Lots of real flags in there, but I don't think questioning the pastor is bad. A pastor is just a person. They don't have direct messaging from God, and aren't infallible. If I had a church where I couldn't disagree with the pastor, I'd be gone.
God dwells in his people. God does not dwell in handmade temples and it is better to trust in the Lord. Verse >> Psalms 118:8-9 KJV 🙏🙏
When you are willing and able to take responsibility for your own life you could leave, leaving your friends is the hard part until you gain new ones.
Ephesians 4:5 & 6 "One God, one faith, one baptism."
So I'm a wandering Bishop, I take it upon myself to visit churches to see if they are corrupt or God fearing. The last church I visited was very loving and family oriented. But the so-called pastor, who was not ordained. Started telling me that I cheated becoming a Bishop and that he wanted me to go through his church's process to become as he said "a proper minister" even though I am already ordained and have been elected a Bishop by my holy counsel. The goal of this so-called pastor was to shame me and embarrass me into following his denomination. This is a huge toxic trait of churches these days of trying to fill as many seats as they can and gain control over the people that attend their church.
April great video!! You are well spoken and easy to connect with in your information provided. Love the ties to scripture!
No 5 is truely the biggest red flag especially when it comes from the mouth of a leader and used to manipulate or make a church member feel guilty for brining a legitimate concern to the leadership's attention.
My ex pastor used to lie by omission all the time to me. Absolutely used and abused me by manipulating me in ministry, it was so subtle and yet eventually completely undeniable. You cannot reason with such people
If leaders cover up, make excuses for, or minimalize sexual abuse enabling the abuser to get off with just saying "I'm sorry" but not major discipline then you need to leave the church. Also being spiritually abused through manipulation and gaslighting taking advantage of your loyalty and good nature is a huge red flag.
I feel like I need to make another video on this- I am just so naive sometimes and forget that sexual abuse does happen in church- which is horrible and wrong and we need to do better... and spiritual manipulation is a terrible problem in so many of our churches... you're so right... and I think I missed 2 major red flags
"Of course...there's the elephant in the room..MERCURY: It's not great stuff!" Same goes for anything that hijacks the quest line/sensors of your own body of the body of your children or loves ones. Sexual Abuse...It's not great stuff! (TM.) Don't be in a church that leaves you in the dark about an event that left you in the dark.
Thank you for posting this video. It helps a lot.
I went through 4 and 5 last year - not even going through 1,2,and 3 in my mind at this point. I tried to talk to the music minister in person and he dismissed me pretty quickly (on the worship team). He was condescending and patronizing towards me. But, then in the spring of last year it became clear he was lying to me about his past experiences, things he had said to me he was doing, and about things he said he had done for work that involved me. He was changing his story. I figured out he was a manipulator and a user. I had felt God speaking to me telling me that my time there was coming to a close. The last couple of rehearsals I just had this feeling "Is this the last one?". I knew the worship minister and likely others were going to cross the line.
I had met with two other pastors after informing the church early last year that I felt God may be calling me to leave and go back to my Baptist roots (and that is how I felt). I knew something was off with the leadership because of statements they were making and how they were handling major decisions. When I met with both pastors, I tried to discuss some family stuff when I first spoke and they pretty quickly dismissed what I had to say. They had more interest in what they had to say than what I did. I pretty much knew at the point that the pastoral leadership was lost. I really had held out hope that things were not where I thought they were, but the music minister and his associate (that is not exactly their titles but keeping it simple) finally crossed the line early in the summer. The music minister crossed the line in rehearsal on a Wednesday night (musical stuff - take too long to explain), and the associate' one's decision to not speak with me after I emailed him the day after about stepping down gradually was the final straw. He acknowledged my first email about meeting up, but he did not acknowledge me again after I said that I did not want to meet for lunch but at the church. I was ready for a confrontation with both guys and lunch would not have been the appropriate place for it. I did not show up that Sunday to say the least and have not returned. I informed the organist that Friday afternoon/evening that I would not be coming Sunday because I knew no response was coming on a Saturday.
This is not the first time that I have been through this. I went through this my senior year in high school with the music minister (who was my cousin) and his wife (again I was on the praise team). It is always the music area where this stuff happens with me. People were complaining about my posts on Facebook saying that I was trying to look "spiritual". I guess they figured I had no clue what I was posting and that I was posting just to post. I laugh at that now because my senior year of high school still ranks as one of the worst years of my life for so many reasons. I have PTSD about it still to this day. I guess getting closer to God and trying to find peace in the midst of a storm (frankly caused by the very people complaining - a few on the praise team) was not allowed in their minds. I was way more inexperienced at handling stuff at 18 then I am now. That one took years to heal from as I had grown up in that church for eighteen years.
I have moved on to another church now and have not quit the faith, but my heart aches still from both, but the more recent one still stings a lot. I had friends there and though the music minister was my friend but clearly not.
Single women - if the married pastor shows a sexual interest in you, and/or touches you in a sexual way, no matter how 'insignificant' it seems - it's time to get out.
Not just single women, ANY woman or girl.
Men too.
I left my church after 20 years of attendance/membership. I was saved in that church, baptised in the Holy Spirit and in water. (I didn't know anything about doctrine when I first started attending). I was quite idealistic about the church environment in the beginning, but I didn't expect perfection in the church. I naively believed that everything that came from the pulpit was the gospel truth. I served in the hospitality ministry and was prominent in the weekly church prayer meeting. My disconnection was a process which took years and was not painless. I can identify with some of the red flags that you have indicated. I became increasingly disillusioned as some of what was being preached was not the gospel. I think you can ruin a sermon with one or two false statements. There was also an unhealthy subtle aspect of manipulation and control, I often thought that the senior pastor was put on a pedestal. Sunday sermons eventually became a test of endurance, and I often left feeling frustrated and angry. I now attend a different church where the preaching is focused and relevant. As I said I don't expect perfection, but when the same untruths keep regularly popping up, then for me that is a big red flag.
On Baptism being required for salvation- Jesus Christ said in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he who disbelieves will be condemned. Also we see in Acts 2:38 Peter says that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins. We can look at Acts 22:16 Ananias had come to Paul who had been praying for 3 days and he said "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name."
It is true the bible doesn't say "Join the church", but Acts 2:41 tells us after the people were baptized then they were added to the church. The Lord is the one who adds us to the church.
these issues all have one thing in common: layers of man-made control
here are some of the best safeguards:
-KNOW your Scripture (a deep, rich, growing, refining, transforming, perfecting understanding of all Scripture
is part of the glorious inheritance in Christ)
-consider the sufferings of the early church (in particular, those of Paul, whose apostleship sits as
the anchor for church among the gentiles)
-understand the difference between the New and Old Covenants ... in particular, understand that the Old
Covenant has been cancelled
-understand Grace and Law and the relationship of the two
-understand that you are not UNDER law ... rather, the Law is now your kind advisor (because you are in Christ)
This includes not offering a tithe. Tithing is not actually biblical. In the old Testament people had to offer tithes for the temple Service. In the new Testament, people give what they can but it doesn't have to be exactly 10% of their income. It doesn't even have to be money. Biblically speaking, we are to give cheerfully knowing that God will use our giving for a greater purpose for other people and sometimes ourselves. we are to give without expecting anything in return. giving is voluntary, so we don't have to do it.
Hi from Australia... great content for a born again Christian overwhelmed with it all really...thank you
Ooooooof. Conviction!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I used to change church like underwear 😢
I've always wanted to be what I hoped to find in the church: open and authentic. Unfortunately I was met, a lot, with people who saw openness and authenticity as crazy. Many were playing church, and they believed if you are experiencing hardships, then you are in sin and God is mad at you!!!!
I was in an abusive marriage and when I tried to talk to church family/leadership about it, I was met with: are you giving him enough __x? Are you cooking dinners on time? Are you submitting enough to him?
Then: pray harder, don't nag, read the Bible more, etc.
Oh, man.
Reading the Bible and cooking dinner is never going to stop the abuse. The abuse is The abusers problem. They are just projecting their issues on you. I think it's extremely disappointing the way churches deal with abuse especially in marriages.
@@SuperMichelleDJI completely agree. Many believe the prayers and actions of a wife can "fix" their abusive husband 🤦🏻♀️ FREE WILL people!!
I needed this video!! We are in the process of leaving a church and I have had some doubts about doing this. I really hate it because we love the people there. As I listened to this I realize that the first four of your reasons are exactly what is happening. #4 issue, we have seen others told to not come back because of some talent/gift they have attempted to use that the pastor doesn't like. He is a one man staff. He doesn't see the need for deacon/elders. No accountability!! We have toured for 30 years as musicians and are not able to be used because the pastor does not like our Southern Gospel style. He calls it show off/hypocritical. There are several other areas I have tried to get involved and have been shut down ETC. For instance, We had no usher staff so I tried to get one going. I received a letter stating, "This is the way we want you to do this". His way or the highway. Fortunately God is using us in other churches now where praise team or pastor is off. Nuff said!!
Psalms 118:8-9 KJV 🙏🙏
I think my problem relates to honoring those in authority especially as it relates to church leadership. Even with those who aren't outwardly proud and self seeking, pastors don't want to hear anything negative about them or their churches even if it is constructive. For example, 4 of us in our church went to the pastor to discuss the importance of prayer for effective ministry. We had been praying together for an increase in the church but felt that more people needed to be praying, especially the church leadership. He assigned an assistant pastor to work with us to facilitate this but nothing really came of it. From then on, I always felt like he was giving me a cold shoulder.
I had a similar response from another pastor who has a real gift of teaching but rarely made a call for salvation. There was one night I really felt conviction of the Holy Spirit after a powerful teaching but it just grieved my heart that we just went on to a closing song. God wants people getting saved!
Pastor worship....very big.
Very dangerous. This is how cults are potentially formed.
Pastor worship/idolatry is a huge issue
That today is as common as grass.
I love the first one. So good and such a good reminder for me just in my personal walk. I tend towards pride and arrogance at times w the Word 😢🙏🏼
Oh, yes! The accolades are there! I've been to churches where the pastor is named for a street, a baseball park, an annex building, a sanctuary. And yes, I've been to the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Other than the basic gospel salvation message there is a lot more false teaching in the church that is leading people astray including new age ideas, prosperity gospel which to me are huge red flags.
I so agree
Spot on!
I'm 24 working on a minimum wage full time job and living separately from my parents since I'm 19 because they didn't get social benefits for me from government (Northern Europe) after I turned 18 , it's the for my younger sister now she doesn't bring anything so she's seen as worthless although she has the upper hand and shuts him down when he starts bullshit given that her personality is much stronger . My 48 years old violent , covetous , deceptive and malignent father is a non diagnosed narcissistic pervert and he belongs to the prosperity theology he always says very hurtful things about me especially that every "believer in Christ" in his congregation sees that I'm doomed and hated by God due to being a lower middle-class young woman and that God hates me so much ( for not submitting to him and letting him enslave and mistreat me as he wishes ) that God will punish me and that I'll be dead by 40 after agonizing in a harsh condition of material and psychological misery through the punishment of the Lord who considers him as the " elected one in the family " 🤮🤮🤮What kind of father can wish this to his children ? As a result I'm permanently disgusted by this cult and anything related to pentecostalism 😑😑😑😑
Thank you. I had four out of 5. Even number 1. In the process of leaving. Heart broken for this congregation.
Thank you Jesus and friends
#5 is rather unexpected, yet I agree with you! 👍🙏
blimey her voice could shatter glass what a screecher
That would be a cool trick, I have, unfortunately, not shattered glass with it
Amen and Amen👑
This was all so very helpful thank you god bless you sister for me i just want the truth and to live my life untoo the aduance of one as iam god fearing woman pls pray for me for more wisdom thank you elsine
Woooooh! #5! Seriously, we had a pastor once sit down with us for a Matthew 18 conflict conversation, to call US out for sin in a situation where he had directly lied to me (in an email conversation, so there was proof), and I had very gently responded with no, that was not the case. I remember being super nice about it, assuming he simply did not remember the conversation correctly, but because I dared to challenge what he had said, he met with us to tell me I was sinning by being insubordinate to his leadership. We stayed for nearly two years after that incident, but we learned to never challenge anything he ever said, right or wrong. When we did finally leave, my husband looked back at the day he sat us down in our living room for that conversation as the day we should’ve left that church. 😔
The only other things I would add to your list of red flags are pastors who compromise on sin issues, and those who are unable to take helpful criticism from staff serving beneath them. We had one pastor suggest we should’ve aborted our oldest (who was like 5 or 6 at the time), and another who defended the “benefits” of abortion 🤔 That plus, the number one thing we’ve learned from serving on staff at churches is, never ever ever, even suggest your pastor made a mistake, even unintentionally. Needless to say, we no longer serve on staff at any church; it’s a million times easier to be volunteers 😂😂😂
But this is where the pastor slips up and commits sin then. It's gods leadership we should be under, the pastor is there to help us understand God. Yes the pastor is a leader, but he doesn't have authority over God.
When he returns Jesus will judge everyone. Pastors included. But what you are saying about baptism is rather missleading. You don't seem to understand the bible. There are countless examples of believe and be baptised. 'Repent and be baptised everyone of you and you will receive the Holy Spirit' Acts2:38,Acts2:41 Matt:28:19 Jonn3:22.
Baptism was a priority for those being added to the church.
This is called the spirit of Nicolaitanism, where the Pastor, Priest, or Bishop assumes an extraordinary control over the Laity or members of the Church.
I have known of more than one pastor who, on more than one occasion, has had affairs with members in their congregation to only be transferred to another church when found out. I have see pastors admit to being addicted to porn while serving in the pulpit to only be transferred to a bigger congregation when found out. I have seen U.S. military chaplains have affairs on deployments to only be promoted and awarded by both the military and their particular denomination for their bad behavior. All the while i was consistently told I did not qualify for christian ministry even after completing a bachelors degree and a masters degree and the course of study for that particular denomination. And the American Christian Church wonders why people are leaving the church in mass.
Truth reigns. Hallelujah.
Nothing but the Truth!
For me, it was when I realized that I could not in good conscience invite anyone to our church any longer; new church, the first ones I invited came and stayed. And I see God-changed, formerly desperate lives on a regular basis now.
That’s awesome! It’s all about seeing God change people’s lives! How exciting
I met a lady who was a CNA and was doing a lot of good deeds. She opened her home on Friday nights for Bible study and prayer so I went there as she was inviting more people. Then I told my Jewish friend to come also. Then Covid hit so I could not go. However, when I returned, this lady who isn’t Jewish was telling people she was. She started buying and constantly giving my Jewish friend gifts. My friend is disabled and easily manipulated so I asked this lady to stop trying to buy my friend and she said no because it’s ministry. I told them that was causing a painful situation with my friend. Then they started going out to eat without inviting me and I asked them to include me but they continued only inviting my friend. This lady then told me everyone there was Jewish but they aren’t. She further astonished me by saying Jesus is not the Son of God, He’s a created being like an angel. So I said He claimed multiple times that He is. She then told me that the New Testament isn’t accurate and those verses were added later. I stopped going but my Jewish friend is still talking with and going to eat with this lady. I’m extremely upset and feel deceived and hurt.
Pray for wisdom and discernment, pray for your Jewish friend that her eyes are opened to this deception, and keep in touch with her, don’t cut off ties and hopefully she will come to realize she’s being manipulated. But definitely pray for her and for yourself that you can be a steadfast believer and friend.
praying for you- this is a hard situation, praying that you receive peace and comfort and agree with the earlier comment, praying for wisdom and discernment as well
In our church, the pastor's assistants and preachers preached in every preaching, " the pastor's said this and that." The pastor is the one they obeyed and lifted up his name in every church service. Mind bungling and blowing that's why I slowly left the church.
One time I visited a close friends church. She has a God given _beautiful_ voice and this church doesn't allow women to sing on the worship team 😳 So, I emailed the pastor and asked him to share what His church's doctrin and beliefs were and he dodged my questions and then told me to continue to attend and I would "find out" what kind of pastor he was. 🤦🏻♀️ Huge red flag for me.
I didn't return, my friend is still attending and she is incredibly hyper-religious. Cutting out anything secular, no makeup, no using her voice, submissive way too much and one day I posted a meme about self love and self healing, she commented underneath, adding glory to God. It felt shaming, like she was upset I didn't post something that *didn't* include God. I love our Creator but I don't think He's an egomaniac that needs to be given credit every single time I open my mouth or post something on social media. 😢
I used to be like this but I've grown and healed a lot over the years within my relationship with God.
I'm so tired of Churchs pushing this idea that we are all pieces of crap that don't deserve God's love~ if that were true, He wouldn't have sent Jesus. And if we get saved but then are taught to focus 24/7 on our SIN....that teaches us Jesus' sacrifice wasn't powerful at all 😢
“Some of y’all change churches like you change underwear”
That can interpreted in 2 ways
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Yup! Either they change it too often OR...they need to change because it's skid-mark city 😳
it seems like that there are churches/church goers that don't want you there. i didn't go to church until i was a teenager. the first church should have put a sign on the building KIDS NOT WANTED HERE. the next church i left due to gossip . those 2 churches no longer exist. the next church would judge you based on your career/income.
John 3:5 ESV Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. --- Yup says we must be baptized by both water and spirit.
Membership is where in scripture?
Thank you! I don't think we should "forsake assembling together" but the membership idea is fabricated and sterile to me.
Amen
Membership, tithing, dedication of babies, women teaching /pastors, trick or trunk😢 . Feel good watered down message, served with great coffee and plenty of activities.
I had to leave two churches because of the influence and leaders that are Freemasons. I was a Master Mason 10 years. I left freemasonry freemasonry
I and my family were tossed out of a Methodist church. All elders were freemasons and oddfellows. Not the pastor. He let them control the church. The masonic lodge has occultism roots. Salvation by works also.
Its very but true
The 2 young pastors of our Anglican Church are pushing the gay and transgender activism. In addition to declaring pronouns, they now have ceremonies similar to baptisms they can perform for people who are going to have gender reassignment surgery. We asked if they approved of children being involved in this and they didn’t know. Their exact words were “in order for me to grow in Jesus I need to affirm and provide hospitality” to everyone. My husband and I love everyone and accept everyone into the church, however, are we not supposed to be working on repenting our sins and not repeating them? Their stance is that God said to love everyone. One of the parishioners believes the Bible was written a long time ago so it’s ok to rework God’s message to fit in the issues of the day. We have spoken to all 3 pastors and have decided to leave and go to a split-off of the church that does not promote gay and transgender agendas. Instead they welcome them with the intent of helping them learn God’s word and lead them to a Godly life.
There are actually a ton of verses on baptism... Acts 2:38, Romans 6: 3-4, Mark 16:16.... just to name a few... other than that, very insightful video.
“Climbing up on the cross”You staying with that and expecting people to stay with you here?
45 seconds and you lost me.
Climbing up in the Cross,
Lord help her.
I have to say, first off, I am [so not] a fan of social media for many reasons! It condemns, word's are harshly misconstrued, and people can be very mean when they only know and / or view half the truth, but I had to respond, having listened to your video post! With that being said... I personally agreed with your points, all except the final red flag being, as you called it... "The icing on the cake!" In all honesty and being inclined to biblical truth, you did speak of Yeweh pastoring in the synagogue on the Sabbath, which is truth! But you failed to mention the "actual" day of serving our Sovereign Creator, which is ON the Sabbath. In my opinion, that should have been not only the icing on the cake, but a DEFINITE RED FLAG! Please note that this is all in good taste when preaching and studying biblical "TRUTH" no matter how painful it can be! And our pain is not even close to what our Savior died on the cross for in terms of [HIS] glory and the shedding of blood. Please let me know what you think, for I am prayerfully curious! We continue to condemn our very existence when not delving deep enough into those 66 books!
Shalom!
I guess I’m not entirely sure what you are asking? My fifth point was about someone in leadership lying- not necessarily misspeaking a doctrine (listen, we’re all human, we all make mistakes- we’re doing our best, with our very finite minds, to try to understand our infinite and incomprehensible God); so I’m not even talking about that. I mean an actual lie, like the pastor said he did one thing and he actually did something else and just wanted to cover his backside (if you know what I mean). Our church leadership should have integrity. Now, we all misspeak and we all make mistakes, I’m not talking about that- I’m saying a bald faced lie… that is a red flag, in my opinion. And it’s a red flag because we need to be able to trust them to speak the truth of God (as best they can, they’re still human).
I’m not really sure what you mean about the Sabbath. I’m sorry, could you explain it?
Most Churches are Socal Clubs 😉...I left the church I used to go to.... when I needed their help...they reneged on it.... People follow a Man...and they forget God and Jesus...the more...U look...it gets to be a socal club....now it is going g to a Rock concert...The Music is Horrible...😮.... today a Church is a Cult 😮... everytime U turn around someone is setting up a so called Church...The Money is the biggest problem.....The Leadership is always bringing U are issue...one way or another...I love the Lord....i left the Church world...now it is about prayer Bible and loving The Lord 😊
The main reason to leave a church is to get married. Took me 20 years to find a girl who would go to church with me and then the pastor wouldn't marry us because she was divorced.
I left my Church when my brain was at a capacity that no longer tolerated the utter BS rhetoric that Christians like to vocalise on an industrial scale. If that’s how everyone’s gonna talk in heaven then to me it sounds like hell. There’s something intrinsically false about being around people who converse in such a manner. There is something more real about living within a secular framework without all the hooey that goes along with being a component of the body of Christ.
I understand -- I try hard not to talk in "church" -- but it's a shame that you turned away from Christ -- it's not his fault. Jesus didn't call us to be religious but to be loving and faithful to God and to each other.
Agreed
What experience(s) did you have with the Holy Spirit?
I read the Bible as often as I can and when I go to church, I listen to what's being said and I talk when I need to. I also don't treat Jesus Christ as a religion. To me, he is a personal relationship and to me he's God, he's God of this universe. So it's not his fault if churches screw up. He will be coming back to judge those wayward churches one day. whether you like to believe it or not, this is what I'm choosing to believe.
Sometimes doctrine is explored while youre in the church and for the most part, change from orthodoxy over time.
Number 4 is the one that sits strong in the church i was going to. Pastor says he is a non confrontational pastor. This one family has caused numerous other families to leave.
April looks good with those glasses on.🤪😄🤪
Using themselves as the standard by which others are judged.
While we're on this topic about red flags in the church, it's totally necessary to add another red flag which is #6!!! Inappropriate touching of another church member! Starting back when I was 7 years old, some creepy "pastor" of a church (Eagles nest Christian fellowship) he started kissing me and I HATED IT!!! My parents didn't do anything! Fast forward going into my teenage years I was a victim of getting touched inappropriately by two women who happen to be in the ushers ministry at another church (Impacting Your world Christian Center) around 17 or 18 years old! In my younger adult years I got touched inappropriately by an Elder in another church (Brand New Life Christian Center) and also got touched inappropriately by the pastor's wife! (Crown of life ministries) the reasons why I left these crooked places of "worship" was because of all of the sick twisted individuals I've faced in all of the churches mentioned in this comment. Now in the present time, I'm at another church for the 88th time. (City Life Church) I want to leave this church too because the pastor's wife screwed up with me by not respecting my privacy when it come to telling another church member I don't know from a can of paint my personal details of where I work! I honestly was pissed at her for telling her my business when in fricking reality, IT WASN'T HER BUSINESS TO TELL IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! 😒 At 40 years old, I should NOT have been disrespected like that in any way shape or form!!!! It's like who the hell should I trust? Because people who I've met in the church have really showed their true colors and as a chuch goer for many years off and on, I'm sick of it!!! I should resort to having church at home because people that I have encountered were/are shitty and it shows!!! I'm done fed up and the like!!!! SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN CHURCHES AND OUTSIDE OF CHURCHES IS NOT OKAY 😒 I DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT TITLE 7:03 YOU HOLD NOR POSITION YOU ARE UNDER! IT'S NOT OKAY PERIOD!!!🤬
I am so so sorry- you are absolutely right- red flag 6 is this- and as someone who was also molested as a child (although not in church) this is one I'm disgusted we even have to think about happening in church. Jesus is very clear about how He feels about children, and we should be protective of them as well. I am so sorry you had to endure that at church, it is not okay. And for your latest experience, that is also incredibly frustrating. Please don't give up on church though. I know that sounds crazy for me to say- but there are some good ones out there, I promise. I am praying for you, and thank you for being brave enough to share this- we need to take this issue very seriously in church.
Do what I did and just break the cycle and don’t go back??
I definitely don't take changing churches lightly at all. If there is any trouble in the church that I have to get away from, I do everything I can not to take similar issues to other churches. I don't go spreading around everything that's wrong. if somebody must know what happened at another church, I tell them in confidence, making sure they know everybody else doesn't find out. I also make sure the issue I'm leaving is actually very bad. It's not just an issue that I can disagree with peacefully.
Amen there’s no value in minimizing abuses that have happened through pastors’ empire building and manipulation
What if the feuding has nothing to do with me? I’m in my husbands church from childhood. I want to know the lord. I want to learn. This church is full of sarcastic women feuding over nothing, peacemaking has been rejected. We just lost our pastor too. My best friends are doing exciting things in their church and I’m just feeling so…idk. On the other hand, I don’t want to make it easy for the devil to destroy a church.
Great video, thanks!
This question flipped around: When is it proper for a pastor or his staff to request or encourage a congregant to LEAVE his church?
thank you! and that is a very loaded question, that is very hard to answer. Let me say, first, my husband and I were kicked out of our old church- kind of. His uncle, who was the pastor, called us to his home one day and encouraged us to find a church where our kids would have other kids to interact with. At the time, that church was very small and we were the youngest by far. This meeting actually gave my husband that ability to feel comfortable leaving- so it was a good thing. I'm sure it was Holy Spirit led and blessed my family tremendously. In other cases though, I would say prayer is the best tool and we should employ before doing anything, we really need to let the Holy Spirit work on those situations. And in that prayer, I would ask God what He wants me to learn in that moment- so often we pray to just end situations and we should also be praying to learn through them. And finally I would say that ministry is messy, it involves people. I believe love and patience covers a multiple of sins- and you just have to walk in love while you're waiting for God to move. It might also help, in the waiting, to remind yourself what you're grateful about that person in your church for- remembering how much you appreciate someone can always help. And, I would also say, if you feel led by the Holy Spirit, and you're gifted in having tough conversations, maybe take that individual out to coffee and just talk- ask them how things are going, listen to them, maybe encourage them, maybe share some of your own concerns- and let them be your own concerns, don't use the infamous "people have told me." that just generates distrust in the church with that individual and can harm them in the future at other churches... I think a lot of people are concerned to have those conversations, but truly that open dialogue is so important in churches- it's hard to do, but when done well can really positively impact everyone. I think most of what churches suffer from are just misunderstandings. I hope that helps...
@@melvinaprilify Thanks, I'm finding some things that can be challenging re the Mega-Church model.
Well Baptism seems to have been the initiation rite for the early church. In Acts, in Paul's letters. And Jesus' Great commission at the end of Matthew..
I have an issue with my church. Some belief systems they have I don’t agree with …one person got up and said that there was only a small percentage of people ..they mentioned around 8%I believe …that would receive the Holy Ghost after the age of 11. I didn’t agree with that statement so I mentioned it to the pastors wife and she agreed with the statement that was made from the pulpit by another saint that said it while doing announcements and there’s plenty of other things I don’t necessarily agree with and there is conflict with one person who offended me so badly that I cried and I mentioned it to the pastor but he said he would just pray with the person.
I pray for all … God has to be the glue. Or it all falls apart … please read 1 Corinthians 13
Praying 🙏 acts 2 :28
I left my church when the pastor made fun of me for crying during communion, my partner had just passed away a few days ago. She then with in a few months chastized me for not going out and dating. I peaced out after that.
I’m so sorry- that shouldn’t be happening… I hope you found a new church
🙏💕
How about leaving if the pastor says you have to call the mom & dad and the people call the mamma and papa? Or how about you’ve grown spiritually and you try to reach out to the leaders to discuss spiritually where you are for guidance and they don’t respond to you or avoid you like the plague? Or your sitting under a covering but yet still not covered?
I did some church hopping when i first discovered god. I found that no denomination even preaches the same thing in the same town. Every pastor has their own individual theology. Either you tolerate other’s people’s theology or go to a church where it’s not up to the individual. Thats what i did, i submit to christ and his church, never leaving catholicism. The methodist church i was baptized in used to preach against premarital sex, abortion, contraception, and gay marriage in 1992. By 2002 they had gay marriage, pushed for safe sex, didnt preach against abortion and traded jesus loves me for lady gaga baby we were born this way. The catholic church i go to now is the oldest in southern MD and still sings the same hymns it did back then. Its the only church I can guarantee will stay traditional. Its also the only Catholic church for many miles so i dont have much choice in the matter. In a way i think thats good, too many options leads to people trying to cater to themselves too much.
What do you do about people who are trying to push you out of the church by spreading lies and gossiping about you.
Mark 16:16
I don't like leaving church I would rather be in many churches
ASAP
What if your patience just run out and men don't want to be men?
5 points discussed are very true. So, the pastors are the real problem in churches today. Very sad because the problem is happening globally. The devil and his cohorts infiltrated the churches.
1 Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to BEHAVE thyself in the house of God, which is the CHURCH of the living God, the PILLAR and GROUND OF THE TRUTH.
Hi April,
Would you please give me a scripture that says a person has to become who they already are (a member of the body of Yahshua) but to a local church.
And then, please give me a scripture that says one must subscribe to a religion and call yourself by that religion?
My understanding is Leaders are just that, to lead Yah's people. Not put them in a *'religious"* box and suggest they join and follow the Pastor's vision, instead of Yahshua's vision.
Am I wrong?
I disagree with the 33rd birthday part, but agree with everything else! Lol
i asked about bible study info the person in charge gave me an attittude, the hipocrecy in the church, i wanted to serve yet so many obstables to serve.
what if the pastor is preaching about money way more and tithing 10% and the pastor bought a home that cost $800,000 to a little over a million dollars?
Some people find this controversial for some reason but I follow Jesus not any one denominations he said we are the church all of us and people are going to interrupt the scriptures differently we are human where the problem comes in is people condemning others for not believing exactly the same thing as them and worse treating people badly for it. I alway think how would Jesus act in this situation and he was always kind, accepting and hung out with sinners and people of other cultures. The thing he didn't tolerate was misuse of God's word to gain power or money. When people where using the temple as a marketplace he lost it when the Pharisees where twisting the word to act elitist and shun people instead of helping them Jesus had harsh words to say. When Jesus died the curtain in the temple tore and God left signifying he isn't in one place anymore he lives in all of us we are the temple now and we can visit him whenever we want. The purpose of a church as we know it today isn't evil or wrong but it's more of a way to fellowship, discuss scripture and I really think should include eating together as Jesus always did with his followers. But we should never just accept everything the preacher is saying without checking it out ourselves cause unfortunately some people have agendas or biases that cause them to interpret the Bible in a way that suits them instead of a way that's true
I don't agree about the baptism thing - but dunno.
I left ⬅️ all temples
What about a pastor who uses the Chosen to try and get new church membership? I know the chosen is no good. My pastor has just let people go who leave because he plays clips in the service. I am having a very hard time with this. I think he just has misguided good intentions. Good video. You are a beauty by the way. God bless you 🙏🏻
so, quick question- why do you believe The Chosen is no good? What about the show do you believe is an issue?
also, thank you!
Well to give you the most blasphemous scenes quickly, you have Matthew critiquing Jesus with the sermon on the mount. Jesus also has to "practice" what he's going to say. (Wow. Almighty GOD needs to rehearse. Lol. ) Read John 12:49. Second, Jesus tells the Pharasees He is the Law of Moses. That line is nowhere in the bIble. It is however found in the book of Mormon. 3Nephi 15:9. The desciples are portrayed incorrectly. They suggest that Peter is a gambler and an adulterer. (Not biblical) They say that Matthew is autistic. Really? And they all say John the Baptist is "Crazy John". Really? A man filled with the Holy Spirit bringing the greatest message in human history. Joseph says that Jesus sinned and Mary Magdeline gives John the verse in John 21:25. No guys, the Holy Spirit inspired John to write that. Those are just a few. The list goes on. It is long. The director Dallas Jenkins says in a video I saw that 90% of the show isn't biblically accurate. Wow. Why would any pastor use it then to present the Truth? Read 2nd Timothy 3-16,17 Jesus gives us a warning in Revelation 22:18 Do not add or take away from this book. The Chosen does both. Look into it. I do love my pastor. I just think he has misguided zeal using this show to attract new members. I was going to talk to him 🙂
I didnt feel the Holy Spirit in the house of God. I heard so many elders gossip and say the most horrible things about other church members and watch them smile in their faces two mins later. It was the same with the youth.The youth was really clicky kinda like a 90s high school movie. The pastor would openly mock and make fun of the pentecostal religion. Many things taught i didnt find in line with my beliefs but i was ok to disagree
it was the coldness the lack of openness on the topics that didnt sit well with my soul.
The pastor would go.out of his way to tell my youngest son how there is something speacial about him and how he saw him doing great things. My son thought the world of the pastor until one day in the hall he overheard the pastor feed the same script to another child word for word. It broke his spirits and he didnt open up about it for weeks. During those week i watch my very egar to worship son disconnect from all things religion. If you arent tithing your stealing from the Lord was often mentioned. He would often throw his opinion in to his teaching. He said one day, i think if you're wearing sports logos to.church you are causing division in the church and continued to proceed and say unless its ohio state. His sports team to turn it into a joke. If as grown people we are divided by sports i dont think the person wearing the logo is the problem it you and your heart. Id get anxiety going in and would often drop my kids off for sunday school and sit in the car bc i didnt feel right in there. The final time i went the pastor said if you were once a member of this church and decided to switch churches you were never really a member of this church. I got goosebumps and knew i was never truly a member of bethel babtist and that there was something wrong with these teachings.
We had a serious problem with another couple about 7 years ago and they went to every minister brother and sister and said my husband was trying to get romantically involved with his daughter and wife. This man called me yesterday and said he wants to go to church but he basically won’t go cause we are there
Yikes!!!
Wow...that happened to me at a job I had once, with me getting fired over the LIES that were spread about me. And yeah, I'd be outta there in a heartbeat!
I left church when some one rose up from pew ask me can person go to heaven without the holy ghost. I know the answer but it made me feel like some thing is not right and that person went around for years claim to be Christian and mother's of the church.
I've never heard of a church goer doing that. Maybe you should try a different church.
@@johnsmit5999 I did and liked it. It's surprising I seen goer do that. Everybody knows that question especially sinners
April , thank you for this wonderful blog. Many brothers & sisters can benefit and seek the right path.
My only critique is in regard to Baptism. The Bible clearly outlines this as essential.
You would be misleading people, if you still hold your respected opinion.
God Bless you April.
I observed all five of these red flags and then some in the last church I attended. It took me eight years to see all of these and some of these I should have seen right when he was interviewed for the position. There is one more red flag that you haven't mentioned; the church leadership having a network of informants to the pastor so that anything you say goes immediately back to him. This was the straw that compelled me to finally leave after ten years of all the rest.
The church I’ve been struggling to leave has this problem. It’s really difficult to comprehend the kind of control leadership can have over people.
@@panga_latrice It is very difficult to leave an abusive situation. I have seen it in marriage relationships as well. The abused doesn't know quite how to leave or have been told that bad things will happen if they leave the relationship. The same is true in a church. It takes a great amount of courage to leave but leave if you can otherwise you will lose all trust of any church leadership. Not all are that way.
I am thinking of leaving my church.
Praying for you this morning- leaving a church is hard
Have you found a congregation where the is a minister of Christ, that baptize to Christ alone?, like in the Bible, apostle Poul...
My cell leader doesn't welcomed different opinions. Should I leave.?
when you say cell leader- do you mean a small group leader or a pastor? and when you say they don't welcome different opinions, can you give me a specific example?
I left my religion I grew up 23 years ago and became Athiest.
How come you left the religion?
@@johnsmit5999 Because religion is a big lie
How about when a pastor stands with his hands on hips and say "if youre not for me, youre against me"!!
I would disassociate immediately. I would forgive him and then I would leave.
I never met a pastor who wasn't arrogant.
*slowly raises hand- I regularly fall on my sword and tell people I’m wrong- I believe in being authentic and honest about my shortcomings, I’m sorry you haven’t met a pastor that wasn’t arrogant- they are out there, I have several pastor buddies I’d say are humble and authentic as well
#1 reason I will not join a church is if I sense some pride in the pastor. Pride has no place in the Christian life and I think if you want to be a purveyor of God's truth and teach good Bereans, you MUST be humble. All that to say, obviously there are lots of great humble pastors that welcome being challenged or questioned. They know they are fallible humans and may be wrong on something. Also, they don't have all the answers to everything. They must be willing to say "I don't know," "now that's a controversial issue, my stance is ____". They should welcome and be encouraged by someone in their congregation searching out the Scriptures and looking for answers.
Leaving the church was the absolute best thing that ever happened to me. I'll never go to another church for any reason other than a family member's funeral.
Bad reason
Hey I'm glad you felt like critiquing my choice. However, I just don't give a fuck what you think.
@@debborich thank you for caring enough to comment
Was the Holy Spirit not a good experience?
@@johnsmit5999 don't worry, I won't be answering the question so that you can say I was never a "real" believer. Just know that I was a believer and now I'm not.
I think it a good move not bringing up doctrine. The range in beliefs held by different individuals within the same church is huge. If you expand to just the major Christian Denominations it gets ridiculous.
Just reading some of the comments below, I had the reaction of "This is insane! There are people that actually believe this?!? Even scarier, there are people who believe this is vital doctrine?"
That being said, If I listed out all of my religious beliefs, I have no doubt others would have the same reaction.
Faith is very personal. Do I believe that the church I go to is a great church? Absolutely. I would heartily recommend it to everyone. However, I am not going to tear down another's faith or church in an effort to get others to convert to mine. The focus should be building each other up in Christ, not tearing down.
To me, a big read flag is when a church actively tries to tear down other churches and faiths. I'm fine with seeking converts. Do it by example and invitation. Do it by teaching and by helping them feel the Holy Spirit. When you tear down someone's faith in their Christian church and beliefs, those people often loose their faith not just in the doctrines of their church, but in Jesus Christ as well.
I am part of a local interfaith council. I am also involved in the coaching and and administration of a lot of local you sports. A couple years ago, this put me in position to see a tragedy. One church, their youth pastor in particular, decided to target a group of youth form a nearby church. It started innocently enough with some of the youth of the first church to get those in their second church to come to some of their parties and activities. Nothing wrong with that. Sounds great. However, the sad part came next. Slowly, these activities began to include attacks on the second church. Eventually, the kids broke with that second church.
The youth pastor was thrilled. He thought he had gained some converts and possibly saved some souls. It couldn't have been farther from the truth. While the kids still occasionally attended the youth pastor's church for the first couple months, it didn't last. Without their faith to support them, many bad decisions followed. Alcohol, drugs, live in boyfriends and girlfriends, and just not caring very much about others.
So in my mind, if you church is actively attacking another church, that is a huge red flag. Proselyting is fine, just do it by building their faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel, not by tearing down others.
I totally agree with you. Humans can be wrong, and that's what doctrine is, it's people doing their best to interpret our perfect and incomprehensible God through His Word. I know for a fact that I've gotten things wrong, innocently, and I've been grateful when loving Christians come along side me and help me understand the scriptures better- because that's my heart.
And I agree, we should do our best to not tear other churches down. And I'll also admit this- I don't bat 1,000 here either. It's hard to respond perfectly all the time- and that's why we need each other to hold each other accountable. This was a great comment, very thoughtful and a wonderful reminder to me that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ working towards the same goal. We should do our best to build each other up and lean into that old wisdom, if we don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
Thank you for sharing your story and the reminder!
When they celebrate pagan holidays.
If they twist scripture -- sorry but that's the big red flag. Not innocent error -- we all do that, I'm talking about twisting scripture to support a power-hungry pastor. Theology is important -- the most important.
BTW the book of Acts drips with water.
czcams.com/video/wqcGhkIpbzo/video.htmlsi=q_mFHuQNUo0GvF-7