Another Church
The Evangelical Herald

GO TO ANOTHER CHURCH

The plurality of denominations and churches in the Christian world has not only given the believer the responsibility (or burden) to make a choice, but has brought about a leadership tactic that could be called "go to another church".  This tactic is more and more being used when church leaders and pastors adopt the business model for their churches and when members are expendable in a mega-church environment.  Church growth leaders are now advocating that if a person does not see eye to eye with the church's leadership style, program, methods, or focus, then it is best that that person find another church.  

Unhappy Members
This tactic is usually employed by leaders either by confronting the individual with this recommendation or by politically pressuring the individual to feel unwanted.  We hear from the pulpits that if a person is not happy with the church then that person should find another church.  The definition of an unhappy member is usually one that wants changes or the need of refocusing ministry priorities.  Under this definition, Martin Luther and the Protestant reformers would certainly have been seen as "unhappy members" of the church.  For whatever reason the leader or leaders judge a brother or sister as "unhappy", the solution is to remove an unwanted person from the congregation without actually accusing him/her with apostasy.   

The basis of this kind of thinking is that God has anointed the church leader or pastor of the church as the one person to lead the church in all its work and mission.  Being the anointed one gives the pastor the complete authority over all matters of the church.  Churches that have adopted this model depend wholly on the pastor to lead them to where he says God wants them to go.  It is assumed that wherever the pastor leads, that's the will of God for His church.  It is further assumed that God does not give anyone else in the church a gift of lesdership to share in promoting the church's work and mission, let alone question the pastor's worldview and objectives.

Of course, this is not a new idea - The Roman Church decided many centuries ago that this was the way God was to lead His church.  The outcome of this idea was what eventually seen as the supreme power and infallibility of the Roman See, the Pope.  All under the Pope must be submissive to His teachings and mandates, for he is the Vicar of Christ on earth - the anointed one.  The Roman Church is not the only one who functions under this precept, many a Christian sect has emerged under this concept - that God has anointed a person to lead His people in all matters of faith and practice.  Jehovah's Witnesses must submit to "the faithful and discreet slave class" - what they say is a message from heaven.  The Mormons have the writings of Joseph Smith that they must submit to.  All who followed Jim Jones' "anointed" leadership followed him to their death.

The Biblical Model
So now we see this idea emerging in the protestant, evangelical churches.  The very thing that many a reformer gave their lives to free themselves from is subtlely taking over the churches that have succumbed to the business model mentality.  The reformers stand on this issue was "sola escritura," - the Holy Word of God, the Bible was their authority - and that authority was for all to have access to and all were to submit to its revelation and instruction.

So what does the Bible say about using the tactic "go to another church"?  The pastor does have the responsibility to feed his flock, but he must do it in corporation with other persons the Spirit has anointed.  He must never abuse his authority and always have the spirit of servanthood and humility as taught by Jesus,
 "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.  (Mark 10:42-45)

One of the pastor's most important duties is to recognize the gifts that God has given to others so that together they may lead the flock of God (see Eph 4:11-13).  Recognition of these gifts is not a matter of showing educational credentials, but it is a matter of spiritual discernment of motives and objectives of the heart.  A pastor, who has a motive to glorify Christ through humble obedience to His principles and the proclamation of His Name, can readily recognize those of like mind.  In traditional evangelical churches, the founding fathers gave the congregation the power to confirm which believers had these gifts through democratic elections.

So when a pastor tells a member of Christ's body to "find another church", he in essence is telling that person that his motives and objectives are not Christ's.  If this is the case, then what he really is saying is that that person is not in the body of Christ - he is not a true believer.  The Bible does allow the church to make this decision through a loving process.  This is a very serious decision that was instituted in the church for the protection of the flock (see Rom 16:17,18; 1 Cor 5:1-5; 2 Thess 3:6,14-15; Tit 3:10).  It should be used when open sin is practiced or erroneous doctrine is taught.  It should never be used for any other reason unless it can be shown it is in direct disobedience to the scriptures.  

Reasons to Avoid this Tactic
The principles involved in not sending believers to another church are:
If that person is practicing open sin or teaching false doctrine, then a church is not meeting its responsibility to deal with the problem.  Rather it chooses to give the problem to another church.  The responsible thing to do is to deal with the problem where and when it arises.
The Church of Christ is called to bring persons to a saving relation with Christ and to built them up in the most holy faith to a mature person in Christ.  If a person has expressed faith in Christ as his/her redeemer, but is having trouble growing to maturity in the expressed written Word, then the loving thing to do is to patiently built his/her faith through prayer, caring and instruction.  To send him/her to another church is to fail in helping them to mature in Christ.  (See 1Cor 6;1; 1 Thess 5:14,15)
The testimony to the church body will be that the church is not a nourishing, caring institution - caring for that person's eternal well being.  It is not willing to work with problems that affect the whole body.  In essence, the church that sends a believer to another church is taking a risk that that person's faith may stumble or be lost completely.  Certainly a very serious risk. (Col 1:22-28)
If the church admits to finding no open sin or false doctrine and yet sends a person to another church, that church is admitting that the receiving church has truths and ministry superior than its own. It is admitting that it does not have the truths and the spiritual power of God to help troubled persons.  The church of Christ must be used to edify and built the kingdom by working to bring all to the unity of the faith.  (Eph 4:11-13)  
If a born-again believer will be judged as an asset or liability to the church, our great lawgiver, the Lord Jesus Christ himself, should make that judgment.  To classify him/her as a liability is to say that he/she is serving Satan - a very serious charge that has to be dealt with a loving and caring biblical process.  

Besides the negative reasons not to send a believer to another church, there are positive reasons why a church should avoid the use of this tactic:
A believer should feel free to use his/her God given creativity and gifts as a contributing member of the Body of Christ.   When believers mature, they naturally want to be involved in being an active participant in edifying the church and promoting its mission.  The church should encourage all such desires.  (Eph. 4:11-15)
The unity of the church is promoted when believers see that the leaders/pastors use all the spiritual gifts of the church to bring them into a mature relationship within a redemptive society.  No one wants to function or can feel comfortable under fear of one strong authoritative hand that can put him or her out of the church.
The purpose and work of the church can be fulfilled when a diversity of gifts among the brethren work together.  God chooses whomsoever He wills to bestow upon a diversity of spiritual gifts and talents to edify His church.  The whole church benefits when these gifts are allowed to be used by Him.  (1Cor 12:1-30)

A Call to Redemption and Unity
The early church did not have to use this tactic since there was only one church.  That is not to say that the early church did not have problems.  When doctrinal questions arose, the leaders of the church dealt with them.  When behavior problems arose, the church challenged the guilty parties to respond to the leaders' admonition and instruction.  When open and unrepentant sin arose, the church was called to deal with it firmly and decisively.  (See Acts 15:1-29; Mat 18:15-17; 1Tim 1:20)   

We, as a church, must never be quick in excommunicating a believer to eternal damnation on any other basis other then open sin or blasphemous teachings - and that after a due process of a biblical redemptive procedure.  If a divisive issue arises in the church because of a brother's behavior or ministry, the leadership of the church should confront the person face to face with the intent of coming together under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  To pressure that person to correction by means of public admonitions is lack of spiritual fortitude and a expressed conviction prior to due process within the redemptive love of Christ.  We must lovingly work with all that desire to glorify, obey, and serve Christ.  We are human beings with different personalities and characters and it may well be that to work in unity will be difficult, but the bottom line is that Christ's prayer is that we respond to His instruction and guidance to come to unity of service to Him. If all in Christ's body have the same objective to honor, glorify and extend His kingdom, there is no reason why any should be sent "away to another church".