When should you leave a community?

[Lecrae]

What events would drive you away from a community (a forum or church, for example)? Now, what if you are a leader in that said community? When do you think it is justifiable for a leader to leave the community?

Yes, I am asking this because I am torn. I am a leader in a particular community, but I don't know if I want to be apart of it any longer. The community used to be a great place for Christians to fellowship together, in praise, worship, and prayer. It lined up with the Bible and the rest of the leadership was in harmony. Most of the beliefs of the members were also the same (except for minor theological debates). I have been a leader at this community since 2011. But now, a few years down the road the community has lost "key" members (for a lack of a better term) that really drove and picked it up. Since then, this community has gotten smaller, but has also gained members at the same time. The new members are less inclined to abide by scripture (as they don't believe it's literal, it's corrupt, and/or don't believe in sola scriptura, therefore justifying sinful acts due to their unbelief of scripture). This line of thought has crept into the rest of the leadership (except me and the main leader). Pretty much anyone that is a part of this community that is conservative is attacked by the newer liberal members, causing conservative members to not be able to express their opinions. I recently brought up a huge suggestion that I wanted to get the other staff's opinion about - the main leader loved the idea, but the other leaders ended up gossiping about it to the other liberal members rather than confronting me personally, which in turn has caused disruption for me to be able to effectively minister to the members gaining up on me. This has left me disheartened and unable to do much. I haven't put much effort into this community since then, not really even talking to the members much at all.

So, in my situation, I really want to leave it. Mainly because I can't even trust all but 1 staff member, but I also have a team of people gaining up on me. But I also have that thought in the back of my head saying "christ didn't leave you, why leave them?" I still feel like God can use me to shape up this community to be more Biblical based, but at the same time I almost don't want to because it's draining me spiritually.

In my situation, what do you feel would be justifiable to leave a community if you were a leader?

 

[presidente]

What events would drive you away from a community (a forum or church, for example)? Now, what if you are a leader in that said community? When do you think it is justifiable for a leader to leave the community?

Yes, I am asking this because I am torn. I am a leader in a particular community, but I don't know if I want to be apart of it any longer. The community used to be a great place for Christians to fellowship together, in praise, worship, and prayer. It lined up with the Bible and the rest of the leadership was in harmony. Most of the beliefs of the members were also the same (except for minor theological debates). I have been a leader at this community since 2011. But now, a few years down the road the community has lost "key" members (for a lack of a better term) that really drove and picked it up. Since then, this community has gotten smaller, but has also gained members at the same time. The new members are less inclined to abide by scripture (as they don't believe it's literal, it's corrupt, and/or don't believe in sola scriptura, therefore justifying sinful acts due to their unbelief of scripture). This line of thought has crept into the rest of the leadership (except me and the main leader). Pretty much anyone that is a part of this community that is conservative is attacked by the newer liberal members, causing conservative members to not be able to express their opinions. I recently brought up a huge suggestion that I wanted to get the other staff's opinion about - the main leader loved the idea, but the other leaders ended up gossiping about it to the other liberal members rather than confronting me personally, which in turn has caused disruption for me to be able to effectively minister to the members gaining up on me. This has left me disheartened and unable to do much. I haven't put much effort into this community since then, not really even talking to the members much at all.

So, in my situation, I really want to leave it. Mainly because I can't even trust all but 1 staff member, but I also have a team of people gaining up on me. But I also have that thought in the back of my head saying "christ didn't leave you, why leave them?" I still feel like God can use me to shape up this community to be more Biblical based, but at the same time I almost don't want to because it's draining me spiritually.

In my situation, what do you feel would be justifiable to leave a community if you were a leader?

It's hard to comment without knowing the type of community. Considering the part about being a place for worship, etc., I'm imagining a Bible study or church meeting.

If you and the other leaders were leaders before, why would you let the liberally minded in to begin with. There are a number of things you could do, I suppose. Pray for wisdom.

If people are in blatant sin and justifying it, you could push for a I Corinthians 5 type response and if they won't listen, shake off the dust of your feet, and possibly split the group and take the faithful with you. Paul said there must needs be divisions among you to show who has God's approval. But it would have to be something major and you need wisdom from the Lord to make that kind of decision. I'm thinking of things like justifying idolatry, forms of sexual immorality, and various other blatant sin issues that shouldn't be debatable.

You can teach about the role of the scriptures, winning people to your side.

You can use your influence to try to increase the number of conservative leaders so those who hold to loose ideas about the scriptures will be in a weaker position.

I suppose you could leave. If it's over a sin issue, it may be worth making a big deal about it and doing it somewhat publicly in the group. This could also be the same as the first suggestion I made about splitting the group.

I know of a house church that had some extreme preterists that came in teaching that there would be no literal resurrection of the dead. The group eventually split over it. It just wasn't the type of doctrine the Bible-believing believers would tolerate, but it took them a while to decide to do it. Liberalism is dangerous. In some cases it's just a fancy word for unbelief.

 

[damombomb]

What events would drive you away from a community (a forum or church, for example)? Now, what if you are a leader in that said community? When do you think it is justifiable for a leader to leave the community?

Yes, I am asking this because I am torn. I am a leader in a particular community, but I don't know if I want to be apart of it any longer. The community used to be a great place for Christians to fellowship together, in praise, worship, and prayer. It lined up with the Bible and the rest of the leadership was in harmony. Most of the beliefs of the members were also the same (except for minor theological debates). I have been a leader at this community since 2011. But now, a few years down the road the community has lost "key" members (for a lack of a better term) that really drove and picked it up. Since then, this community has gotten smaller, but has also gained members at the same time. The new members are less inclined to abide by scripture (as they don't believe it's literal, it's corrupt, and/or don't believe in sola scriptura, therefore justifying sinful acts due to their unbelief of scripture). This line of thought has crept into the rest of the leadership (except me and the main leader). Pretty much anyone that is a part of this community that is conservative is attacked by the newer liberal members, causing conservative members to not be able to express their opinions. I recently brought up a huge suggestion that I wanted to get the other staff's opinion about - the main leader loved the idea, but the other leaders ended up gossiping about it to the other liberal members rather than confronting me personally, which in turn has caused disruption for me to be able to effectively minister to the members gaining up on me. This has left me disheartened and unable to do much. I haven't put much effort into this community since then, not really even talking to the members much at all.

So, in my situation, I really want to leave it. Mainly because I can't even trust all but 1 staff member, but I also have a team of people gaining up on me. But I also have that thought in the back of my head saying "christ didn't leave you, why leave them?" I still feel like God can use me to shape up this community to be more Biblical based, but at the same time I almost don't want to because it's draining me spiritually.

In my situation, what do you feel would be justifiable to leave a community if you were a leader?

Justifiable would be praying and seeing if the lord wanted me for a different place.If he is shutting this door or not.
I'd pray the lord open doors and shuts ones he wants for you.

 

[Ecclesiastik]

Instead of leaving, why not drop the Truth on them? I'm not much for running away from problems. I don't think Christ is either. I think we are supposed to confront lies and heresy and expose them.

But meditate on the Word and ask God to search yourself for any hypocrisy or anything that you need to crucify in your own life before you start telling folks what's up. You can't really call folks out on not obeying the Word if you are avoiding some of the tougher aspects of the faith and not living a crucified life either. That's my opinion on the matter.

 

[Lecrae]

Thanks for the replies so far. The main reason that I am wanting to leave is the fact that I have told them the truth time and time again, but they constantly push their ideals on me in retaliation. I feel like no progress has been made. I know only God changes hearts, but the hearts of most of the members/staff are now hardened. The more I pray about this, the more I feel it's one of those "shake the dust off from your sandals and move on" type of deals.

 

[Ecclesiastik]

You got to follow the Lord's leading. It's awesome you've been pushing for truth. A lot of people are afraid to do that. Especially in the military (which I am in).

I would probably arrange a last meeting as a final stand in which I would clarify that because I have called this meeting, I will be speaking. I will be making one point and after I am done (and not until that point), a response can be made. I would then describe the behavior and nature of true conversion and following Jesus Christ then contrast it to the current sins and behavior among the group. I would say that either this behavior has got to go or I must.

I'm not sure how aggressive or passive you have been with calling out the ungodliness that has taken over your group, but as a leaders, it is our calling to be aggressive with evil among the folks we are leading. The Bible exhorts us to weed out the evil ones from amongst us. The nature for every good group is to drift into compromise. We have to fight against it or we will fall. There are so many numerous examples. Methodism used to be ultra-conservative, it is now quite liberal. The Salvation Army used to be a pillar of light but is now accepting gay marriage. Calvin University, as conservative as John Calvin, is now considered the most liberal Christian college in America. Harvard Seminary has now become Harvard University and is quite staunch against religion. This is why God set the example when He killed the Israelites who went astray and even had them kill each other after committing idolatry and pursuing strange women. We have to be violent with the sin in our lives and violent with the sin that is within our camp or the sin will take over our lives and take over our camps.

Blessings, bro.