Leaving a church is not necessarily the same as turning away from God.
Shattering Misconceptions series - week 6
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When I made a decision to change churches, there were many who didn’t understand. No matter how much you love a place or love its people, you might be led elsewhere for a million different reasons. We all carry baggage and have unique issues and may need to make hard choices in order to sustain or grow our faith.
Leaving a church is not necessarily the same as turning away from God. I’m guilty of assuming that was the case with others in the past, but now I know that it’s not always true. People might make a move to salvage their faith; they might leave in order to experience God in a new way. They might find more, they might find less, they might change their minds, and they might not. And someday you, too, might find yourself in that place.
We need to trust that someone who professes to love God will seek God in this—and other—decisions. I am so grateful for the people who continue to love me in spite of not understanding my decisions. Lord, help me love people as they live their own faith journeys, even if they look different than mine. And help me remember that God is everywhere, not just inside of churches. People can still find him—and love him—wherever they go (or don’t).