Encouragement for Church Dropouts

When you first met the Lord, did you feel like your joy would never end? Everything seemed wonderful until reality set in. The Bible says that we are lively stones rubbing together for a reason. Have you run into Christians, even in the pulpit, whose character couldn't match their confession?

Maybe you are one of those who received some wonderful promises from God but somehow as days turned into years, you got lost in your own personal wilderness.

Some people are so angry at other Christians and even God, Himself, that they have dropped out altogether.

Believe me, you are not alone and God has not forgotten you. Even if you are angry at Him, He understands and wants you to reconnect with Him again.

How do I know? First off, I've felt a lot of what many of you are feeling. I have been saved over 25 years and during that time I have been through the Charismatic, Word of Faith, Non-denominational and Pentecostal Movements. I've been in big churches, home fellowship groups and even no church at all. I've had wonderful words prophesied over me, things promised to me from various leaderships that never materialized, people talked about me and even God didn't do what I expected Him to do. Somehow during it all, I have known that there was more of God than I was seeing and that even if I couldn't feel it, He still loved me.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT - Did you know that you can take all that has happened to you and all you have learned about God and even about yourself - all of it - and lay it at the foot of God's throne and ask Him to sift it and show you what is valid and what should be discarded? Did you know that one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to lead you into all truth? In the process, you will become more sure of your foundations and your relationship with God.

Many of the people who are experiencing the things I am talking about have been hurt by people in the pulpit. It doesn't matter if someone accidentally hurt you or if they took your money and ran, we tend to think about God according to those who supposedly represent Him to us.

If the Bible tells us that God is Love and we see abuse coming from the leadership in our church, what kind of love is that? If you follow today's headlines, priests are abusing children, pastors are cheating on their wives and/or abusing church funds.

Every time something like that happens, someone in the church gets hurt.

It may not have been something so obviously evil. Maybe you made a decision to help someone with their ministry and they promised to help you mature in your own call. Then down the road you found out that they were using you to further their own plans (read that finance their plans) and never intended to help you. A lot of so called ministers have done this in the name of discipleship training. It still ends up the same with hurt people.

God has made each of us uniquely different and He wants you to be happy. When He placed a call on your life, it wasn't to frustrate you but to give you a place of satisfaction in His service. Maybe it's been a long time since you have entertained such thoughts but if something is lacking in your life, it might be that He is stirring up those longings to be spiritually fulfilled. He is doing that because it is a new season and it's time to enter your Promised Land. Don't take my word for it, reconnect and ask Him for yourself.

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I have heard pastors complain that it is hard to motivate their people and that a few do all the work.

Sometimes there is a reason for that. I know people who used to be the ushers, sunday school teachers, evangelism leaders, etc. who no longer have the energy to volunteer. Some of them worked in churches where they poured our and poured out and no one ever noticed or appreciated what they were doing. What ever the reason, burn out is very real.

If you have found yourself in that category, I want you to look at the reason you are going to church to begin with. Do you go just because it is expected or you like seeing your friends? Maybe you go expecting things to change. Stop and think about it.

Most of the people I know who used to be very active in church but aren't now, still love God. They wish things were better but feel powerless to change.

There's Still Hope

With God there is always hope but it starts with you. Start by having an honest conversation with God. I know He already knows but if you will tell Him how you feel and what is going on with you and then honestly ask Him to show you how to get back to that place of freshness, He will listen and help. There is nothing a Father wants more than to have his kids trust him to help them.

As your relationship with Him becomes refreshed, you will find yourself reenergized and ready to act. Just don't be surprised if it is in areas that you never considered before. All of us have hidden abilities that He delights in drawing forth. Don't let your past keep you from your future. Start today and move forward.