Al Hsu over at The Suburban Christian writes in response to an article by Richard Mouw in the latest Christianity Today. The article, Spiritual Consumerism’s Upside, prompted him to think a little bit about his own journey:
In [the article] Mouw notes that while church hopping and church shopping are often frowned upon for good reasons, they also may well be entirely appropriate transition points in a person’s spiritual pilgrimage.
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I found myself resonating with this because I consider myself something of an evangelical mutt. Because my mom was a Christian and my dad was not, I found myself attending a variety of churches growing up, from Assemblies to Covenant to a Taiwanese congregation to Evangelical Free. I attended a Church of Christ/Christian Church college, got involved in ELCA Lutheran retreats, worked at a North American Baptist summer camp. I came to Wheaton for grad school and settled in a Christian & Missionary Alliance congregation for a few years. After getting married, we spent seven years in a Church of Christ/Christian Church before the ancient-future liturgical pull became irresistible and we joined our Anglican church.
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It makes sense to me that every denomination or church has its own distinctives and place in the kingdom, and I think it’s good for people to explore options to find where they best align (as long as it’s done with this larger corporate sense and isn’t just an expression of American individualism).
My family grew up in a baptist church, now we all attend churches of differing denominations (still all protestant though). Seems rarer and rarer these days that one person stays with one denomination.
What’s your church attendance tradition? Do you think that church shopping/hopping can be helpful? Do you think that those that just stick with one denomination or church their whole lives are missing out on anything?
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January 10, 2008 at 11:46
If you are truely following Christ and not looking to please yourself then I think changing churches is OK. My wife and I are currently contemplating leaving the catholic church for the methodist church. It is a real struggle because the families that we associate with as it relates to our church are, for the most part, very strong christians. It is a shame but many strong catholic believers (as opposed to nominal catholics)seem to be very suspicious of fellow protestant believers and would not consider joining a protestant congregation.
A CMA pastor friend gave me some good advise, stating “be loyal to Christ, none of us (denominations) have exclusive rights to God’s workings”.
This potential change has been brewing for the past 2-3 years so its not a knee-jerk reaction to emotions or feelings.
January 10, 2008 at 14:11
I grew up in an American Baptist context and continued to attend different flavors of Baptist churches up until after my Master’s degree. I had moved to Boston and once again looked at an American Baptist church (which is looser in structure as a denomination) whose pastor had gone to the Toronto Vineyard and wanted to pursue the gifts of the Holy Spirit. That and my roommates at the time, caused me to check out the Vineyard, where God touched me in a powerful and healing way. Now I’m a regular Vineyard attender.
I agree that churchhopping just to be a consumer isn’t a great idea; however, I would have missed out on a whole swath of Christian life and experience had I not checked out a different denomination.
BTW: my family also attends various denominations: Mennonite, Lutheran, Presbyterian, non-denominational, conservative Baptist and Methodist.
January 10, 2008 at 15:34
I would say that if a person stays with the same denomination their whole life they aren’t necessarily missing out on anything. I think a person should have a serious reason for church (s)hopping. Discipline and true spiritual growth normally cannot take place if every time something becomes difficult or uncomfortable or unpleasing, you pack up and leave. There can definitely be legitimate reasons to seek a new Church, but I also think a Christian should take very seriously the bond of fellowship and commitment that they have with the Church they already are in.
I grew up Roman Catholic, but interestingly enough even within the Catholic Church, there are church hoppers. What some non-Catholics may or may not realize, you can get dramatically different experiences (and Gospels) at different Catholic parishes.
I now attend a PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) church, and while I have no idea where God will lead, I could see myself staying there the rest of my days, raising my children there. Not so much because of my conviction that the PCA is the correct/best denomination, but because I have found that the particular church I attend to be a true community of believers and I believe God has called me to be a member there.
January 10, 2008 at 19:27
I identify with Al Hsu. I spent my childhood in a Christian Missionary Alliance church and moved to Oregon to attend a Conservative Baptist Church. Although I am caucasian, I was actually saved in an african american COGIC pentecostal church (incredible singing and picnics) that I attended for 2 years. I began attending an American Baptist because it was closer and started leading Catholic Charismatic prayer groups. I finally married an Episcopalian and was confirmed in that church. We tired of the dryness and settled in a Foursquare church where we’ve been for 20 years. I sent my daughter to a Lutheran Grade School and then a Catholic High School for its scholastic excellence and morals.
This has been an invaluable experience. Consequently I am a 3.5 point calvinist charismatic with a heart for missions and a deep appreciation for early church fathers and the freedom of the reformation.
I regard myself as belonging to the body of Christ, part of the church of Beaverton (my town) and fellowship in a neighborhood Foursquare house.
January 10, 2008 at 20:04
Do you think a lot of Christians and/or church shoppers really think about the fundamental differences between denominations or do they attend a church that they feel comfortable in? I believe there are a lot of people who would rather attend a church where they have fellowship in the congregation rather than focusing on the details that makes one church different than another.
January 11, 2008 at 06:37
Is the church family I chose to a matter of personal preference or calling? Is my first loyalty to my own comfort or the purposes of God?
I would want everyone who visits our church to be blessed but I would expect those who stay to make deep friendships and share the grief as well as the joys. I want church hoppers to be treated as honoured guests at each visit, but would hope, for their sakes and the Kingdom, that they would become committed, accountable and secure amongst trustworthy people.
January 11, 2008 at 15:52
Growing up I did not attend any church. I was taken to several once in a while, but never to any extent. I would attend services sometimes to get out of work while in the Army, but that was it. Not until I was in my late forties and early fifties did I start to attend church on a regular basis with my family. We attended a Methodist church for almost seven years and worked in many of the ministries at that church. I even became a lay minister attending classes from a seminary. Myself and my wife were lied to and lied about by the pastor and it appeared that no one could believe she would do such a thing, so we left. It has been over a year and almost two and we are still angry that no one including the district super (never a word from her) and the bishop (I understand your concern and feel your pain) only comment. So we left our home, the only place I ever felt at home and we have been attending another Methodist church down the road. I don’t feel like this new church is my home like I did the first one, even though it is a wonderful church. What do you do when you believe your home has been taken away and you can’t find another? Start looking for another or try to stay and make the best of what you have left. My only answer is to ask the one who you can really trust and follow his lead. So if you need to move for whatever reason, do it with the grace that God gives us. In God’s Grace John
January 12, 2008 at 02:25
My husband and I have pastored the same church for almost 30 years . We’ve found that most people who church hop do not want to get totally involved and commited to a congregation . Involvement means that one’s own opinion does not always count & we have to accept that . Usually if things are not their way , or someone says something that ruffles their feathers (in a sense) , they then decide to move to another church. I do believe sometimes a person can get to a point where they are not growing and not being fed the spiritual food they need, and therefore the Lord does move them to another church . If they pray it thru , it will be the right church and they will get established and get to work immediately.
January 12, 2008 at 17:18
I have found the church-(s)hopping has it’s advantages and disadvantages to both a single or parenting believer. When there is a lack of spiritual growth, (both learning and developing in the knowledge of God and his kingdom principles), a Christian would be doing him/herself a disservice by not prayerfully searching for resources to increase their faith in God and spiritual maturity. Yes, that’s right, the church-body is a resource; a place to get help when a believer (and non-believer) is dismayed, in bondage, depressed, stressed, hungry, and thirsty. The advantage of church-(s) hopping would be finding the right place where a Christian can be a part of the church-body and be a resource to help the needs of the afflicted. For a single person, there is the advantage of being part of different church-bodies – spreading his/her anointing around to the afflicted and supporting numerous ministries. For a parent and their children, I have found that if a church-body has resources already in-place that can support the growth of their children, their membership will be improved over time and maintain stability (and attract some church-(s)hopper’s to stay and be blessed).
However, there are disadvantages of church-(s)hopping.
Have you ever been blessed attending a worship service – but hated going to that church? I have. Abundant Live Christian Fellowship in Mountainview, CA. is one of the church-(s)hopping facilities I attend about twice a year. I truly enjoy being blessed from the preached Word by Pastor Paul Sheppard (ref. Enduring Truth Radio Ministry KFAX, M-F 2:30 PST), the facilities is very accommodating, the congregation is dynamic in their praise, the choir and musicians are skillfully fantastic, but I hate going there. Just before I arrive to the church there is a Krispy Kreme Donut Shop on the corner right before I pull-up into the church driveway! It is hard(er) for me to focus on God when, throughout the church service, I am thinking about the different flavor(s) I’ll be eating on my way home.
Nevertheless, the disadvantage of church-(s)hopping is the secular attitude of ‘attending’ but not being a part of a church-home. We are not called to be ‘research-and-rescue’ believers who attend a church for a few weeks and try to fix or provide bandages for the needy and downtrodden, and leave with no intent of accountability. We are not called to be Rambo Christians either who operate in-the-battlefield alone, isolated from the church-home, and only return to replenish supplies and get new combat orders. We are called to be a church-body, serving the needs of each other with our gifts, talents, and skills; encouraging one another with the compassionate heart of our testimonies; teaching and admonishing the kingdom principles of God; and glorifying the Father by being imitators of Jesus – who did not hop from one 12 Apostles to another.
Your Brother in Christ
OMOtunde
January 12, 2008 at 21:16
I find it difficult to agree with Richar Mouw. Is he the fella who apologized to an invited group of Mormons for being Christian?
January 13, 2008 at 02:54
I grew up Catholic, spent high school and college in Methodist, Assemblies of God and/or home churches. I teach in a Baptist school. My husband and I spent about 27 years in the same Assemblies of God church which evolved into a very small, very inwardly focused congregation. We felt God was calling us to be more outward and culturally connected. We read lots of books by emergent, post-modern and purpose-driven authors and eventually sat down and discussed qualities we hoped to find in a church. After visiting a number of great churches we settled a larger non-denominational church that is outwardly focused, open to the Holy Spirit without needing to define exactly what that looks like, seeker sensitive yet Biblical, challenging us toward growth and change, and is reaching out spiritually and socially to our local community and other places in the world. It also had a vibrant youth offering for our teen aged son – he really connected there. We found so many wonderful congregations out there worthy of support and involvement. I don’t think one size fits all and I think there are a number of congregations that would have worked for us. Looking around helped us realize how much the church – meaning all the churches – in our city are in this together and how each speaks to different people who need to be reached.
January 13, 2008 at 16:54
My wife and I became “Born-Again” christians over 30 years ago. We first went to a Church of Christ. When Jen got a message from God for our church in the form of a letter (It wasn’t posted God made Jen write it. I watched her writing with her left hand (which she can’t normally do and she was making a salad with the other hand totally unaware of what she was doing. Believe it or not it actually happened). We prayed about it and went to the new pastor and he felt that what we had from God was genuine. It was actually God warning the leaders/elders of this particular church to open up to the Spirit, (something they apparently hadn’t been doing) and stop restricting Him or God will call The Holy Spirit away from that church. Why he chose Jennifer we don’t know, perhaps we as new christians were open were the others weren’t. Anyway, we were called before the church elders and roundly critisised for assuming that God would talk to us when we were only “12 months old”. They said that God would talk to them first as most of them had been his followers for 40 years. To cut along story short, Jen and I left and within 6 months that church had closed down. Since that time we have changed churches a few times but mostly because we have moved house a few times because of work. However the times we have left a church has actually led us to a new level of learning and relationship with God. He has actually called us out of three churches because the leadership had become blind to the leading of the Spirit and everytime that particular church has folded within months. Anyway this is just been our experience. God has done some amazing miracles for us that I could waffle on for ages about but that would be getting away from the issue in discussion. He’s the greatest.
January 13, 2008 at 22:41
This past fall, my wife and I made the painful decision to switch churches. For the past 6 and a half years, we’d been actively involved in a Christian Church (the denomination) in Salem, Oregon. The pastor there was wonderful. He had such a tender heart and clearly loves the Lord and the congregation he shepherds. The problem is that my wife and I never felt like we were able to fully connect on a more intimate basis with anyone we would consider close friends. Everyone knew us but nobody knew us closely and we didn’t feel like we knew anybody closely. Anyway, we are now at a Foursquare Church and I believe this is the place the Lord has called us to now. We definitely don’t take leaving any fellowship lightly. We need to be committed through thick and thin. But we also need to be where we can both give and receive freely. I think it is important to always leave on good terms and don’t talk badly about a church you have left. Christ is Lord of His Church and he knows where (which fellowship) each of us belong. Trust Him but also seek out godly counsel before simply taking off for greener pastures.
January 14, 2008 at 10:55
Frank: Mouw did apologize to the LDS church, but not for being a Christian. He apologized for the way in which Mormons have been misrepresented by Christians.
“I know that I have learned much in this continuing dialogue, and I am now convinced that we evangelicals have often seriously misrepresented the beliefs and practices of the Mormon community…We have told you what you believe without making a sincere effort first of all to ask you what you believe.”
You can find the whole quotation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Mouw#Controversies.
Regardless, Hsu’s reaction to Mouw’s article still seems relevant. Especially reading over the other comments it seems that many people have experienced a deeper understanding of their faith through participating in other churches.
January 14, 2008 at 11:20
When Christians are looking for a church home we should allow the Holy spirit to lead us, because all to often we act on our emotions rather than our faith. And if you are just starting your relationship with christ and know little do some window shopping and praying until he leads you to your church home. I think us Christian place too much focus on denominations. If we believe in God and his saving grace that should be our focus. Find a good Bible base church and stick with it as long as it represents christ.