Conversion or Church-Hopping

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   godpreacherposted 14 years ago

   Is the membership roles of our churches growing because of new converts, or because people leave one church and go to another?

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      tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I wonder what's your church offering ....

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         godpreacherposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         At our church, we simply offer true love, unity, and fellowship for one another, and the word of God in all of it's glory.

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            tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            so what church is that ?
            and why everybody's going to your church, when all the churches offer the same thing ?
            Why's that happening ?

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               godpreacherposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               We are a Christian congregation. You are correct, well sort of, all churches are not warm and inviting, some are cold and stiff. All churches are not forgiving , some are judgmental and condemning. But I'm not saying all the people are coming to our church, I'm asking if the people that are coming to churches everywhere are new converts or church-hoppers?

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                  tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Well, I think they're church hoppers, as I don't see many new converts around the world. Don't know what happens specifically in your country, but people tend more to magic solutions nowadays.

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      aguasilverposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You should know if it were new converts, as (presumably) you would have been involved in their coming to faith.
      
      If they are church hopping, you should question their actual salvation as to whether they were truly repentant and saved, or just scalped by some scalp hunting evangelist.
      
      If you disciple folk correctly, they will stay where God puts them, if you feed them meat not milk, they will grow and mature with you.
      
      If you view them as members or as a cash cow, they will be just as lost as you would be.

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      Megan Lightleposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Most likely a combination of both, with the majority being church-hoppers. Fortunately, it's someone's personal relationship with God that is most critical. If someone has surrendered himself or herself to Jesus Christ, and does so every day, then it really doesn't matter how many churches they've hopped to and from.
      
      It would be nice to know there were more people becoming Christians than those switching churches, but I'm not sure how you could quantify it to find out.
      
      Thanks be to God and blessings to all!

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      MACACHposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      We attend a great church in the Pacific Northwest. Of all of the new people that I have met, they were all from somewhere else. I do know that there are some new believers, however, because we usually have at least two that get saved at the altar call. But generally it seems to be "hoppers." How long will they stay here until they get offended or someone else makes a better offer?

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   lyricsingrayposted 14 years ago

   huh?
   
   sorry lost here
   

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   mpurcell10posted 14 years ago

   I think people don't like to be wrong so they bounce from one church to another looking for one to tell them that they are doing things right no matter that they will never find it.

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      godpreacherposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That's kind of the way I see it. Nobody wants to be held accountable.

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   kessposted 14 years ago

   The Christian congregation that teaches men to forsake their ungodly assemblies is the only true Church, for they have indeed found the Christ.

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   Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

   Maybe if people are looking to convert they do a little bit of church-hopping before finding a church that's right for them?  Either way, it's kind of nice for someone to show up on Sunday, I'd think. 

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   SL Perrinposted 14 years ago

   It does not matter what church you attend or how long you stay.  What does matter and should stand out in ones mind and heart is "Am I still being fed the truth of God's Word?"  If not then it is time to move on to another church where you will gain the truth and know the Holy Spirit is there with you.  So one could move to dozens of churhes until they come to the one that offers the real thing for them from the Scripture.  If it is not my church then it will be another.  Each person's spirit must know and feel the Holy Spirit's presence if not move on.  Therefore we are all unique in that realm and nothing can change what each person does unless the Holy Spirit speaks to their spirit with instructions not feelings from embarrassment, judgemental ways, prejudice,etc.

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   SirDentposted 14 years ago

   Conversion must come before finding the right church. You can't find the right church when you are still lost in your sins.
   
   Those who just church hop are like a tree that is not planted. They don't really belong anywhere.
   
   SL Perrin said it right. The name over the door means nothing but what is inside means everything.
   
   God will put you in a church where He wants you. He told Elijah to go to the brook Cherith and I will sustain you "THERE" If Elijah went somewhere else God would not have sustained him.

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   goldenpathposted 14 years ago

   The age of "entitlement" and the mindset of gaining without the effort is another sign that the time is here when man's heart has failed them.  Personal integrity is suffering on an epidemic scale.  I have transients that beg at our door for money.  However, oftentimes when given the opportunity to perform a little work or service for that benefit they run and go elsewhere.  They refuse to gain "by the sweat of their brow".  Unfortuneately many even get baptized into the Church for the reason and sake of the unprecedented welfare program.  These, are primarily church hoppers as they are not seeking salvation but rather handouts and will stop at nothing till they find it.  I have seen it time and time again.  However, what they don't understand is that they have taken upon themselves a sacred covenant at baptism and if they do not live up to that choice they made it will serve to their own undoing.
   
   I don't speak for others but ours is primarily a Church filled with converts.  By and large converts who did not find the warmth and answers elsewhere and are searching for that bond and sacred covenant with God that will serve to bind their family for time and all eternity by proper authority.
   
   So there are both spectrums out there.  We have those who seek the benefits of entitlement and we have those who are truly sincere and are willing to put forth the effort in the cause of personal salvation.

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