“After sixty-eight years of searching, I
finally decided to dismiss this madness, this madness of searching for truth in
the fallen world. Instead of falling prey to the antics of boys on the
schoolyard, snatching the ball up from the ground, refusing to play the game,
because others don’t agree with my way of thinking, refusing to listen to other
opinions, hurrying home, isolating myself from the world, I ended this search
into madness when I discovered Jesus! I finally discovered universal
truths can only be found with Jesus!”
Barry Denzil Haney
SCRIPTURE
And let us consider one another to provoke
unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25
REFLECTION
Honey, it’s time to try another church!
Through our fifty years of marriage, these
words make my wife cringe, at the prospect of leaving another church family,
searching for the proverbial “greener pasture”.
Church-hopping is the word that perfectly
describes my chaotic journey to salvation. Church-hopping is defined “as
someone who desires not to settle at any particular local church, who
would rather hop from church to church to suit their
yearnings and/or, someone who finds themselves at a
different church every couple of years for reasons beyond relocation,
doctrine and philosophy of ministry”.
Worldly wisdom would say people who are
church-hoppers have a problem with commitment.
In her book, Choosing Love: Moving
from Ego to Essence in Relationships, Gina Lake makes this statement
about why some people cannot commit to anything:
“The ego doesn't want to commit to anything—a
place, a relationship, a career—because it believes that something better may
be possible, and it's willing to forgo what is present for the possibility of
something better that isn't present. Essence, on the other hand, is committed
to whatever is. It doesn't commit into the future because all that exists is
the present, so it commits itself to that.”
In the article, “Nine Reasons Why Someone
Might Be Afraid of Commitment”, Rachel Murphy lists these reasons a person
might not want to commit:
· Relationship expert April Masini attributes peer pressure and
fear of failure as a couple of the reasons that people are afraid of commitment.
· Pew Research found that 42% of Americans didn't have a significant
other in 2017.
· Poor relationships with friends and family, as well as bad past
relationships, can cause people to avoid commitment, according to Masini.
It would appear many people find it hard to
commit because they are afraid they may miss out on something better. This can
be true for those who are church-hopping.
What does God think about church-hopping?
The Holy Spirit is telling me in Hebrews
10:24-25, as a Christ follower, we need to be involved with a local body of
believers for mutual exhortation. In addition, James is telling us in James
5:16, we need fellowship with other Christians for spiritual growth:
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray
one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much.”
Although at times I feel changing churches is
acceptable for such things as relocation or after prayer and meditation, you
don’t approve of a change in the teaching or direction of the church,
church-hopping may become unbiblical when done to avoid connection and
responsibility.
After introspection, I know my church-hopping
was primarily done to avoid connection and responsibility. I did not begin a
personal relationship with Jesus until November 11, 2019, therefore, during the
years of church-hopping, I was searching for something to fill the void in my
heart! I used excuses to avoid making a commitment. I was avoiding a close
relationship with a church family, in order to hide my sinful lifestyle.
My attitude was that of a cookie-cutter consumer, denying church membership
because the particular church I was visiting didn’t give me exactly what I
wanted!
The bottom line was through the lies and
deceptions of Satan, I had blinders on that did not allow me to see the
absolute truth – I am saved through grace by faith in Jesus!
ILLUSTRATION
Make Up Your Mind
You may recall that Alice in Wonderland said
to the Cheshire Cat,
“Would you tell me, please, which way I should
go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to
get to,” said the cat.
“I don’t much care where,” said Alice.
“Then, it doesn’t matter which way you go,”
the cat replied.
We don’t live in a wonderland. We live in a
hostile world with stern limitations. We cannot go just anywhere we want to go.
The past is a closed door, and the future depends on what we do today and what it
does to us. Time marches on!2
PRAYER
Our Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending Your Son Jesus to the
Earth!
Through His short ministry here on Earth, He
showed
His example for living a life pleasing to the
Father.
Us how to lead a perfect, sinless life!
He died for all mankind on the Cross at
Calvary
for the propitiation of our sins. Because of
His
sacrifice while living here on Earth amongst
us,
we are able spend an eternity with You in
Heaven!
You have told us, if we believe Jesus is Your
Son,
who died on the Cross to pay the penalty for
our
sins, and on the third day, arose from the
dead,
then, we too will be granted a ticket to
Heaven!
In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord
and Savior,
Amen!
SONG OF WORSHIP
Weary of Wandering From My God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh7L4tWm7sQ
God Bless You,
Barry
1Thomas, Rick. “Why Do I Keep
Doing The Same Sin Over And Over Again?,” n.d. https://rickthomas.net/why-do-i-keep-doing-the-same-sin-over-and-over-again/.
2 Tan, Paul Lee. Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of
the Times. Garland, TX: Bible
Communications, Inc., 1996. Print.
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