Still Where the Lord Planted You?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by theoldpaths

I believe changing churches is a MAJOR decision and not a minor one.

As a married woman, I would leave that major decision to my husband--not my pastor. Not that we wouldn't consult with our pastor, or discuss it with him--we would want his advice, and it's courteous to inform him of any changes, since it does affect the church when any family leaves.

But ultimately that decision would be made prayerfully, between the two of us. My husband is the head of our family, and has the final say in MAJOR, life-changing decisions.

[Brad Murphy]

I would have to first believe that any pastor was qualified to counsel me.

[Cindy]

I am where I am at, and I have no plans to go anywhere else.

[theoldpaths]

Originally Posted by Esther

2nd is it a requirement that the pastor blesses your move?

My pastor has always taught that for MAJOR decisions in life, it is good to ask for counsel - in the multitude of counsellors, there is safety. However, he also teaches that he doesn't believe God cares which brand of toothpaste we use and that we should bother our pastor about LITTLE things like that.

My personal opinion is the same - MAJOR decisions, I think it would be safe to talk to the pastor about - LITTLE decisions, it does not matter. I think this is wisdom.

I believe changing churches is a MAJOR decision and not a minor one.

I think a big question would be, is it the will of God for you to move?

[theoldpaths]

Originally Posted by Mrs. LPW

That's not possible sometimes. Some people start out in a church and learn only of the Lord and repent, sometimes not even... and God leads them along to another church to hear about Jesus name baptism, or that the infilling of the Holy Ghost is for them. Not always does every part of faith, repentance, baptism and HG start in one church.

Also, if you are called to a ministery which takes you to other churches to serve, it's impossible to stay in one place. The call of God can lead you elsewhere.

Marriage and jobs will often move people as well.

I moved for all three, marriage, jobs, and ministry.
I'm back in my home church where I started right now, but under a new pastor.

So I doubt OP would be saying you'd have to stay put where God first planted you. (at least I hope not)

Agreed. I've heard stories of people getting baptized in 1 church and rec'g the Holy Ghost in another.

I believe if one is called into a ministry, it will be done underneath the man of God in your life and that the man of God will help you and use you to develop your ministry; in which case one waits on their ministry. When you are ready and God wants to send you out from under your Pastor, then you will leave with your Pastor's blessing. I believe where ministry is concerned, it is very important to leave with your Pastor's blessing.

Agreed with marriage as well. Most of the time or traditionally, but not all of the time, the woman leaves to go to the husbands church.

[theoldpaths]

Originally Posted by Pragmatist

Not even close. And I can pray on my own to know if it's the will of God for me to go or not.

I believe that if God will speak to you and let you know, that He is big enough to speak to and confirm it with the man of God in your life as well.

[Sister Alvear]

I DON´T THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE CHURCHES FOR EVERY LITTLE THING THAT COMES UP...however there may be a time and a reason for change. I think the pastor should be consulted but common sense has to prevail also...

[Sister Alvear]

I have the same pastor I have always had...

[theoldpaths]

Originally Posted by Rico

There was a time when what you are describing was more commonplace than today. It used to be that people were born, lived, worked, raised families, the whole nine yards, right there in the same town. Them days are long gone. The average career length is somewhere around 5-8 years, people move around from one part of the country to another, etc. These all factor into whether someone stays put in any given church.

Also, pastors seem to move around more than they used to too, so it isn't uncommon for a new pastor to come to a church, make changes some people don't like, and people find another church to go to.

The only thing that I would be careful of is not to put a career ahead of or over the will of God in one's life.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

We are no longer our own - we belong to him - we have been bought with a price.

Not saying that was the case with you, by the way.

My Pastor has been pastoring the same church for over 30+ years so, which is a good indication of stability; not to say that those pastor's who don't stay that long were not called somewhere else though - that is between them and God. God has graciously allowed the church to grow over the 30+ years.

[theoldpaths]

Originally Posted by Carpenter

When I hear of people being planted I think of cemetaries.

Being planted somewhere has less to do with the church and pastor. I know folks who uprooted themselves and followed the guy or they lost their walk with God altogether when the pastor left.

On the other hand, if you acknowledge someone as being your pastor, you should have the expectation to talk with him at a minimum about a move.

I am not sure about this pastor blessing a move stuff, sometimes people, saints and pastors are too self serving to make an honest decision.

When I think of planted, I think of...

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

I also think of the many times that Jesus spoke parables of seeds and trees and husbandmen.

As stated before, I believe changing churches whether to follow a man or not is a MAJOR decision.

The most important thing is to seek after the will of God. If you make a wrong choice, I believe the Lord will show you or you will come to understand that you did and so you will have an opportunity to do something about it.

I don't believe saints or pastors should be self-serving - I don't think that is a good sign; especially from the ministry.