Praise the Lord, I have been asked this question many times over...and I must say I was hesitant to answer at first because I didn't want to offend anyone......however, Jesus stopped by my house the other day and He delivered and saved me from people...I know longer will allow myself to be in bondage. The question that was asked to me, was how long do you stay in a church that you are dying in.....well this is CaLisha 101 I know Jesus did not die on the cross for me to keep me in bondage. I allowed myself to be in bondage, I allowed others to keep me in bondage, I allowed "church" to keep me in bondage.....but no more.
If you are dying spiritually, and you have tried to talk to the man or woman of God, if you aren't growing it's time to have that talk with God, about what He wants you to do. Often times we miss the mark, we are so busy trying to help the man or woman of God make their vision come to past, that we ignore God's vision for us. I cannot tell you how frustrating it was for so long, when we would leave a church and go to another one....I heard many pastors call that church hopping....please show me that in the bible....Jesus went from place to place to preach and teach the gospel; now I am not saying for all to do that, I am saying go to God for yourself and ask Him where are you supposed to be. Sometimes it's not that the man or woman of God is doing anything wrong, sometimes you have outgrown that church, and if you pay attention to the cows that graze the grass, they don't eat where there's no green, they don't eat dirt they eat grass, same with us, if the ground in which you are in is dry and there's no fruit being produced you have to go and get fed, or eventually you will not discern and you'll eat anything because you are hungry
If I may let me speak about CaLisha because I know her a little better than most. I have always loved going to the house of God and worshipping Him, ever since I was a little girl. As I grew older and more mature in God I realized everyone was not who they say they are, and church had lost its fear and reverence for God. That was instilled in me a long time ago, and I could not wrap my intellect around people not fearing God, no order not in the church, no respect for the anointing that God has placed in the body. I would go to a church and give 100% every time, and my husband would always tell me to reserve some and pull back....but I didn't know how to, it wasn't that I was trying to disobey my husband, it was when it came to God, and love I put my ALL in....when I started dying in churches, literally dying, not growing, not getting fed, not being delivered, or healed....I would ALWAYS go to the man or woman of God first.....I truly believe often times pastors do what they "feel" is right, but not necessary go before God and ask Him what to do in this particular situation.....now I'm coming in my feelings, the pastor is reacting in His feelings so the results are emotions not logic, not God, but "feelings" & our feelings are temporary. If I can be real for a minute, there were times that I left a church because my "feelings were hurt" but I was also a "babe in Christ "not that that was ok, but me saying that was to let you know where my spiritual maturity was at that time.
Now, as an Evangelist God gave me the vision and mission to: Isaiah 61: 1-3
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.
See God has called me to set people free, to heal, and deliver....I would not be able to do this if I remained in bondage or dying spiritually in a church. When you get free in God, you become free to man, and you no longer try to please man. I believe in order and I believe God wants order in His church; we have to learn how to have a skillful hand in dealing with Gods people. Now I have had some say, well you were weak and you need to be strong, and I had some say I ain't letting anyone make me run. Now those who told me this obviously has never lost their mind {in church} see we have to be very careful of the "advice" we try and give to someone. What works for you may not work for me, and vice versa. My opinion of the matter is to go before God first, and WAIT on His answer, and then give respect to the man or woman of God and let them know in what you are dealing with. God has a way of showing up when we least expect it, and God speaks to us all, we just have to learn how to shut everybody else's voice out of our mind, to hear Him more clearly.
And I know I am about to make some folks upset with me, but I am going to say it anyhow.....just because someone is not coming to your church does not mean they are not going to someone else's church....remember we are many members one body......instead of talking, and whispering and judging how about we pray and seek Gods face. The reason so many people are leaving the church is because they are "hurt" & leaders are supposed to be the pillars and stand in the gap and many whisper, and judge....if you don't want God's wrath and judgment to come to you.....you better start learning how to have compassion for people. Yes, it can be frustrating and sometimes exhausting but who are we to judge when someone tarried, labored, ministered, loved, and waited for us......so who are we not to do for others.
Ezekiel 34: 16
I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
