Church swapping is a bit like wife swapping. Sadly both are becoming increasingly common. Marriage is meant to be for life. A man and woman come together and enter into a covenant to be loving, faithful and dutiful to one another ‘till death us do part’. God instituted marriage in the beginning, bringing Adam and Eve together. Jesus said with regard to marriage, ‘What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder’ (Mk. 10:9). God, Himself, is involved in every marriage and it is rebellion against Him to put away husband or wife unless for the most serious reasons – adultery or wilful desertion. The bond between a Christian and a church should be even stronger. We are members of the one body and not even death will dissolve that union.

Church Membership⤒🔗

Every Christian should become a member of a local church as soon as possible. We are all called upon to repent and believe the gospel, and, having done that, we are to join a church. Jesus said, ‘I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’ (Mt. 16:18). He is the foundation and the cornerstone and individual Christians are the living stones of which it is composed. Together they form a beautiful temple and dwelling place for God. Paul, elsewhere, speaks of the church as being like the human body which is made up of many different parts united into a whole (1 Cor. 12). The eye needs the ear and the hand needs the foot. Upon the less honourable parts we bestow more abundant honour (1 Cor. 12:23). All are dependent on each other.

The church has a visible and invisible aspect. The invisible church is composed of all born-again Christians. The visible church is what can be seen in the world as congregations and as churches. In the visible church there are unconverted members as well as true believers. Also, sometimes, for different reasons, those who ought to be members do not join. Some lack assurance, but others, and increasingly today, do not wish to make the commitment. They are afraid of what might be required of them.

However, because Christ instituted the church, and because it exists for the benefit of the members, membership is not an option but a requirement. Baptism is the initiatory sacrament and the Lord’s Supper the confirming and communion sacrament. Wherever the first missionaries went they established churches and appointed elders to pastor and care for the flock. They were to ‘reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine’ (2 Tim. 4:2). They were to take heed to themselves and ‘to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God’ (Acts 20:28).

When one member was involved in serious immorality they were ‘to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus’ (1 Cor. 5:5). If individuals refuse to become members of the local church, discipline is impossible. There are no examples in the New Testament of Christians who are a law unto themselves, refuse to be members of churches and are not under the discipline of the eldership. Christ has appointed His church as a means of grace for His people and not as an optional extra. When you join a church you enter into a covenant with that church and it is similar to marriage. You commit yourself to a church of Christ for your soul’s benefit and the church makes a commitment to you to care for your soul under Christ.

But why would Christians not join a church? In the past it seemed automatic and natural. However, many changes have come in modern life: the internet, modern communications and societal breakdown. Some people are converted through radio, television, or the internet. They may continue for years finding their spiritual food through the media. They may, perhaps, have no Christian friends. They are on their own and make no effort to find a church home. They do not realise their need of fellowship or the danger of ‘forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is’ (Heb. 10:25). This is far from being a healthy situation. There are special promises connected with the gathering together of Christians, ‘For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst’ (Mt. 18:20).

Changing Churches←⤒🔗

A related problem is lack of loyalty to a church once individuals have joined it. Perhaps, after a few years, they tire of the old minister’s preaching or a new minister comes and they do not like his preaching. Sometimes a really fine preacher comes to the church down the road. Why not decide to leave? Sometimes there is something in the manner of the new minister which is off-putting. You do not like him as much as the old minister. Or someone in the church has offended you and you decide to leave. Or another church has more activities, appears to be thriving and everyone likes to be part of a success story. Or the children are complaining that there are few or no children in the church. You love your children and want them to be saved and so you move church for the benefit of your children. I have occasionally seen this happen over the years and seldom if ever does it lead to blessing for the children. I can think of several cases where the children who seemed to rule the roost now no longer attend any church. What is vital for the salvation of our children is enthusiastic loyalty to the church and to Christ. Criticism of the local church, in the children’s mind, soon becomes criticism of the church in general and of the Christian faith.

When you become a member of a church you enter into a relationship. When you leave, it is a very serious matter. Unless there are very solid reasons, what you are doing is schismatic. You are causing a cut and breach in the body of Christ. Choosing a church is not like deciding which supermarket to go to or which brand of coffee to buy. There is nothing immoral in moving from Tesco to Asda or to Sainsbury’s. However when you leave one church and break fellowship with that church it is a serious matter before God.

Good Reasons←⤒🔗

There are, of course, good and proper reasons for moving church. Sometimes work will take us to another part of the country and sadly we leave one church for another. Too seldom do folk investigate the church situation when accepting promotion or applying for a new job. In one sense nothing should be more important to us than the church we will attend: ‘For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’ (Mk. 8:36).We may earn for ourselves a lot more earthly money but at the same time lay up for ourselves far less treasure in heaven. A good, sound church that cares for your soul is worth sacrificing much to retain or obtain.

A very proper reason for leaving a church is when a church tolerates serious error – heresy. Then, in that situation, the heretics are the schismatics and it is one’s duty to leave and come out from among them. Similarly if immorality is tolerated in a church, and there is a failure to exercise church discipline, one has to separate oneself from such a corrupt body. One of the marks of the true church is missing – discipline. Purge out the old leaven, said the Apostle, and if the church refuses to do so, separate yourself from that immoral body (1 Cor. 5:7-8).

Wrong Reasons←⤒🔗

But what if I am getting nothing from the preaching? As one gets older, reads more and becomes more knowledgeable, there is less and less that will be fresh and new. However, if the Word of God is read, sung, preached from and prayed over, the child of God who has a healthy spiritual appetite will always be able to get something. As time passes, there should be less looking to the minister and more looking to God. The Scriptures are new every morning and provide a constant diet of heavenly bread. I can think of several who left my own ministry over the years saying they were getting little from the preaching, but after a short time attending a more popular church they stopped attending church altogether. The problem was not so much with the preacher as with the listener. I think of another young man in my congregation who said to his father that the minister was preaching much better now. Actually the change was in him, as he was now converted.

Paul warns about looking too much to men or making too much of one pastor:

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Corinthians 3:4-7

Church-swapping←⤒🔗

In a helpful ‘Letter from America’ (Evangelical Times, June 2016), Ben Wilkerson writes:

It goes without saying that today’s culture is marked by an unhealthy consumerism, that permeates all levels of society, including the church. The American church is infamous for treating the body of Christ in this manner, as though looking for the perfect match on Match.com. Church is now synonymous to a social club that you can leave at will with little apparent stress.

He later adds,

When people leave, it’s like a divorce. It hurts!

Spurgeon made a famous statement:

If I had never joined a church till I found one that was perfect, I should never have joined one at all. And the moment I did join it, if I found one, I should have spoiled it, for it would not have been a perfect church after I had become a member of it. Still, imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us.

Conclusion←⤒🔗

Let us be committed to one church and stick with it through thick and thin. Let us see our role as involving giving rather than just receiving. Think of our Saviour and His sacrifice for us. A healthy church is where all the members use their gifts for the benefit of the whole.