Understanding Theological Differences for Changing Churches

This is post number one in this series on biblical reasons for changing churches.

“When should I switch churches?” As a pastor, I often get asked this question from people who are contemplating a change in worship setting even though they are not relocating homes or jobs. Allow me to lay my cards on the table. I think biblical reasons exist for leaving a church. However, it seems many Christians are more inclined to leave churches as a matter of preference rather than over theological principles.

A Biblical Requirement to Gather

Allow me to add some clarity. When we talk about leaving a church, I am not implying nor condoning that someone walks away from the church entirely. No biblical reasons exist for walking away from the body of Christ for good. Hebrews 10:24–25 reads:

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

While biblical warrants exist for changing churches, God’s Word commands believers to regularly gather together. We need each other as we walk through life. We want encouragement from those in our community. We learn how to live out the gospel inside the church so that we can be brighter lights shinning in a dark world. Each passing day Jesus does not return, is another day closer to the end. Therefore, this series of posts only talks about changing churches not abandoning to gather with the saints.

My method for walking through this material on theological differences is to start with those areas of highest priority and move to less important matters–i.e., doctrine, non-essentials, and preferences.

Theological Differences

The first biblical reason someone could change churches is due to theological differences. What we mean by “theological differences” are those doctrines that have been affirmed as essential throughout church history. If a church is preaching or teaching heresy and unwilling to repent and submit themselves to the authority of Scripture, this would be a biblical reason for seeking a change.

What are some essential doctrines that warrant a switch? The prosperity gospel, which says that faith leads to God acting as a glorified Santa Claus by giving you health, wealth, and happiness, would be a valid reason for leaving a church. This false gospel, for example, reverses a Christocentric interpretation of Scripture for one that centers on mankind as the main character.

To put it another way, any heresy that has been refuted throughout Christendom is a valid reason to change churches should the leadership be unrepentant of their heretical teaching. These beliefs would include things like, but not limited to universalism, denying the Trinitarian nature of God, denying the fullness of the incarnation–i.e., Jesus is fully God and fully man, rejecting the authority of Scripture, discrediting the inerrancy of the Bible, and challenging the resurrection. In some theological systems, like mine, we would also include things like believer’s baptism, which does not practice infant baptisms.

Most people are good up to this point. You might be surprised to learn that most controversy and splits occur over non-essentials or personal preference rather than theological distinctives. Let’s look at each of these in turn.

Non-Essentials

Non-essentials are beliefs like the intercoastal waterway in Texas. This manmade structure allows barrages to travel up the Gulf of Mexico (America) without being hammered by the waves. The waterway contains two bulkheads that allow for easy passage. Non-essentials are like the intercoastal waterway. They are views that can fit within the right and left lateral limits of theological discourse. In other words, non-essential leave room for people with different views to stay within the bounds of orthodoxy and remain in fellowship.

What are some non-essentials? The second coming of Jesus Christ would be one theological position that sits within this channel. Every Christian ought to believe that Jesus is coming back. Not to believe this puts you out of bounds with Scripture–you crash into the bulkhead. The difference is how you think the Bible teaches his return. Some people believe in a rapture and others do not. Yet, both are within the bounds of orthodoxy because how Jesus returns is not as clear in Scripture as we would like it to be. We can remain in fellowship together even though we might see differently on the second coming. This would not be a theological issue to leave a church.

You might be surprised to learn that some churches have made this an essential. Many years ago, I was one of the final three candidates for a lead pastor position. The leadership team asked questions about my theology as any good team ought to do. The problem was they had a view of the end times (eschatology) that was not my view. I told them this was not an issue for me, but it was for them, so I removed my name. They moved their view into the realm of theological essentials. There are other non-essentials like the law and gospel, the regulative principle for worship, and natural law theory. These would also not be valid reasons for leaving a church.

Preferences

From non-essentials, we move to preferences. What you prefer is not a valid reason to leave a church. However, many people leave a church by flipping the order from preferences to non-essentials to essentials. We would do well to avoid this reversal.

Preferences are those things that you prefer because you like them but are not mandated by Scripture as either forbidden or required. The three areas coming to mind are music, dress, and church liturgy. We have all seen these issues become divisive. People leave because a church doesn’t play enough hymns or too many hymns. People switch because they expect the pastor to wear a suit and tie or to be trendy with jeans, Nike Dunks, and tattoos. And I’m just as guilty as others. Give me Shane & Shane music every service, and my heart is happy.

I think preferences are great, but what we like are not binding on others. Preferences provide us with opportunities to practice the “love one another” passages of Scripture. Jesus teaches in John 13:34–35

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

I love my hymn singing brothers and sisters. So, I will gladly sing hymns for them. I want them to be drawn into a posture of worship so that they can receive the Word with a joyful heart. Same holds true for those who love music on the other end of the spectrum. I will sing Brandon Lake songs so that I can show love to my other brothers and sisters who enjoy contemporary music. My prayer is that people would do the same for me when Shane and Shane is played on stage.

We would do well not to divide over preferences but rather see preferences as a means to practice the “new commandment” Jesus gave us–to love one another as he loved us. That means placing some of our preferences on hold or sacrificing them for the sake of others.

Conclusion:

As you can see, biblical reasons do exist for changing churches. One of those is theological differences that fall outside the bounds of biblical orthodoxy. Nevertheless, we would do well to understand the distinctions between essential doctrines of the Christian faith, non-essentials, and preferences.

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