How to
Survive a Move How to
Survive a Move
Surviving a Move
We are a very mobile society. The average American family moves once every five years. The most frequent reason given for such moving is relocation due to job or career. Under such circumstances the church is effected. Many churches in metropolitan areas experience a "turnover" rate of 20% or greater (people moving out and people moving in). While this presents a challenge for today's church, a specific peril is present for individuals and families who relocate and leave behind the stable roots of their home church. Some who were once active Christians have become spiritual casualties of this mobility. There are some of the spiritual dangers that can be present in moving.
Clear and Present Dangers
A. Losing spiritual landmarks. When the pilot of an airplane loses his points of reference he experiences physical "vertigo." The same can happen in the spiritual life of a Christian. Such landmarks as proven friendships, lines of accountability, comfortable traditions, roots in community and church are left behind when a family or individual moves. Often we don't realize what role faithful Christian friends have played in serving as landmarks and reference points until they are no longer close to us and available.
B. Losing doctrinal anchor points. Religion in America is a sea of conflicting and confusing teaching. early every teaching imaginable is put forth in the context of "churches." To the unwary or uninformed this is confusing to the point of exasperation, especially if difficulty is experienced in finding a church "like the one back home." Some have found themselves torn in a choice between a warm friendly church and one that is doctrinally sound. While cold deadness in the spiritual realm is undesirable, so is doctrinal error.
C. Loosing fellowship moorings. As has already been mentioned, we often don't realize what we have in our Christian friends until they are no longer with us. Fellowship is sharing and sharing takes time for building good relationships. Unless some contingency plans are laid out the temptation may be to seek fellowship among those who will cause us to compromise our beliefs and lifestyle.
D. Loosing children's roots and supports. Children, especially during adolescence, are strongly influenced by peer relationships. The uprooting caused by a move can be good if it breaks ties with wrong influences, but it can also be bad when children leave behind the peers that have helped them hold to their faith.
Things to Consider
A. Weigh your spiritual strengths and weaknesses just as you do your financial strengths and weaknesses. Few people would dream of moving without adequate money or resources to make the move. They carefully calculate the cost of the move to be sure they have enough to make it. If not, they take some special actions to either raise the money or change their plans. The same needs to be done with spiritual strengths. "Do I have the spiritual resources to make this move? How will this effect the family? Are we strong enough for this?" Ignoring such spiritual inventory taking can be disastrous.
B. Scout ahead. What is the new community like? Is there a faithful church there? Would a visit or two with the leaders of the church in the new town be appropriate? What about a phone call? Can I get any advice from the leadership of our present church? Can they make any recommendations? The author of this lesson has seen families decline a move at the expense of a major career advancement because there was no faithful church available in the new location. Such dedication is both admirable and can be a matter of spiritual life and death.
C. Stay in touch with your roots until you are established. A tearful friend upon departure in a move to a distant town was once comforted by these words from a wise and caring friend: "This is not the end of a relationship, just the beginning of a huge phone bill!" Phone calls both made and received can be a spiritual "lifeline" to an individual or family in a move. Don't cut the ties! Use them! Letters will help if you can find a faithful pen pal. Arrange to have church bulletins sent and share them with family members. Talk about what is going on "back home." Tape recordings of services, lessons, and sermons from the former church can be very helpful until new roots are put down.
D. Be ready with "Plan B" just in case. What if a faithful church isn't found that is near the new place of residence? Don't settle for doctrinal error or spiritual deadness! Drive if you must. Gasoline and time pale to insignificance when you put them on the scale of eternity lost or gained. If all else fails you might consider starting a church in your home if you can find a few other Christians. Ask for help from your former church if this becomes necessary.
E. Remember your priorities as a Christian. Jesus said, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things (material needs) will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33). Since our material lives are in a state of instability in a move, it is tempting to focus on them and forget the real priority. It will take special attention and effort in focusing on what is important on the scale of eternity.
Finding a New Church Home
Jesus said, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up." (Matthew 15:13). Many churches are founded upon false premises. It is very important to be careful in your selection of a new church. Just because a church is friendly does not mean it is right.
A. Check the name. The name of a church can be an indicator of where it is theologically. If it doesn't honor God with its name, but rather, honors men, this may show some deeper attitudes.
B. Check the doctrine. Every church has a doctrinal position, even if it isn't immediately evident. Does this church exalt Jesus as the Son of God? Does the leadership exhibit that they are living by His Lordship? Do they give the Bible center place? Do they view the New Testament as the pattern for the church today? Do they teach God's plan of salvation correctly or do they hold to the popular "faith only" doctrine? No church is perfect, but one that is right with the Lord will be striving to please the Lord in what they teach and believe.
C. Is there concern for moral purity? We will become like the company we choose to keep. (I Corinthians 15:33). The teaching and fellowship of the church should build us and our families morally.
D. Do the members truly love one another? "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35). This love should be evident in a reasonable span of time.
E. Do they have a genuine concern for the lost? The mission of the church is to bring people to Christ. Many churches get sidetracked in other issues.
F. Are there opportunities to build family stability? The basic unit of society and the church is the family. This basic structure is under attack in the world today. The church needs to reaffirm the importance of the family and work to strengthen it.
This article was written by Dave Redick. If we may help you, please call our church office or join us in worship this Sunday.
Dave Redick is the Pulpit Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon. He may be reached at dave@preacherstudy.com .