Why People Quit

Because of guilt.  When one knows he is not living as Christ teaches during the week he should feel guilty and ashamed when he comes into his Bible class or into the worship assembly.  His guilt and shame leave him with two choices:  He can confess and repent of his sin (Jas. 5:15), or he can continue in sin.  One who continues in sin will not long remain faithful in attendance where his sin is going to be taught and preached against. Such a person feels more and more out of place and eventually quits.  Of course, quitting the church does not remove the guilt; it only removes one of the constant reminders of it.  Many take this route.

Because they dislike someone.  It may be the preacher, an elder, a teacher — it is usually someone in a leadership role.  We all have enough faults to be not liked by someone else (e.g., I do not like the behavior of those who quit because they do not like someone).  Guess what?  You do not have to like every member of the church to be a faithful Christian!  God must dislike even the best of us often, but He still loves us and seeks the best for us.  So, we can dislike one another at times, as long as we still love one another enough to seek the good of each other.  Quitting the church (thus losing your soul) is a high price to pay because you do not like someone (Eph. 4:32).

Because there are too many hypocrites.  I suppose all Christians (including preachers) have been hypocrites (at least, inconsistent) at times.  It is impossible to perfectly live up to the message we preach. Sometimes we fail.  The one who charges “There are too many ¨ hypocrites,” is himself hypocritical once in a while!  I do not defend hypocrisy, but which is worse, to continue to assemble faithfully and work with other imperfect saints, knowing that one’s own life is not perfect, or to drop out and not even make an effort? Besides the presence of one or a hundred hypocrites has nothing to do with my relationship to God unless I let it.  Do you come to assembly to judge your brethren (Mt. 7:1,2), or to worship God (Jn. 4:4)?

Many other “reasons” are observable, but they all stem from letting selfish pride get out of hand.  When selfishness drops out, the quitter will drop back in!

—Dub McClish, Jacksonville Church of Christ