After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Acts 20:1-3
Paul remained in Ephesus until the uproar with Demetrius the silversmith was ended before leaving. It appears that he had already planned to depart, but when problems arose, he stayed until the trouble subsided. Truly he had a shepherd’s heart. May we never be those who dart when there are differences in a church. And Paul wasn’t leaving to attend a “better” church. As a church planter, when his work in one city was done, he moved to a new place to plant a new church.
Churches have troubles because churches are made up of people. Even saved people in biblical churches encounter adversities. Some see difficulties in their local church as a sign to seek greener pastures. What if husbands or wives forsook their marriages when difficulties arose? Responsible people don’t abandon their marriages or their churches because of trials.
Is there ever a time to change churches? Yes, but that should be a last resort and should not be because of hardships. False doctrine (that is not repented of) is a reason, but struggles are not. Churches, like families, have to travel bumpy roads at times.
Those who depart miss out on the sanctifying lessons that could have been learned.
Who besides me is glad that Jesus doesn’t ditch a church because of a lack of “ease in Eden?”