MikeOharaLive the intersection of faith and life

Asking people to leave church

Donald Miller has an interesting blog post about asking people to leave church.  He writes:

"A couple times at a church I’m familiar with, here in Portland, the lead pastor, has very kindly asked people to leave. I remember a specific time he just stood up and asked how many people had been coming to church for a year or more but hadn’t found a way to plug into the community. He then invited them to plug in, (which at this church means to serve or find a home group or work in a ministry) and then asked them if they hadn’t found a place that fit them, it might be time to try another church."  You can read the rest of the article here... http://bit.ly/dyHkHg

Some thoughts on the article:

• You have to be very secure as a pastor to ask people to leave, especially if you pastor a smaller church.  Are you willing to risk lower attendance, or are your emotions and identity too knitted to good attendance?  When just two families leave in a smaller church you feel it big time.
• I think asking people to leave is giving permission for people to leave.  Some might feel it's wrong to leave so they need "permission" to leave.
• Asking them to leave is pruning by values and leadership.  As the article says, it's an act of leadership (and love, I believe) to lead people to better pastures even if that means going to another church.
• On the other hand, so what if someone is attending church and the person is not serving, reaching, giving, worshiping, small grouping, joining, etc.?  Could it be that God has them there for a reason?  Could it be that part of their conversion/sanctification is to sit there?  Could it be that there is something happening in their lives but it's just not visible yet?  Could it be that pastors get nervous when we don't see activity and "doing", and assume the person hasn't "bought our values"?  Could it be that God, in his sovereignty, has chosen your church as the environment for the invisible to happen?
• I believe it's fine to ask people to leave your church, but if they decide to stay, then so be it.