Why do Protestants switch Churches so often

[Cursilista]

From reading many post on CAF, Ive noticed that many Protestants switch churches or denominations quite often. A Baptist will switch to non denominational, A Lutheran will switch to episcopalian, and so on. Sometimes they even go back to their original church.

Could someone please explain to me the reasoning behind these moves and how they reconcil their belief systems with each switch. I know that there are some basics of Protestantism that holds them all together or at least there should be, but some of the denominations are opposed to each other and are actually splinter groups from former denominations.

Was it a matter of doctrinal beliefs, their theology, a certain pastor that they liked or disliked, the association with the congregation. What was it?

The reason i ask, is that my beliefs in the truths and doctrines of the Catholic Church would not allow me to seek another church. If each church professes to have the truth, then why would you leave unless you were not convinced of that truth.

 

[Della]

I can’t speak for others, but when I was a Protestant I changed churches according to where I felt needed and at home. If they believed in the Trinity, had a decent music program, and were open to receiving new people with new ideas, I was their man. I went through various denominations that way, spending the most years in the Assemblies of God. During my time there it was rather cultish and promised so much–like an addiction. I’m not saying everyone had that experience there or does now, but that was what kept me in it for many years. This isn’t a thread about becoming Catholic, but after much prayer and inner struggle sorting out the truth, I ended up a Catholic–the very thing I thought I’d never be! Anyway, that’s my story.

 

[TriuneUnity]

From reading many post on CAF, Ive noticed that many Protestants switch churches or denominations quite often. A Baptist will switch to non denominational, A Lutheran will switch to episcopalian, and so on. Sometimes they even go back to their original church.

Could someone please explain to me the reasoning behind these moves and how they reconcil their belief systems with each switch. I know that there are some basics of Protestantism that holds them all together or at least there should be, but some of the denominations are opposed to each other and are actually splinter groups from former denominations.

Was it a matter of doctrinal beliefs, their theology, a certain pastor that they liked or disliked, the association with the congregation. What was it?

The reason i ask, is that my beliefs in the truths and doctrines of the Catholic Church would not allow me to seek another church. If each church professes to have the truth, then why would you leave unless you were not convinced of that truth.

In my experience, church hopping happens mainly among churches which are anti-creedal and anti-confessional. It is very rare for a Lutheran who holds to the tenets of the Lutheran confessions to become, say, a Baptist. Or for a Calvinist to become, say, a Methodist. The historic Protestant churches which very heavy on catechesis and making sure that their disciples understand the beliefs the church confessed. The aforementioned traditions will generally only lose those members who were nominal.
In contrast, non-denominational churches have a high turnaround rate because many of their members do not have formal theological understanding. So, they will go from one church to another based on their needs; daycare, children’s church, music programs, etc. It’s very rarely doctrinal.

 

[dnu]

When one only attends a Church because it is fun or because they “get” something from it, they tend to stop attending if it tends to stop being fun or stop “giving” something to them.

That is why the non-denominational churches of today have rock music on sunday morning, flashing lights, ultra-loud stereo systems, cool stickers for their car windows, t-shirts, etc. etc.

Most, if not all Protestant faith communities today are selling a brand, and like McDonalds, they need to keep re-inventing themselves if their brand is going to prosper.

 

[rev_kevin]

When one only attends a Church because it is fun or because they “get” something from it, they tend to stop attending if it tends to stop being fun or stop “giving” something to them.For some yes but you can’t say that of all.

That is why the non-denominational churches of today have rock music on sunday morning, flashing lights, ultra-loud stereo systems, cool stickers for their car windows, t-shirts, etc. etc.May I ask, what is the problem with Christian rock music, flashing lights and ultra-loud stereo systems, cool stickers for their car windows, t-shirts etc. etc. I have not seen anywhere where it says you can only use a piano, pipe organ, choirs.

Most, if not all Protestant faith communities today are selling a brand, and like McDonalds, they need to keep re-inventing themselves if their brand is going to prosper.

Not selling anything, just trying to get people involved in Christ and this is one way to do it. Where does it say you can’t?

 

[Guyonthestreet]

I’m not aware that this is true of the protestants I know.

The Lutherans I made friends with some time back don’t chop and change churchs.

The other non-catholics I know have been attending the churchs around here they go to for a lifetime.

 

[loneviking]

When one only attends a Church because it is fun or because they “get” something from it, they tend to stop attending if it tends to stop being fun or stop “giving” something to them.

That is why the non-denominational churches of today have rock music on sunday morning, flashing lights, ultra-loud stereo systems, cool stickers for their car windows, t-shirts, etc. etc.

Most, if not all Protestant faith communities today are selling a brand, and like McDonalds, they need to keep re-inventing themselves if their brand is going to prosper.

This is one of the reasons. Others include a lack of a local congregation, so you pick a church close to your beliefs and practice. Sometimes it is due to changing your beliefs.

 

[SyCarl]

When one only attends a Church because it is fun or because they “get” something from it, they tend to stop attending if it tends to stop being fun or stop “giving” something to them.

That is why the non-denominational churches of today have rock music on sunday morning, flashing lights, ultra-loud stereo systems, cool stickers for their car windows, t-shirts, etc. etc.

Most, if not all Protestant faith communities today are selling a brand, and like McDonalds, they need to keep re-inventing themselves if their brand is going to prosper.

I have never changed churches except when I have moved to different cities and then it was to a church of the same denomination.

It is as wrong to say that most, if not all, Protestant churches are selling a brand as it is to say that all Catholic churches have clown or rock masses.

. I have never attended a church such as you describe.

 

[BrianH]

Data
pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=409

 

[Cursilista]

I see and thank you for your replies. I have known some non-denominationals that take their faith seriously. Although aside from a few verses which simply support a faith alone and SS theology, their knowledge of the verses that support Catholic doctrines are very weak at best. For a faith that is based on the bible as a sole authority, it puzzles me how they are either not aware of those passages, pretend they dont mean what they say or are superceded in importance by the verses that support their posistion.

I guess they can carry those few truths they hold dear to other non-denominational churches

As was pointed out, if choosing a church is based on current popularity or convience, how is that they can legitimize their choice for a church over someone elses when the basis by which they chose that church is based on their personal needs instead of theological truths.

 

[Della]

I see and thank you for your replies. I have known some non-denominationals that take their faith seriously. Although aside from a few verses which simply support a faith alone and SS theology, their knowledge of the verses that support Catholic doctrines are very weak at best. For a faith that is based on the bible as a sole authority, it puzzles me how they are either not aware of those passages, pretend they dont mean what they say or are superceded in importance by the verses that support their posistion.

There are a few factors involved here. One is emtional. People will stay with whatever makes them feel good. Two, they have been told all their lives that the Bible is the sole authority in matters of faith and morals, and who is it that tells them that? The ones who are interpreted the Bible according to their own lights–putting emphasis on anything that seems to support their position over that of the Church. Not all, of course, but enough that people just follow after trusting completely. In their defense, a lot of Catholics operate the same way. It’s why Jesus compared us to sheep.

I guess they can carry those few truths they hold dear to other non-denominational churches

As was pointed out, if choosing a church is based on current popularity or convience, how is that they can legitimize their choice for a church over someone elses when the basis by which they chose that church is based on their personal needs instead of theological truths.

They aren’t thinking about theology. For many of these people theology is almost a dirty word. They go by “heart knowledge not head knowledge”. With that idea in mind it’s no wonder Protestant theology is so confusing and divided.

 

[Moscati]

It really just depends, in my experience. My fiance’s family left two different churches when he was growing up–one because the pastor had an affair with the choir director, and one because the pastor started preaching that the Second Coming had already happened and they all missed it.

My church growing up split once over the pastor’s lack of pastoral care (he refused to visit the sick and was demanding a raise). My family stayed, but then left later when the new pastor gave my cousin some really awful counsel involving her pregnancy and troubled marriage. Now they go to a church where they have some friends, but aren’t very involved.

These were all denominational switches, but not really doctrinal switches, per se. It’s more like if a Catholic had switched parishes for them.

 

[Bluegoat]

I don’t know that I am sure to what extent this is true. However, there are some things that might allow some Protestants to move more easily than the average Catholic.

For one thing, many Protetsnts do not believe that any one denomination is the “true” church, but rather that all, or at least most, are part of the true church, even if some are closer to the truth in their doctrines than others. So they might attend another congregation under the right circumstances. I have a family member for example who began to attend a different denominations church when there began to be some serious problems with the leadership at her church. She began to attend her husband’s childhood church which was close to hers doctrinally and in style of worship. Or in the town I live, there is no Lutheran church close by.

Non-denominational Christians of course have independent churches, so any time they move they are technically joining a new church, even if the beliefs are identical.

And there are a number of groups which are effectively the same doctrinally, but differ in their political organization. This can often be true of some of the national churches in Protestant Europe for example. Typically Protestants don’t see political unity as important in the same way Catholics do.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Most people around here are Protestant. Far and away. Most are on the Fundamentalist or Evangelical order, but there are some mainline Protestant churches too.

I really don’t see a lot of Lutherans changing churches, though they’re all Missouri Synod around here, and that might explain some of it.

Others change a lot. In a way it’s inaccurate to say, for example, that Baptists stay Baptists. There are so many different kinds of Baptists, one can “stay Baptist” while still changing churches dramatically. Even Southern Baptists, which are the majority here, differ from congregation to congregation in what they believe. If you look at the Southern Baptist list of beliefs commonly held, it isn’t a very long list.

In my mind, it’s kind of inherent to Protestantism, though it varies from church to church and congregation to congregation. Once you adhere to the idea of personal interpretation of the scriptures, and to the idea that nobody really has true teaching authority, dissent naturally follows, and dissent of any consequence usually results in formation of another sect or at least another congregation.

Most protestant congregations interview their prospective preachers. Without going into all of the process, prospective candidates are invited to preach in the church. If what the preacher says fits what the congregation already believes, and if they otherwise like the person, they’ll hire him or her. If the prospective preacher preaches something they don’t like, they don’t hire him or her.

But there are always those (“MY bible tells ME thus and so…”) who still don’t accept what the preacher preaches. Frequently that person will talk to others of like mind, and they go form another congregation of like-minded people. Maybe they’ll be accepted into a broader group like the Southern Baptist Convention, and maybe they won’t. Maybe they’ll be non-denominational. The latter sprout up like mushrooms after a spring rain around here at least, and typically follow some dominant personality that has persuaded a number of people that “this is what the bible really says” versus what those in the “mother” congregation believe about some point or other.

Protestants will often tell you that they “church shop”. Sometimes it’s because they’re dissatisfied with the preaching in one place. Sometimes it’s the “fellowshipping”. Sometimes it’s belief-based. Sometimes it’s social. But around here, at least, it happens a lot.

 

[schaick]

From reading many post on CAF, Ive noticed that many Protestants switch churches or denominations quite often. A Baptist will switch to non denominational, A Lutheran will switch to episcopalian, and so on. Sometimes they even go back to their original church.

Could someone please explain to me the reasoning behind these moves and how they reconcil their belief systems with each switch. I know that there are some basics of Protestantism that holds them all together or at least there should be, but some of the denominations are opposed to each other and are actually splinter groups from former denominations.

Was it a matter of doctrinal beliefs, their theology, a certain pastor that they liked or disliked, the association with the congregation. What was it?

The reason i ask, is that my beliefs in the truths and doctrines of the Catholic Church would not allow me to seek another church. If each church professes to have the truth, then why would you leave unless you were not convinced of that truth.

You make it sound as if Catholics never change churches- there are 3 ex-Catholics in my family which is really something when you realize that Catholics are taught from infancy that the Catholic Church is the only true Church.

They catholiscism the same reason I could not be a Catholic.

 

[schaick]

Data
pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=409

*"Catholicism has suffered the greatest net loss in the process of religious change. Many people who leave the Catholic Church do so for religious reasons; two-thirds of former Catholics who have become unaffiliated say they left the Catholic faith because they stopped believing in its teachings, as do half of former Catholics who are now Protestant. Fewer than three-in-ten former Catholics, however, say the clergy sexual abuse scandal factored into their decision to leave Catholicism.

In contrast with other groups, those who switch from one Protestant denominational family to another (e.g., were raised Baptist and are now Methodist) tend to be more likely to do so in response to changed circumstances in their lives. Nearly four-in-ten people who have changed religious affiliation within Protestantism say they left their childhood faith, in part, because they relocated to a new community, and nearly as many say they left their former faith because they married someone from a different religious background."*

 

[Publisher]

In my own experience, “church hopping” occurs among those who share common beliefs…It’s not too big of a deal for a Free Methodist to go to a Nazarene church…or a Brethren in Christ to go to a Mennonite church. Some of the Baptist congregations are “Independent” but they all share a common Baptist history. Some Assembly of God people would go to the Pentacostal Holiness or Church of God Cleveland Tenn. A FreeWill Baptist would feel at home in a Christian and Missionary Alliance church. Some United Methodists would feel comfortable in a United Church of Christ.

The differences in most denominations aren’t that significant…and “blur” with time.

I have been a member of the Society of Friends for more than 35 years…but I have attended other faith traditions when I have not been able to attend Friend’s Meeting…I am welcomed and I’m content to worship with them…when I can get to Meeting I’ll do so…I’ve been separated from a Friend’s Meeting for a couple years at a time…a Prepatory Meeting worshiped only twice a month…the other First Days I attended a small Methodist church and became good friends with the pastor.

For many of us who visit or attend other faith traditions do so knowing that the “non-essentials” fade away even more when we worship with those who are “in Christ” and share a similar faith Journey.

 

[Cursilista]

Thank you all, i have a better understanding. The example of going from one Catholic Parish to another basically covers the nondenominational example of going from one church to another. They dont see a difference. I guess im old school and go the the parish in which i reside even though i have 3 other churches nearby. Ive been through many priest. some good orators and some not.

I was looking for the mindset of protestants when they make the decision to switch denominations i guess. As pointed out earlier, you prob. wont see a baptist become a lutheran and so forth, and i see that mainline protestants dont change that often. I also see that if one moves and his denomiantion does not exist in his new resisdence, they are comfortable with a denomination that is close to their previous one.

its just some friends of mine say they grew up baptist, but go to 3 or 4 different non denominational churches based on how they feel that day. As a Catholic, i guess i have a different view of Church and was just trying to get my head around it.

God bless

 

[CMatt25]

their knowledge of the verses that support Catholic doctrines are very weak at best.

I’m not sure this is a fair statement. They might very well understand the verses just with a different understanding than how the CC interprets them.

 

[CMatt25]

It really just depends, in my experience. My fiance’s family left two different churches when he was growing up–one because the pastor had an affair with the choir director

I can understand that. Had a priest where I was attending been involved in scandal I wouldn’t continue attending a parish where he was teaching at.