Changing churches - why would we?

I've often wondered the reasons for why someone should change churches. It feels like people choose churches the way they select which movies to watch or where to live or where to send their kids to school. It feels like it's so focused on personal style and personal wants and desires. But, what does the scripture say about why we should leave a church.

I was reading Tabletalk for today "The Shepherd Gathers the Flock" and as is my custom, I read the entire scripture it references. Today was on Jeremiah 23:1-8, but these first four verses of Jeremiah 23 really caught my eye.

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1-4, ESV)

This text speaks of a responsibility the shepherd has over their flock. Granted, Jeremiah was speaking more to the Kings over Judah (calling them the shepherds), but I think we can apply this as well to Pastors or those over our churches since the King of the day was the leader for the people and the pastor often is our leader.

Those leaders are to:

1. Not destroy them or not lose them
2. Not scatter the sheep; not produce divisions in the Body
3. Care for God's people
4. Attend to them so they don't get scattered or driven away

There is great responsibility for the leaders. Many people leave the church altogether and never return again, because of the leader of the flock. The shepherd has responsibility for this.

But, ultimately, what is clear from these verses is God is in control. He will gather the flock and then he will bring them back to their fold. He's watching. God is there. He's aware and if necessary, he will move his flock to a different shepherd who will care for them so the flock will no longer (1) fear, (2) be dismayed, or (3) feel lost.

The church has responsibility over the masses, but they also have responsibility over the individual. We need to make sure we don't neglect the individual.

People don't change churches. God moves people though, sometimes, to a church that better cares for them as individuals.