Is it right for a church to excommunicate me because I left the church, even though I still believe in God and Jesus?
You should have the right to leave any church and attend another. You should only do this because you’re convinced that it’s the will of God for your life. It’s important to note that we should attend a local church for two reasons.
First, so we can be fed the Word of God. Second, so we can become involved and use our gifts and talents to enable that church to fulfill the vision which God has given it. If God believes you can be better fed elsewhere, or that you need to become involved elsewhere, He may lead you to leave your present church.
Being excommunicated from a church is scriptural, but not for the reason you listed. I have been the pastor of the same church for fifteen to nineteen years. During those years, people have decided to leave and go elsewhere. I’ve always given them my blessing. I realize that my church is a local extension of the universal body of Christ. When someone accepts Jesus, he or she becomes part of the universal body of Christ.
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling” (Eph. 4:4).
No matter what church you attend, you’re still part of the universal body of Christ. You can never be excommunicated from the universal body of Christ. I’d encourage you to pray for your former church. It sounds like there is a problem of insecurity and that people are being manipulated through guilt.
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Joe Cameneti Sr. is the lead pastor of Believers Church, located in his hometown of Warren, Ohio. Pastor Joe, along with his wife Gina, pioneered Believers Church in 1983 following his graduation from Bible School.
In addition to leading a thriving local church, Pastor Joe is the host of a weekly show called "BCTV." The program is aired locally on WFMJ, the NBC affiliate, reaching thousands weekly.
Pastor Joe is a gifted communicator, skilled in the art of building bridges to unchurched America. Transparent and authentic, you'll walk away challenged and encouraged to connect with God in a deeper way.