Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 6/21/2011

Question
What if for any reason (not abominable sin, but by failing in committment and communication that's why a certain minister have some sort of bitterness, maybe?) a Pastor told you , you can now freely find a church, does this mean even without transfer letter, you can do it?

Second, what if your old pastor told you to find a church (with bitterness, maybe?), and you are desiring to serve GOD and to be a member of a local church and you attend in a like faith another church as a guest member and you told your story to the next Pastor(I mean you lay down transparently your story) then he said you just wait (maybe waiting for settlement with the old Pastor)and you wait for 1 year without any sign just wait and decide to find a like faith 3rd church, and they accept you because you said so youre desire and for 4 years you  know them, to the second church and to the second pastor is uncorteous and unrespespect? (saying you have still issue with your 1st church that's why we didnt' accept you immediately and we are waiting if this offivally you will let go by your old pastor, - even he said verbally).

I am baptized in my first church, but the 3rd church baptized me again because lately I realized that in my first baptism is my motive is wrong, - to find a job, is my move to repeat my baptism with the same faith church is valid?

last, if the 3rd church sent me a missionary, is this valid, even the second church saying, you have still issue of permission to leave the church, even explaining to them (the second church) that my old pastor told me so to find a church?

Answer
Hi Mark,

This question seems way more complecated than can be handled online.  I will try to answer each question simply.  

What if for any reason (not abominable sin, but by failing in committment and communication that's why a certain minister have some sort of bitterness, maybe?) a Pastor told you , you can now freely find a church, does this mean even without transfer letter, you can do it?

This all depends upon the written by-laws of that church.  If the church laws say you need a written transfer in order to go, then that is what you need.

Second, what if your old pastor told you to find a church (with bitterness, maybe?), and you are desiring to serve GOD and to be a member of a local church and you attend in a like faith another church as a guest member and you told your story to the next Pastor(I mean you lay down transparently your story) then he said you just wait (maybe waiting for settlement with the old Pastor)and you wait for 1 year without any sign just wait and decide to find a like faith 3rd church, and they accept you because you said so youre desire and for 4 years you  know them, to the second church and to the second pastor is uncorteous and unrespespect? (saying you have still issue with your 1st church that's why we didnt' accept you immediately and we are waiting if this offivally you will let go by your old pastor, - even he said verbally).


I don't know you, but it would seem that if you have been to three different churches and all three churches have a problem, the problem may not be them, it may be you.  It is very hard to figure out from your post what is happening.  It looks like the second pastor wanted to see what was goihng to happen before he made a commitment.  Did you talk to him before bailing out on him and seeking yet another church?  Again, I do not know the people or the circumstances, but I do not see the concept of church hopping in the Bible.  If you keep getting twisted up with one pastor or another and leave just to make things better, you will have a difficult time getting stability in your life.

I am baptized in my first church, but the 3rd church baptized me again because lately I realized that in my first baptism is my motive is wrong, - to find a job, is my move to repeat my baptism with the same faith church is valid.

If you were baptized after trusting Christ, what in the world could be a Biblical reason to re-baptize?  It sounds like you are just going to church to church trying to do what it takes to make others happy with you... even if it means get re-baptized.  I could be all wrong, this is just the impression I get.

last, if the 3rd church sent me a missionary, is this valid, even the second church saying, you have still issue of permission to leave the church, even explaining to them (the second church) that my old pastor told me so to find a church?

You are only a member of one church at a time.  You are responsable to follow the counsel fo the pastor of the church to which you belong.  You do not have to please 3 churches, you need to follow your current preacher.  Get with him, get his counsel and he will be your guide.  Do not seek any other church... do not go back to churches... lock in where you are and grow some roots of stability.  You may or may not have left correctly, but you can't fix that now... get in and get under the authority of your current church.

Hebrews 13:17 (AV)
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.


I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don