You will not be cursed for leaving

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. - Psalm 139:5

We have all heard the stories.

"__________ left Morning Star and now look what's happened to them. This is what happens when you step out from under covering, when you give to the flesh and your agenda instead of the Holy Spirit and what He has spoken for your life through Pastors Stephen & Mary." 

Lies.

Yes, people leave, for all kinds of reasons. People may “backslide,” yes, or leave in some sort of rebellion, but more often, people are wounded and hurting, and that’s why they leave. Sometimes awful things happen. Sometimes bad things happen.

If something bad or hard happens to you after leaving Morning Star, if you "backslide" or "lose your way" in the eyes of other Christians, if you just walk out the door and decide to go to another church, or not got to church for awhile, NONE OF IT has any bearing on your standing with God and how He feels about you.

God is not going to curse you for leaving Morning Star Church.

The exact opposite is true. He is with you. He preserves you and protects you, always.

Your church attendance or membership to one organization over another has absolutely no connection to His love for you and His hand of protection over your life. He will still be with you. He promised us saying, "And be sure of this: I am always with you, even to the end of the age."

We may have trials. We may have troubles. But that's just part of living in this world. God tells us that time and again in the Word:

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. - 1 Peter 4:12

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. - James 1:2-4

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. - John 16:33

God does not remove His hand from your life because you decide to go to a different church, or even if you cannot emotionally handle going to church for some time. He. Loves. You.

Scare tactics like this are common in abusive systems. It is called spiritual blackmail. Jeff VonVanderen and David Johnson, authors of "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse," put it this way: 

We have counseled many Christians who, after deciding to leave their church, were told horrifying things. "God is going to withdraw His Spirit from you and your family." "God will destroy your business." "Without our protection, Satan will get your children." "You and your family will come under a curse." This is spiritual blackmail and it's abuse. And it does cause people to stay in abusive places.

It's important to recognize that the more committed you are to an abusive church, the harder it will be to even consider leaving. The fear is stronger. A lifetime of spiritual, emotional, financial and practical investment into a church makes the price of leaving seem very high, and it may very well be, but it does not include God withdrawing His hand of love and protection over your life. There is no spiritual punishment or retribution for you leaving Morning Star Church. 

• • • • •

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all. - Psalm 34:19

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. - Psalm 138:7

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me. I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. - 2 Samuel 22:3-4

Psalm 91

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 

He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,  nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 

You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 

If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 

You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my Name. 

He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.