My church family has not reached out or responded to my efforts to reach out in the past year. Do I continue to pay tithes there and pray on it or do I look for another church? not trying to be petty but not trying to put more into a church that doesn’t meet my own church needs. is that wrong?
It is always a sad situation when fellow believers on the Lord Jesus Christ find themselves at odds with one another. It hurts all who are involved, and it dishonors the Lord. One very important characteristic of believers is that they do love one another. The Lord Jesus stated in John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Certainly, to love one another would involve being concerned and caring for one another.
I do not have many details about your situation, but it seems that you have not been gathering with those in your church group for a long time. Perhaps you have had a legitimate reason, but you feel you have been neglected, even though you have made efforts to be in touch with them. I hope I have properly interpreted your words.
We learn in Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” It is important that we ‘dwell together in unity’ with our fellow believers. This is fellowship! When we can be with other believers and share the mutual love of our savior, the bond will grow stronger. We will desire more and more the presence and fellowship of our fellow believers.
We learn a crucial principle in Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” The Lord has given us the responsibility to ‘provoke unto love and to good works.” The Lord wants us to consider the needs of each other and react in that person’s life in order to draw him/her closer to the Lord and to a life of obedience. We do that by showing Christ-like love and concern and ministering the Word. Also, the Lord does not want us to stop meeting with fellow believers. As believers, we are all part of the body of Christ, and we need one another.
So, I would say that your church family needs to reach out to you and seek to minister to your needs. On the other hand, you need to return to fellowship together with your fellow saints, unless that are moral or scriptural reasons for separating from them. I do not want to address your question about whether you should send your tithes to this group at this point. Before you make a decision about this, I encourage you to continue to reach out to those you formerly associated with until you find out why there are none that are reaching out to you. Perhaps there is some confusion and others do not realize your needs. Speak with someone you were particularly close to and ask them if there is a reason you have been ignored. Maybe they think you do not want to be contacted and therefore have ceased to reach out to you. It is so sad when there is a division, but no one knows what caused it.
We read in 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” It thrills the Lord’s heart when we walk, or live, in the truth of the scriptures. He wants us to walk with fellow believers of ‘like precious faith.’ (2 Peter 1:1). Do not give up on this situation until you have talked with these believers and learn what is going on with them. Do not hesitate to let them know that you have been hurt by this separation. You may find that they are equally hurt by your absence. (485.6)