Do members leave because they want to sin?

[_son of Ishmael]

...In other words, the Church Leadership is totally out of touch with the members.

No it's the members that are out of touch with the Church Leadership. Clearly the members need to pray, pay, and obey a little more and then they will see the error of their ways.

[_Stormy Waters]

Members leave because they are sinning.

"If there are any of us who lack faith in this work it is because we have not kept the commandments of God. If there are any who do not know that this is the work of our Father, it is because they have not done their duty. I know as I know that I live that this is the Lord’s work, and that knowledge comes as a result of keeping His commandments" - George Albert Smith
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith, 2010

[_LittleNipper]

Independant Fundamentalist Baptists of course. Christians are not so hung-up on particular churches or denominations. They go where they are fed and that may change as they mature in their walk with Christ. The church doesn't save anyone. The Church is the body of ALL believers in Christ. This is why I'm rather sure Mr. Joseph Smith was never a saved individual ----among other things. He had church membership figured all wrong. His demons got the better of him...

me thinks you confuse "mature in their walk" with meandering and browsing.
The path is strait and the gate is narrow.
Enjoy your buffet of drive-thru churches and a-la-carte doctrines.

Not always. Some Christians are upset that their church has gone "modern." An example would be leaving a particular fellowship because they decided to accept "gay marriage." Some Christians grounded in the Word would see all kinds of issues with such a position and leave a church they feel is becoming a social party. Back in the 1930's a whole group of churches split from the United Methodist Church when it was felt that Biblical inerrancy was being compromised. They formed the Calvery Bible Protestant Church. I know a few people who left the Roman Catholic Church because they felt that they were not growing in their faith. They called it regimental and materialistic. They wanted something more personal in their relationship with the Savior. I personally left a church I liked but felt that I did not get into the meat of the Bible but was entirely evangelistic week after week. I wanted something more in depth. I found that at Easton Bible Church in Hainsport New Jersey. I've been content enough ever since.

[_bcuzbcuz]

This is an extract from John Dehlin's survey on why people are leaving the Church:

http://www.whymormonsquestion.org/wp-co ... 2012-1.pdf

http://news.hjnews.com/news/article_d4c ... f887a.html

General Factors Contributing to Disbelief
% Who Rated this as a Major* Factor
I ceased to believe in the church's doctrine/theology 74%
I studied church history and lost my belief 70%
I lost faith in Joseph Smith 70%
I lost faith in the Book of Mormon 65%
I lost confidence in the general authorities 50%
Church's stance on women 47%
Church's stance on homosexuals / Prop 8 48%
Church's stance on race issues (blacks, native Americans, etc.) 43%
I did not feel spiritually edified at church 47%
Church's stance on science-related matters 40%
I became bothered by church culture (e.g. politics, etc.) 33%
I re-evaluted what it means to believe/know 38%
I lost confidence in my local church leadership 24%
I lost my faith in God 27%
I lost my faith in Jesus 26%
I did not receive the promised spiritual witness 21%
I received a spiritual witness to leave the church and go elsewhere 12%
Lack of meaningful friendships within the church 6%
I or someone I loved was abused by someone in the church. 7%
I wanted to engage in behaviors viewed as sinful by the church 4%
I was offended by someone in the church. 4%

It appears to me that the Church is busy trying to fix things at the bottom of this list whilst ignoring the things at the top of this list. In other words, the Church Leadership is totally out of touch with the members.

That adds up to 756 %. That's an awful lot of sinners.

[_bcuzbcuz]

seems like the survey results could have been simplified to:
1. I left because i am weak minded intellectually and my character is such that i can only appreciate the path of least resistance because i figure self-indulgence is just a better way...I'm just here for "a good time!"

Thank you for clarifying that. Is that why you left?

[_subgenius]

seems like the survey results could have been simplified to:
1. I left because i am weak minded intellectually and my character is such that i can only appreciate the path of least resistance because i figure self-indulgence is just a better way...I'm just here for "a good time!"

Thank you for clarifying that. Is that why you left?

you are welcome, but you misunderstand, that would be why i converted to the Mormon Church, i progressed from that type of being.

[Guest]

...

[_subgenius]

Fixed it for ya ;)

changing someone's text and quoting it as theirs is not allowed.
Moderator?

Here's my reasons off that list and an approximate percentage to each.

I became bothered by church culture (e.g. politics, etc.)10%
I lost confidence in my local church leadership 5%
Lack of meaningful friendships within the church 10%
I or someone I loved was abused by someone in the church. 20%
I wanted to engage in behaviors viewed as sinful by the church 40%
I was offended by someone in the church. 15%

So much for brevity, as we see with the 40% (likely a low estimate), your answer to the thread title could have just been "Yes"

[_just me]

I left the church cuz it's not true.

[_Drifting]

Subgenius would prefer the thread title to be "Do members sin because they want to leave?"