Don’t you love a good “I Quit” story?
How about that guy who hired a quartet to sing his resignation to his bosses? That’s how you quit like a boss!
While quitting can be a load off of your shoulders and feel great, the events that led up to that decision may not have been. So before you decide to quit with an epic mic drop, you may want to consider these 6 bad reasons to quit your job.
Don’t Quit Because You’re Burned Out
While this may seem to be an obvious reason to quit your job, there actually is a way out of burnout. Whoever said that just because you’re burned out that you have to stay that way? It may be time for a sabbatical or just a refocusing kind of vacation, but burnout is actually not a good reason to quit. Here’s why:
If you’re burned out at this job, you’ll just start a new job already burned out. Sure, the job may be partly to blame for the burnout, but most situations are not hopeless. Don’t take the baggage from one job to the next. Instead, take steps to get yourself out of that fatigue (last week’s blog) and get back to the joy that you started your ministry with!
Don’t Quit Because There’s Someone You Don’t Like
Today’s culture says that if you don’t get along with someone, you cut them off or get them out of your life. What a selfish way to live! Not to mention unbiblical!
Romans 12:6 tells us to live in harmony with our church, and Romans 14 goes on to instruct us to defer to those within who are weaker in the faith. We are commanded to “live together,” not “cut and run” when we disagree with someone. Speaking of that…
Don’t Quit Over Fringe Doctrines
I’m a believer in the idea that some doctrines are “core” doctrines and some are “fringe.” However, finding two people who agree on what is “core” and what is “fringe” can be like finding a unicorn that can fly a spaceship.
If you don’t agree with your church on what is considered a non-negotiable doctrine, then you could be in trouble. However, if you do agree, then make sure that you’re not ready to quit because everyone is taking sides on a fringe issue and you find yourself in the camp of the naysayers.
Again, Romans 14 tells us that we are to try and work out differences of theology in “disputable matters.” By communicating clearly and often with other staff and elders, differences can be resolved. Opinions are usually respected if they are discussed respectfully (and follow orthodox teaching).
Don’t Quit Over Minutia
Maybe you don’t like the structure of your church government. Maybe you’re not a fan of having Sunday School at 8am (show of hands?). Maybe you hate the way the worship leader sounds when he plays that auto-harp. Whatever your grievance, these things fall under the “preference” category.
When you start trying to find Scripture to validate your request for a PC over a Mac (Ha! Like God is some kind of PC weirdo…) then you’ve waded into the deep weeds of the church minutia. These things are not worth quitting over, even if you have “dealt with it a long time.” Windows users have dealt with a lot too, and yet, they persevere.
Don’t Quit for a Bigger Church
Some view bigger churches as the place to advance in career or pay. I think this is wrong, mainly because I’ve worked in large churches. The most money I’ve ever made as a pastor wasn’t at the largest church. I didn’t become famous because I was on staff there and it didn’t launch my career.
Frolicking over to the greener grass of the bigger church doesn’t mean you will avoid the same kinds of issues and personality types that you’re running from at your smaller church. It will just look different. However, every church seems to have that “close-talker” guy or that “smells like Dillards” lady.
Don’t Quit Because Your Boss is a Bad Leader
As the saying goes, “You don’t quit bad jobs, you quit bad bosses.” That statement is probably true, and trust me, I’ve had a few bad bosses. But I’m reminded of a story…
Remember when David was put in Saul’s service? Remember how David used to play the harp for him? Remember how out of nowhere Saul turned into a psychopathic rage-monster and threw spears at him?
Bad. Boss.
David stayed as long as he could though. He never sought to change bosses. He wasn’t looking for a new King to serve. David tried to stay put. Why?
David knew who his true boss was, and God hadn’t told him to move. I wonder how many of us change jobs/bosses not because God told us to, but because our earthly boss throws spears at us?
Think of it as your obedience test. Have you really tried your best to make it work? Have you talked to your boss or your boss’s boss about the situation? Have you put time into learning how to lead your boss well by asking questions? Maybe you have. If you haven’t, don’t quit. Work at it because God called you there!
Quitting is easy. It is easier to pack up and start over than try to work hard to work things out, but in that struggle we can find growth, faith, and trust in our God as the sovereign Father that He is.
So, before you quit, pray with a trusted advisor. If you have a mentor, talk to him/her in depth about the situation and see if they have any suggestions for you. Try to focus on the things that you do have control over and work hard to improve those things.
Some situations will call for you to leave, some will call for you to stay. Just make sure that when you look back on your decision you can tell others that you did it because God told you to.