Why are some Christians not part of a church?

My severely autistic (24yo, m.a. 18mos.) daughter randomly bites people. No church that I am interested in has the capacity to support that. I need to stay with her, but we have been relegated to Children's church where she gets nothing and I can't hear the sermon.

A cry room would be ideal.

Not part of a church .... ?

... perhaps because the church does not accept me.

There a a wide category of congregations that are discriminatory in one way or another about membership, and not particularly welcoming to people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, social and economic status than the majority in the congregation.

A true believer in Jesus Christ is automatically a member of THE church (the Body of Christ), and there are a few places where this is respected, but my experience is that many denominational congregations insist on vetting a person against a variety of spoken or unspoken criteria - none of them biblical. A person may be allowed to come into the building and listen to the singing and the sermon, but is looked upon with suspicion or otherwise made to feel unwelcome and sometimes downright uncomfortable.

Because I'm extremely antisocial, that's why.

redleghunter said:

Survey up and you can multiple selections as there may be multiple reasons. In the Current events section on another thread one poster astutely mentioned some Christians do not attend church with other Christians due to various factors. I would like to record and discuss those factors here. Please no judgmental posts.

Some of the factors mentioned were Christian churches were too politically motivated, judgmental and hypocritical. There are others and I will add to the survey as in medical, mental or social disorders which make attendance at a physical church either impossible or very difficult.

If I miss a category someone else deems important I will add it to the survey.

Thank you all in advance. I would like discussion so if you vote please opine as well.

God Bless!

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Way back when I was in the Peace Corps I sporadically/rarely attended because there wasn't a service available outside of an eight hour trek from where I was stationed. Or a four hour trek across the border, but that was in French. Except in the dry season when occasionally a missionary priest would come in to a nearby town and some kid on a bicycle would let me know. And it's not like there were any other Christians of any sort around. There was basically one family and I got to know them.

But that was then and this is now. I am a member, attend at least weekly, have a prayer hour Monday evening in the chapel, and meet with other men every two or so weeks. Wouldn't have it any other way.

I am interested in seeing how your poll turns out.

redleghunter said:

Survey up and you can multiple selections as there may be multiple reasons. In the Current events section on another thread one poster astutely mentioned some Christians do not attend church with other Christians due to various factors. I would like to record and discuss those factors here. Please no judgmental posts.

Some of the factors mentioned were Christian churches were too politically motivated, judgmental and hypocritical. There are others and I will add to the survey as in medical, mental or social disorders which make attendance at a physical church either impossible or very difficult.

If I miss a category someone else deems important I will add it to the survey.

Thank you all in advance. I would like discussion so if you vote please opine as well.

God Bless!

Click to expand...

I've been finding it a real struggle to find a church that teaches who Christ is. A lot of them around me have either turned into social justice groups or have turned their back on teaching the gospel altogether. Some services have become sales sermons on promoting other people's charities.

So I might have to start a bible study in the park because I can't find what I'm looking for. I'm looking for a group of Christians who study the bible and talk about Christ and the bible message while eating some snacks and having a BBQ afterwards.

Great poll by the way. I'd like to go to church but can't find one who teaches the message of Jesus and how to function as a Christian in the world.

I was very active in church for over 25 years. I was just worn out and needed a break.

I average attending church twice a week. I tend to be an introvert and often attend by myself. Why do I go even though everything isn’t 100% ideal? Because God wants His people to be communal as He is communal.

Disclaimer; there are some valid selections in the survey.

Monna said:

Not part of a church .... ?

... perhaps because the church does not accept me.

There a a wide category of congregations that are discriminatory in one way or another about membership, and not particularly welcoming to people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, social and economic status than the majority in the congregation.

A true believer in Jesus Christ is automatically a member of THE church (the Body of Christ), and there are a few places where this is respected, but my experience is that many denominational congregations insist on vetting a person against a variety of spoken or unspoken criteria - none of them biblical. A person may be allowed to come into the building and listen to the singing and the sermon, but is looked upon with suspicion or otherwise made to feel unwelcome and sometimes downright uncomfortable.

Click to expand...

I dont want to quiz you about this, but although the unwelcoming nature of some churches is a bona fide issue, there is hardly any group that is unwelcome in all of them. That's unless you live in a remote rural area or village or don't have transportation or it is something else like that.

I attend regularly. I didn't go for a long time because I am self-taught and while conservative, my theology never seemed to line up real good with what was locally available. I've mellowed some since then. It seemed I was getting dull and the sharpness to my Christianity was fading. Church has helped me stay sharper. It's not perfect, but it's a short drive and I get along alright with the folks. My level of involvement is entirely mine. I don't listen well, and am thoughtlessly independent. I don't burn out because my load is never heavier than what I choose it to be. I believe in the rightness of church and go there to serve myself. People seem to be ok with it and seem to enjoy my presence. I get along well enough with it and intend to continue.

I moved to a rural town of 250 people so the Church I attended for many years is quite a distance. I must admit that my main focus in finding a Church to attend is primarily based on the Pastor's teaching. not too concerned with cliques and such. (I still "attend" my former church electronically. I love Lew's (he prefers Lew to Pastor) thoroughness and teaching, at present he is in John which he started in late 2016 with some topical sermons along the way we are now in John 17. I attend a wonderful Bible study, and may decide to attend a local (8 or 9 miles) church where a number of people in the study attend... One can disagree with Hebrews 10:25 however, I believe that the "encourage one another" is of paramount import. As a side note I also would not attend a church that did not accept a reasoned and scriptural difference of interpretation on peripheral issues....

redleghunter said:

Thanks this is great information and input to the discussion.

According to the poll I put up would you fall into the “theological issues” category?

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I think you're right. It might be theological issues I'm struggling with here.

It could also be the structure of the churches themselves as well. Missing the fivefold ministry.

My husband works on Sundays and has to be at work by noon, that makes anything outside of Sunday school out for him, since he doesn't want to walk out in the middle of services.

So he skips it in total, because we depend on his job for living and it's one of the better (nearly the best) employer in the area.

The Deacon and his wife live near us, right down the road so they pick me up and I attend church with them whenever there are services, when my pain levels are under control. (I'm disabled)

Its not as much as I would like, for real. I think there are times I could attend, but I dread the pain so I skip. So sometimes it's laziness, sometimes I really can't attend. At this point my medical issues are piling up that I'm not sure about my health much these days.. lol

So I'm a part-timer, and my husband hasn't gone in two years.