why should "unchurched" = "unfaithful"?

[BarryC]

I am a Christian, but choose not to attend a "church" - I am made to feel guilty about this by family and friends, who seem to think I can't really be a Christian if I don't attend a church - where in the bible is this grounded?

I live as a Christian, trying my best to live by God's law and feel well able to worship the Lord at home - or wherever I am, for that matter, surrounded by God's wonders ... am I sinning in any way by choosing not to attend a church?

I sometimes miss the fellowship of fellow-Christians, but have had some unfortunate episodes with churches and tend to find them "claustrophobic" and am quite happy worshipping the way I do ..

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Not attending a meeting is not being *unchurched*.

Church is about people and calling and community.
Always obey God and your concience. For many of us we feel that Jesus has left the building and so we should too - others of us just feel it wrong to be part of a church that is all but dead to God-and yet others just don't relate. Infact, a majority of the people on this planet dont relate to church - and its not about message or Jesus, often it's simply about culture - church culture!

Many things churches do they do because of a self-sustaining ghetto culture. This is not sound.

Jesus gaveup everything to become human. Jesus told the rich man to give up everything to follow him.

That rich man had followedevery command from birth and he gave it all up. I am far less holy, I'm sure!, and so I choose to give it all up too.

There is a prophetic sense to jacking it all in and starting fresh - as a human - and to begin searching for what truely makeschurch or christians distinctive in the world.

For too long we have sought to be distinctive FROM the world, not distinctive IN the world. We are commanded to be IN the world; to love the *lost*, to be like Christ who gave up everything for the world...in what way is your choice disobeying these commands?

Know who you are and have an idea about what God is calling you to, rarely enter into debate,because-on one level-both sides are right! SeeJesus and follow and respect those who see Jesus differently- that's the tough bit!

 

[BeLedbyHisSpirit]

That message (above) is excellent. Very good words.

Look for posts by me (Advanced Search on this site) to see more Scriptural explanation for the Body of Christ (Jesus' Body, or His Spiritual people), to have biblical understanding to defend your ground.

You seek true Holy Spirit created friendships and thus far you don't see that in an institution (most probably 'never will, too).

Continue to seek the Lord Himself, and walk in liberty, and enjoy your Freedom - paid for so dearly by Jesus' torturous death on a wooden cross!

Your heart desires true fellowship. It is not you who have dissed others, but they, in effect, are dissing you.

God bless you, bro.

 

[BarryC]

Two excellent and greatly appreciated answers - thanks for your time and concern!

I've always thought that too many churchgoing christians consider it far more important to "talk the talk" than "walk the walk", if you get what I mean.

I now have a lot more confidence and some more ammunition to use when under attack for being a stay-at-home!

 

[illudium_phosdex]

My thing is, if you read the Ten Commandments, it says "Remember the Sabbath by keeping it holy." Not "Thou shalt attend church on Sunday or Saturday or whatever."

I'll tell you the truth. In the past few months since I have become "unchurched," my faith and understanding of God and what his word says has deepened so much more than when I was attending a brick and mortor church. I've been having more of a daily walk with Him rather than a Sunday stroll. It has been very liberating.

This is not to say that I am not still going to look for a congregation at some point, but I have decided that when that time comes, I will most likely seek out a home church or a nondenominational church; one that is not tied to the edicts of "churchianity" to use Rick's word.

 

[PETE_]

Brother Lawence, a monistary cook, explains that set times of study and prayer actually are a distraction to his worshipping God.
This book is free to download as a little book, and is full of practical advice from a mere cook who loved God totally.


The Practice Of The Presence Of God
[FONT=Verdana, sans serif]Conversations and Letters
of Brother Lawrencehttp://www.practicegodspresence.com/...nce/index.html[/FONT]

In this small book, through letters and conversations, Brother Lawrence simply and beautifully explains how to continually walk with God - not from the head but from the heart. Brother Lawrence left the gift of a way of life available to anyone who seeks to know God's peace and presence; that anyone, regardless of age or circumstance, can practice -anywhere, anytime. Brother Lawrence also left the gift of a direct approach to living in God's presence that is as practical today as it was three hundred years ago

I often find church services boring in themselves. Often there is little meat. Often pastors evangelize more than educate. Fellowship with believers is important though. I attend a large church and have fond an excellent Sunday school class with some people that enjoy digging a little deeper. I often do not stay for the formal service. There are many other options for study and fellowship. God did not bind us to strict rituals.

 

[angloluthcath]

every second we breathe is church!all of life is sacred,every second of it.the whole world around me is my church,every living being,animal,plant,my job,the clerk at the grocery store,etc. go well,alc

 

[BarryC]

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
-Matthew 6:5-6

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

An Unseen church for an unseen God.

When we are unseen as church, we finally are able to church it with the World. Peeps say "but in what way are you distinctive?" and I say, live in my life a while, and you'll see. Sometimes I'm not sure myself, but unless we go unseen,unnoticed as church (in the conventional sense) how will we know if it works?

Damn Augustine and damn Plato. They have damned the church to heirarchy and dualism.It's time to go Jesus on their Roman butts.

 

[stealingheaven]

since I have become "unchurched," my faith and understanding of God and what his word says has deepened so much more than when I was attending a brick and mortor church. I've been having more of a daily walk with Him rather than a Sunday stroll. It has been very liberating.

I completely agree!

Since I stopped attending church I feel that my walk is daily whereas before it was just on Sundays, maybe it's because I too have Christian friends who can't believe I can get by without church so I make more effort, I make more time for God, I now feel that my relationship with Him is deeper.

 

[cubanito]

Was reborn on the lawn of a home Church, spent some years going to various home Churches. Then when it fell apart, spent 12 years attending none. Then signed up at a local PCA, transferred out to another PCAwhen the elders patently lied to the congregation, and now the new PCA is falling apart. Havent attended services for over a month and am thinking of what to do.

At no point was I "unchurched" nor in rebellion.

Only one verse in all the NT relates to Church going: "Do not forsake the assembling together." Pretty weak stuff to hang a "go every sunday or else" attitude.

Nonetheless, big organizations have done and continue to do much good. Without these hierarchical structures, where would you get your Bible? Your Nicene Creed?

I don't know what I'll do next. Certainly feel the 20K US dollars I've donated over the past 5 years have been poorly managed (there was NEVER any coercion, or in fact was it ever kown generally who donated what). On the other hand I learned a LOT, both of Doctrine and living. Made many good friends.

Like many, I turned to the "organized" Church for help in the training of my children. I think did was the best thing to come out of this. The worst is the fact that some use the Church as a piggy bank for friends and family who, calling themselves missionaries, find ways to avoid a real job.



Oh well, pray for me. Need to make some decisions, mainly for my youngest kid's sake (9yo)

JR

 

[Ps28:7]

i haven't been to church in nearly a year...mostly because i wanted to find God and that couldn't be done in a 'church' i have been up and down and am now finding out what i truely believe about God and his word, not based on what others have told me but on what God has shown me, another reason i left was because i felt that alot of the teachings were no longer God-centered and scripture based and i didn't agree with a lot of it...i noticed that when i first left my church many people thought i was crazy and that i must be backsliding...they just couldn't fathom that you could be a believer and not go to church...and when i saw some of them they barely even said 'hey' to me because i guess they didn't want to fellowship with an 'unbeliever' however, i try to stay in touch with my friends from church and i think we have all come to a better understanding of why i left church...i will be looking for a church when i go back to school because i won't be around my friends anymore (and my close ones were the people that i really 'fellowshipped' with)...you know...the word says in Hebrews 10 that we are not to forsake the assembling of fellow believers but to encourage each other, i don't think that has to be done in an organized religion/church building/pastor preaching at you sort of way...i think that can be done through real connections with fellow believers in a bookstore/coffee shop or a park or anywhere...so yeah

 

[cubanito]

My biggest concern is that the young children would benefit by having a structured Sunday school to supplement the teaching they get from us.

JR

 

[IXOYE5]

The Temple of God is made without hands. Which temple ye are, so be that the Holy Spirit dwell in you.


If one will live as by the Law of Christ He shall be free from sin and know the truth.

Everyone in this forum, every person typing behind the keyboard are having fellowship in one way or another. It may be in the flesh or it may be in the spirit, it may be the Spirit of God, or it may be the spirit of the prince of this world. But yet it is still fellowship.

The Body of Christ (the Church) was not built with hands. It was built with a Corner stone, that corner Stone was Jesus Christ the Son of God. And Jesus Christ chose Peter the Rock inwhich to build that church which stands to this very day.

Our Lord is not a religion, Our Lord is not a Building, Our Lord is Not divided. For The Son of God himself said, "A House divided against itself SHALL not stand."

Who is Paul? Who is Apollos?

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?


Did Jesus go to church or a synagogue to receive His ministers license? Did He receive His knowledge from man?

He went into the wilderness 40 days to be tempted of the devil and to be ministered to by the angels.... direct from the throne of God
.

We, as born again Christians filled with the Holy Spirit shall receive the same ministry, we are not ordained by man, we are not commissioned by man, we are ordained (Commissioned) by the calling of God by the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.


Therefore the Building (church) is for fellowship, the wilderness is for growth in the Spirit (That is if you are lead to go into the wilderness by the Spirit), the wilderness could be at home, at church, in a car, on a mountain top.


Father bring together your true church this day, as these lasts grow near. Bless those who cry, lift up and heal the hearts that mourn, give peace to those who are confused, and Save with your Grace those who are lost. This we ask Through Jesus Christ your only begotten Son.

 

[LJSGM]

I am a Christian, but choose not to attend a "church" - I am made to feel guilty about this by family and friends, who seem to think I can't really be a Christian if I don't attend a church - where in the bible is this grounded?

I felt the same way for a while, but now I have to humble myself when I start thinking of those that attend these brick and morter organized churches to be carnal christians, or babes in Christ.

I live as a Christian, trying my best to live by God's law and feel well able to worship the Lord at home - or wherever I am, for that matter, surrounded by God's wonders ... am I sinning in any way by choosing not to attend a church?

Your worship is to do the will of the Father, not just praise or keeping the sabbath, or whatever else people think it is.

I sometimes miss the fellowship of fellow-Christians, but have had some unfortunate episodes with churches and tend to find them "claustrophobic" and am quite happy worshipping the way I do ..

I still believe that we are to meet together and have fellowship, early christians were so unified that often they even lived together as a co-op, or just came over whenever they needed prayer or friendship. There was also a five-fold ministry in the church, and each had their role in it. I think it is important to meet together. I wouldn't give this up, but you could redefine what meeting together is, compared to the organized church. Maybe you should look for a home based church group?

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Hey JR I have 4 kids... we should be the ones introducing our kids to Jesus... IMO. The onlySunday school i ever felt happy with were thesessions my wife and i ran!

 

[illudium_phosdex]

Hey Flan, I agree with you here. So far my husband and I have done a pretty good job, I think, of teaching our children about God and God's word.

My kids do enjoy church but I think it has more to do with being able to go and play with other kids than anything else.

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Indeed. And Veggie Tales rock (I know,I said something positive about christian america- may God forgive me!).

I lovedit last sunday when my kids and i took their friends and their dad our for early breakfast and he says to me "so arent you supposed to be at church?" and my 10 year old says, "this is church,silly". Bless her.

 

[illudium_phosdex]

Indeed. And Veggie Tales rock (I know,I said something positive about christian america- may God forgive me!).

I lovedit last sunday when my kids and i took their friends and their dad our for early breakfast and he says to me "so arent you supposed to be at church?" and my 10 year old says, "this is church,silly". Bless her.

That is an excellent story. Kid's are so much "smarter" than we are sometimes when it comes to our faith. I guess that is why Jesus instructed us to become "as a little child." It's like they instinctively get it. I hope I never do anything to take that away from mine.

Oh, and we have plenty of Veggie Tales too. Yes, they rock!

 

[Rick Otto]

So how'd the ol' guy take bein' called "silly" by a chile?