Conclusion: Can a Christian Be a Christian without the Local Church?
Posted in Once I Was a Kansas Girl and tagged with Church, Jesus Christ, Point/Counterpoint on July 23, 2008Point: I can be a Christian without the local church.
Counterpoint: I cannot be a Christian without a local church.
Conclusion: While I can be a Christian apart from the local church, I do so in disobedience to the one I call Lord.
You may have been wondering where I actually stood on this issue. Unlike the blogging issue, this one isn’t as clear cut. I mean, you could have figured out before that I’m pro-blogging since I’m posting this on a blog.
It was incredibly difficult to write the posts for and against the proposition when I don’t entirely agree with either side. While I lean more towards the counterpoint position, I feel this lends itself to wrongly basing salvation upon church membership.
I don’t feel that the growing trend of professing Christians living life on their own is healthy for any in the body of Christ, the Church. Not only is it not healthy, it’s sinful (Hebrews 10:25). Read Romans 12. We’ve all been given different gifts, but we can’t use them to build up the church if we don’t associate with it. So whether I realize it or not, I hurt other believers if I refuse to be actively involved in a local church. I think that someone who calls themselves a Christian yet doesn’t participate in a local church should seriously consider whether they are truly a believer or not (as should those who are sitting in the pews each week).
My identity in Christ is not based on my identity with my church. I can be baptized, confirmed, and preached at all I want and even participate in all the Lord’s Suppers and revival services I could ever care to, but none of these activities will save me. Christ and His work on the cross saves me, through utter trust in Him alone for rescue from my sin and the just penalty for my sin, eternal death in hell.
Unfortunately, the church has gotten stereotyped as a group of hypocrites. Yes, there are those who do not practice their beliefs as they ought. I have done this. But that doesn’t keep me from seeking forgiveness and trying again. Just like any other organization, the church is a group of sinners. The only difference is we have been redeemed by Jesus Christ, but even we have not yet been made perfect. We will still sin against one another.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t add that I love my local church. My care group really is like my family. I love getting time with other believers, whether young or old. I love hearing challenging messages from our pastor and seeking to work them out in my life alongside my fellow church members. I love the bunches and bunches of kids (our church is about 1/3 children!) and the opportunities I get to teach them and encourage them, sometimes being encouraged by them. Not everyone’s experiences with the local church are this rosy, I get that, but I know that I’d be missing out if I decided not to get involved, even if I could have avoided some hurt that I’ve gotten along the way. I regret the day that I may have to leave this church for any other place than my heavenly home.
So, this is where I stand right now. I know that I don’t have everything exactly right. I’m all about growing in my understanding of these things. What’s your take on this?
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July 23rd, 2008 at 6:56 am
I like this post. It made me think, and it was interesting to read your point of view on this issue!
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:48 am
I was right…and I love how you clarified the issue to make it neither all one way or the other because just as you said you can certainly follow Jesus without the Church – but you would probably not get very far.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:18 am
I think church attendance is extremely important. We really need that for the reasons mentioned in your post but for others also. Such as: accountability, personal growth, guidance, friendship, to challenge ourselves in all areas from what we do to our opinions, etc.
I can easily flip flop in my church attendance. It’s hard, so hard sometimes. Getting four people in the shower, eating breakfast, walking the dog, and stuff and being at church before 8:30 a.m.–seems impossible at times!
I can say without reservation, when I fall into the rut of a “no questions we’ll be there” habit into the habit of “just not this Sunday”- I need a break, we’re out of town, etc…. those are the times when my world really falls apart. Seriously.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:40 am
1st- congrats on being a saucy blog. I love your pink flowers. adorable.
2nd – i grew up in church. My dad is a pastor. I don’t currently attend a church and at times it bothers me. But overall, i don’t feel the obligation to go as something coming from Christ, but rather from the opinion of others. I don’t want to write a book in your comment section. lol. I think finding the right church, with the right atmosphere and the right people can meet a lot of needs. But i don’t believe that is true for everyone – so it’s really hard to say a clear cut – i agree/disagree. It’s a toss up.
Just remember what Keith Green said: “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian, anymore than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger.”
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:20 am
The difficult part for me is finding a church where I feel at home. Andy and I have attended several churches over many years in this town, and none feel like a fit. I was raised Lutheran, and Andy was raised Church of Christ, and we’ve not found a place we can attend as a family and both feel comfortable. At this point we read the bible and sometimes discuss it, pray, and teach our children what they are curious about, and hope that soon we’ll stumble upon a place we like
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I agree with Cara Starr. As someone who was not raised Christian and who was Wiccan throughout college, only to come to Christianity on my own (as in, no one preached at me, beat me over the head with a Bible or tossed me in the nearest puddle of water for an involuntary baptism), I have seen that one of the major things that turns people away from Christianity is the “One size fits all” mentality. While in an ideal world, it would appeal to everyone all the time, but God himself made us all so different that you would be ignoring HIS design if you didn’t acknowledge that we all need different things at different times in our lives. If you stop seeing people as individuals and just start seeing them as another head in the pew, you lose them. That said, I go to church. I’m not really pleased with the church I’m going to but God has me there right now for a reason. I was specifically told to go to this church and that’s where I’ll stay until I get message otherwise. I don’t know what His plan is but I know it’s going to be beautiful. Until then, I just wait. But at the same time, I respect other people’s right to steer clear of the drama, stress, intrusion, fake-ness and hypocrisy of just about every church there is. Let’s face it. When you get HUMANS together, regardless of their religious affiliation, you have those aspects because we ARE human and we ARE imperfect. I have days when being around other people stirs the emotions in me that take me further from God so it’s healthier for me to go somewhere where I can just be with God. Me and him. I think a church is no different from a mall. You go to get what you want, maybe browse around at what the other places have, see where you might want to “shop” and then you go home. God is everywhere and a church is just a hub where Christians can go to be in touch with each other, but it’s not the only (or even the best) way to be in touch with God. If that is your goal, you do not need a church, you just need to start talking and trust that He’s listening.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
As always, and interesting, well-thought out post. Nice job!
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
You all bless me with your comments and discussing this with me. Of course, I never expected to win everyone over to my point of view simply because I wrote about it. I appreciate that we can discuss this.
Erin, of course you were right, you know my background. I hope you’re right about my future as well. =)
Irish, sometimes I don’t feel like going to church, and I’m thankful that I have a commitment to go because of my responsibilities. It’s definitely hard to get up and go in her hectic schedules.
Cara, you said, “I think finding the right church, with the right atmosphere and the right people can meet a lot of needs.” True, but I don’t think that there always is a just right church. No church is perfect, and no one is going to agree with everything that is taught or done in the church. I think it is important to get involved in a church regardless, knowing that it is imperfect from the get go if I’m involved.
Alissa, Lutheran and Church of Christ? Yeah, I can see how each of you would be comfortable in different churches. Kudos on not giving up, though.
Apple, your comment about no one throwing you in a puddle made me laugh. You also said, “If you stop seeing people as individuals and just start seeing them as another head in the pew, you lose them.” Oh, definitely. That’s why it’s important to remember the analogy of the body, we all have different roles and functions within the body, but they’re all needed! I don’t agree, though, that church is “just a hub where Christians can go to be in touch with each other.” I believe that the church is a special creation of God, though it by no means is the only way to meet with God.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Here I was, looking forward to your conclusion, and I didn’t even get around to reading it when you posted it.
I think, oftentimes there are people who feel that the church – the physical brick-and-mortar church – is their salvation. When they put the church on a pedestal, they are heartbroken when it falls. Of course it’s going to fall! The church is filled with sinners. Even those in position who are called by God to lead are sinners. Being a Christian doesn’t automatically make us ‘used to be’ sinners.
When we put Salvation where it really belongs, we can use the church for how it’s meant to be – fellowship with others and outreach.
I have to comment on the ‘one size fits all’ version of Christianity. I’ve ran across a comment about it twice this morning, so I’m thinkin’ God is talking to me. I’ll share – take it for what it’s worth.
The lesson in Sunday school this week (July 27th) is ‘What Will Heaven Look Like?’ In the lesson, the author cites Rev. 21:22-27 where John writes about there being “many nations”. Many times, I’ve often thought of Heaven as a place that was filled with people like me (obtuse thinking, I know…I’m a work in progress, here). This lesson showed me (reminded me, really) that Heaven will be filled with people from many nations with many different talents.
So, if Heaven is going to be this wonderfully, diverse place – should the physical world in which we live now be just a diverse?
Of course it should!
October 18th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Wonderful way to look at it. I moved away from my home town 16 years ago. I had went to the same church all my life. an old country church, where everyone was very close.
I moved away and work every Sunday. Make’s it hard to go to church. I got a new individual to care for and she had a regular church. So my family and I have joined it. It is too big for my taste, but we feel comfortable in it. I feel I do better with church in my life. I do need to build some relationships there as I still have not done that.