A Christian Without Church?

Welcome again to Grace Outpost!  After a week sabbatical I am back into the action!  While I was away I was asked by multiple people a question, one that I have heard many times since becoming a Christian and indeed I myself have asked it in the past. 

‘Can’t I be a Christian without going to Church?’

I know that when I was a new believer the idea of coming to church exhausted me, I am an introvert by nature and incredibly shy on top of it.  At the time I was a 16 year kid who felt like he just finally found his place in the community of youth group.  This question comes from an individualistic view of Church and a misunderstanding of what church is. 

Church is not the building in which we gather, it is not the Sunday service, and it is not business meetings or any other gathering you can think of.  Church is the people, it is the community of believers, it is the community who does all of those events that is the church. 

So the real question is ‘Can I be a Christian outside of Christian community?’

The place where I was first pointed when asking this question was to Romans 12:4-5, which is smack in the middle of a discussion on spiritual gifts, but in it Paul uses an analogy that we see used often to describe the church calling it the body of Christ.  In 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 Paul uses the same description for the church calling it the body of Christ, he says that each person is a member (or part) of that body, such as an eye or hand is part of our body.  Each believer is part of the larger functioning body and fills their unique role.  If you separate a hand, foot, eye, or any other part from the body it ceases to function.  Paul again uses this again in Ephesians 4 in talking about the unity that the church must have.

Many times there is push back to this initial idea, often times beginning with the thief on the cross.  While it is true that this man became a Christian and did not attend church, he never had the opportunity to do so either.  Neither was the thief on the cross baptized, does that mean he was then not a true Christian?  No.  Attending a gathering does not make one a Christian anymore than dunking someone under water does, these things are reflections of an inner change inside a Christian.  Perhaps you have heard the saying ‘Don’t go to church, BE the church’?  The reality is that as a believer you are a part of the church, part of the body of believers and participating in the larger community is a reflection of your changed person.  Just as we stand and publically profess our belief as an outward symbol of an inward change through baptism. 

This idea of individual faith practice is more a product of American culture rather than a Biblical principle, no doubt the Bible speaks to individual responsibility and consequences for sin.  However, in practice of faith it is almost all in the context of the larger faith community of the church.  The church is exhorted to many institutional practices that cannot be done as individuals without the greater community.

Baptism (Matthew28:19-20, Colossians 2:12, Ephesians 4:5)

The Lord’s supper/ Communion (Luke 22:14-23; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34)

Church Discipline (Matthew 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 5:12-13)

Worship (Colossians3:16, Ephesians 5:19)

These are just a few of many more that could be listed such as Spiritual Gifts, Preaching, and even the Structure of the church with elders and deacons.

It is hard to make a case for a Christian being out of community when there is so much about what the church should be found throughout the New Testament.  God’s kingdom is the here right now, present through us the believers, the community of Jesus.  We are ambassadors of Christ to the world. 

I will end with Luke 22:24-30

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.  And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

                                                                                                (Luke 22:24-30)

When Jesus spoke to his disciples about how they must lead, he spoke to them about how to treat the community that would be the church.  The church itself is a representation of Jesus through their actions amongst one another, the leaders will serve those whom they lead.  We are called to live a life contrary to the world, instead of lording power over one another, we are each to serve one another just as Jesus served.

 If you are a believer who has been asking this question, let me ask you why are you asking it?  Are you lacking commitment?  Do you fail to see the value of gathering together?  Perhaps this is your opportunity to deepen your faith, to pursue community as the Bible exhorts you to do.  A Christian who is alone, will not mature, and will likely fall prey to culture around them.  Relationship is perhaps the key word that could be used to describe the Christian walk, it is not rules, but relationship with Christ through which we are saved.  It is through relationship we are able to practice love and receive love.  It is through relationship where we are able to serve one another.  If you do not have a church community, then you are in desperate need and perhaps you don’t even know it.  If you are looking for a church in your area and don’t know where to start, please feel free to email me, I would be happy to help you get pointed in the right direction. 

For my non-Christian friends, the Gospel is about relationship and community.  You are separated from God right now, because of your sin.  There is nothing you can do to remove it, the requirement is death, yet Jesus has paid that price for you!  God sent his son Jesus to pay the price and through his resurrection has made a way to be in community with you again!  Jesus lived a perfect life that you cannot and have not lived, if you believe in your heart that he did for your sins, was resurrected so that you might know God, and you are willing to put your faith and hope in him you can have that community with God!  If you are ready to take that step then shoot me an email and I can give you some guidance through that.