My history with organized religion began back when I was just a little boy. My parents were active members of their church and once I was born, they started taking me and I’ve been a part of the organized church basically since that time. I was saved in the church when I was 10 years old during Vacation Bible School. I was active in one way or another for years and years, so when I say I’ve grown to see church in a different way, you will know I am not someone on the outside knocking church.
I grew up in a Christian family and was one of the kids who never got in trouble, didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, didn’t cuss, I was always in church whenever the doors were open. I actually got to thinking I might be one of God’s favorites….can you believe it?
Over the past several years, I’ve had a groaning deep inside about modern-day church. I’ve been feeling that something just isn’t right. What we call church today just doesn’t seem like what God intended.
I began going to church out of habit because it was the thing Christians do to show they were different than the world. I felt that if I didn’t do certain things that were considered wrong, and if I did good things and attended church, I would be pleasing to God.
People seem to make so much out of going to church. I noticed that Christians, myself included, seemed more interested in finding out where others went to church. If they went to the same type of church as we did, we felt they were alright. We would make sure and invite friends or non-Christians to church rather than talk to them about what Christ did for us. We felt it was the place of the church to do all the evangelism and witnessing. We thought that if we got them into church, the pastor would take care of everything.
I also spent a lot of time, as do a lot of people, working around the church or doing ‘church’ activities. It seemed like the more I went to church, or the more things I did, I felt like a better Christian. This is a problem today. People get more involved in working for the church, or for the pastor, that they no longer are doing things out of love for Christ, but out of love for things about Christ. Many people feel the more things they do for the church, or the more often they attend services, the closer they are to God. They feel guilty if they miss a service or are asked to do something for the church and they say no.
I started realizing that going to church was not the answer. There was certainly more to sitting there letting someone else tell me what God was saying through His word. I became very dissatisfied with the church and I kept telling my wife that there is something wrong with the way things are being done. Something just isn’t right.
Over the years I’ve seen all the fighting and arguing among church goers. If you go to a different denomination than someone else, seems like you just can’t get along because of the differences in interpretation and understanding of the Bible. I would think about the verse ‘By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another’ (John 13:35 NASV) and wonder where is the love?
I see the mega-churches with all the glitz and glamour and wonder why all that money is going into a building, the pastor’s car, house and all the other expenses churches seem to require. I realize most churches give to other missions and other ministries, but it seems a very small percentage of the total giving actually go to ministries that help others.
All this has been weighing on me and I’ve been more and more uncomfortable sitting in church for an hour every week, looking at the back of the head of the person in front of me, being entertained and preached too. Then I’m told that this is good Christian fellowship, although I haven’t really talked to anyone during the entire service.
I have been struggling for a long time with my feelings and wondering what was going on with me. Was something wrong with my fellowship with God? Was I getting tired of church and Christianity after all this time? I can’t say there was any one event that made me feel this way, but it was a progression of events, thoughts, praying, reading, searching.
After all these years, I just couldn’t make any sense out of sitting and being entertained for an hour and then going home thinking I had fulfilled my Christian obligation. So much of the teaching in the church today is more or less telling us what we need to do and what we need to stay away from to make us ‘good’ Christians. While sitting in a service listening to this, it hit me that all this sounds a lot like the Law. I was feeling good about myself based on what I did or didn’t do, and how often I was in church. I got to thinking, didn’t Christ fulfill the Law? Wasn’t he the perfect sacrifice for us? Didn’t he put an end to the Old Covenant and begin a New Covenant of Grace? Why was the pastor still telling us we needed to follow the 10 Commandments and do things to earn God’s love? It just didn’t make any sense. Especially when reading verses such as Galatians 3: 23-26 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
For such a long time, I’ve wondered if the issue I was having about organized religion and modern-day church was a spiritual problem or not, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I had a legitimate complaint of how modern-day church was going.
The way I see it, God said that we, His people, are the temple of the Holy Spirit. To me that says that God lives in me, not in a building. He says we are all sheep and He is the Shepherd, not the person we call pastor that gets up each week and talks about what they think the Bible says.
Don’t get me wrong, a lot of good things have happened in church over the years, and a lot of sincere people who love God and want to please Him are a part of organized religion. I feel the organized church of today is over emphasized, making people think that everything happens in church. We have to wait until Sunday for God to show up and do something. What happened to the fact that we, His people are the Church and we have a relationship with God every day. We can have an impact on those we come in contact with each day by the Spirit of God loving them through us. Why do we feel we have to get people to wait until Sunday to come to a building for God to do something?
Christians will dress up and act differently, saying they are going to God’s house, but don’t realize that God’s house is within us. God lives within us every day of the week and we no longer have to go somewhere to meet Him.
I also wondered why so many events and teachings of the church still seemed to center around Old Covenant living. We are saved by grace and nothing we do or don’t do makes a difference in our salvation. We can’t make God more pleased with us by doing things and we can’t make him not love us for not doing anything.
After some time of wondering and praying, I finally started coming across various other people, through books and web sites, that were feeling the same way as myself. I would read something that really agreed with my spirit and think, wow, that is exactly the way I’ve been feeling.
I think for me three things really aggravated me with the church. One was how I saw the way people looked up to the pastor and the leaders of the church. It seemed like they were almost on a different level than the entire congregation. That didn’t fit in with the verse ‘What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 1 Corinthians 14:26 NASV). Jesus is the head, we are the body. We should be letting the Spirit teach us and lead us, not another human being.
The second was the worship leader. I felt like he was telling me how to worship, when to raise my hands, when to do this and do that and basically trying to make me feel guilty if I didn’t respond. What happened to people responding out of genuine love for God and not because someone is trying to pump it up to make the worship team look good.
And the third is tithing. Tithing is an Old Covenant law and is no longer a requirement for living in Grace. I agree, we give out of love and according to how we feel God is leading us, but tithing as part of the law is done. The way I see it, the clergy needs to get paid, the mortgage has to be paid, the staff has to be paid, so they lead people on by saying tithing is still required and that just isn’t right.
My wife and I have stopped attending services for almost two years now. I have come to realize that what we call church is a good place for Christian people to get together socially, but it is not God’s house and it is not the Church. I know we need to continue to have fellowship with other believers, and pastors like to use the verse forsake not the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25 NASV), but no where does the Bible say that has to be in a building on a certain day. Christians can fellowship anytime, anywhere. As the Bible says ‘for where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst’ (Matthew 18:20 NASV). I’ve heard of Christian groups meeting for Bible study in a bar as a witness to those who normally go there but who would not dream of walking into a church. Before we condemn this type of thing, we need to remember that Jesus, the Great Physician went to the sick. He didn’t wait for them to come to a building on a certain day. He went to the people who needed Him.
At times I still battle over leaving the church or to stay involved from time to time. I have so many friends that are part of the organized church and they just don’t understand my feelings. It’s almost as if I am out on my own when it comes to my friends and it makes me feel like it would be easier to keep my mouth shut and keep on attending services like normal. The problem with this feeling is, am I trying to please men or am I trying to follow the leading of the Spirit? I am fortunate to have my wife and a few good friends to meet with every other week who have the same feelings. I now know in my mind that I have not truly left church because I am a part of the Church, which is not a building we go to, but is the people of God who are saved by grace. I know that fellowship with other believers can take place anywhere and anytime. I am part of the Church every day no matter where I am.
If Jesus walked the earth today I’m not sure we would find him in church. He would be out meeting the people who most of the church crowd would not want to be associated. It was the religious leaders who were His biggest enemies in times past. I’m not sure it wouldn’t be the same today.
This post was a Guest Post at Gods Leader
You can view it at http://godsleader.com/my-journey-leaving-organized-religion/
Thank you Tish. I appreciate your encouragement. Hang in there, deconstruction of religious beliefs can be a long road, but it is well worth it. And remember, done with religion does not mean done with God!
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I have recently come to the same conclusion! Boy had God opened my eyes. Thanks so much for writing this!
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Thank you for your comment. So true, we have the Spirit within us to teach and guide us.
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I agree with what you are saying here. After a lot of prayer and studying I came to the same conclusions. And I will add a scripture that showed me I dont need a man to teach me. 1 John 2:27
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I am sorry you left the church due to such bad treatment but overall, you are still part of the Church. The Church is those who love and follow Jesus, it is not a building nor an organization. Continue to love God and love others. The Spirit will teach you and guide you along the path he has for you. Thanks for the comment.
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I myself left organized religion after word whispered out about my mental illness.Within a rather short timeframe I found myself unwanted from the volunteer activities(including cleaning the church).I currently am 24 and last step foot in any church when I was 15.I see the current church being more of a private club,a few decide who can participate.The church I attended was at the time around 150 members in very rural community,now that many younger people have left i would say the church is about 35-50 .
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Thanks Eric. And I agree with you, the church today is a religious social club. That is why we have left the building to follow Jesus outside the walls of religion. Thanks for commenting.
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Great article, but I might take things a step further: Church often has nothing to do with Christianity. It becomes a religious social club, in which anything and everything take the place of real faith, and the real Christian message.
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Thank you for the comment. I appreciate it. I will check out your article about your life story. Thanks for following us.
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Greetings, this article is spot on! I left the “Corporate” church system nearly 15 years ago.
I had a different experience than yourself, because I was not raised in a Christian home, though my “mother” thought she was, we were not, and she is not.
I will be writing about my story on my personal blog, in the near future, my story began shortly after the Lord invaded my life 40 years ago, one evening after work. I had no bible, no human who shared their story. Just a simple tract, found on the subway late at night.
But due to my lack of knowledge I got caught up into Pentecostalism, Hyper faith, Manifested Sons of God. Vineyard, Apostolic movement, Messianic movement, you name it, I was in it. I was also involved with the Presbyterian church once I left the Charismatic movement. Then I departed when they brought in the “Alpha Course”.
I say all this because “babes” in Christ are so vulnerable, and lack any type of discernment and therefore very susceptible to false doctrine, false teachers, heretics, false movements, but “Let God be true, and EVERY man a liar”, He shall guide His people out, and though I had many terrifying moments, I have learned so much of God’s ways, and His Truth.
We may suffer for a while, but He does guide us out, and then we learn how much we have gained through suffering.
Lord bless you……
I will be following your blog.
If you would like here is my story: https://intochristsfullness.wordpress.com/2018/05/31/out-from-the-darkness-of-sexual-abuse-and-homosexuality-into-his-marvelous-light/
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So true. Thanks for the comment.
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CHURCH IA NOTHING MORE THAN ATTRACTING THE EYE TO THE LAW ONCE AGAIN .NO THANKS SAVED BY FAITH IN CHRIST ENJOY A LIFE FILLED WITH LOVE IN JESUS.
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Thanks Lee, I appreciate your encouragement.
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Good mornin.
I know your frustration. I too know how frustrating it is to try to find a church that really embraces the finished work of Christ in the new covenant. You’re not alone in your struggles.
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Wow, thanks Nelly. I don’t know how I messed that one up. It should be Galatians 3:23-26. I have corrected it. Thanks for letting me know.
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Galatians 10..? It only goes up to 6 lol what scripture did you mean to reference?
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Hi Nancy, close, I grew up in the Methodist religion. Keep praying for guidance on leaving, just don’t walk away from following Jesus.
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It doesn’t sound crazy at all, at least not to someone who is in the same shoes as you. Thanks for posting.
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I don’t tell everyone this as it may sound a bit crazy. Many years ago before I left organized religion, I found that the more I studied God’s word the more disturbed I became over what I saw in organized religion and the pressure it puts you under to conform to its ways. .
Right before I left organized religion, I had a very vivid dream one night. In this dream I saw a beautiful remote wilderness area that was blanketed in snow. Hanging up in a tree was some enticing meat that someone had put there as bait and a wolf was hungrily looking at it. What the wolf didn’t know was that there was a trap hidden beneath the beautiful blanket of white snow. Had the wolf taken the bait, he would have been caught in the trap. But, he sensed the danger and he turned away and was safe.
I thought a lot about that dream as I couldn’t put it out of my mind. Then, I understood it. Religion is like a sugar coated bait but hidden within its enticement is a trap that can ensnare you. Don’t take the bait. I didn’t.
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Oh my gosh, you hit the nail on the head. This is so true. It is so good to find the freedom we have in Christ outside the walls of religion. Thanks for the comment.
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Religion is like a bait. It looks pretty on the outside and it’s so inviting. It can especially appeal to people wanting to find a sense of belonging and initially it can feel that you have found just what you were looking for. But, if you take the bait what you often find in the long run is ENTRAPMENT. Once the religious system ensnares you on its treadmill, it’s hard to escape.
It seems that once simple belief becomes a religious system, it fails. “Religion” and “relationship” are two different things. Anyone can “join up” with a religion but a relationship with God is not found by joining a religion. The kingdom of God is within you.
The Old Covenant was an external covenant that had laws that dealt with what man did but did it lacked the power to change what man is on the inside. The New Covenant is an inner covenant and it alone has the power to change what man is. Man’s heart is the problem and only the New Covenant has the power to give you a new heart and a new spirit. No religious system can do that. Never has, never will.
What I have seen in today’s version of “church” is primarily a social club that combines the Old Covenant of works with a little Jesus added in and a whole lot of socializing. What little teaching you find is so superficial that it’s on the Mickey Mouse level. This is probably so that no one will be offended and quit giving tithes. Just keep everybody happy by tickling their ears and keep that money rolling in! Membership drives are presented as an outreach to win souls for Christ, but in reality the real purpose is often to increase monetary contributions through increasing the membership roll. Religion is BIG business in this country.
One of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done is to quit organized religion which I did many years ago. I still vividly remember the last time I drove to the church house that long ago Sunday morning knowing that this was the last time I would go through this weekly ceremonial religious ordeal. The Kingdom of God is within me.
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Thanks for the encouraging words. My wife and I are finding out more and more there are so many others who feel the same way. We have been to the freebelievers website many times. Darin’s book ‘The Misunderstood God’ was the first book we read that helped get us started on our path out of religion and into a daily life with God, free of the religious do’s and don’ts. Thanks for your comment.
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You, we, are not alone, so many more people get fed up with the system, in which less and less God is found. Have you seen the website: freebelievers.com ? With love from the netherlands, joanne
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I agree totally that organized religion is not the answer. It is only man’s way of trying to explain God and trying to live a life pleasing to Him. Religion can not do that. I’m not sure I would completely agree with Karl Marx on everything either. Depending on our conscious alone will only lead to more problems. Our consciousness under the leading of the Holy Spirit will definitely lead us to know our Father. Thanks for your comment.
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Organized religion early the better people give up believing and start depending on their conscience that alone can make man siritual No wondrer Karl Marx who strongly advocated for banning legally o’ religion is considered as PROPHET who failed
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Thanks for reading my article. Glad you made this choice and that things are going good for you. I pray that you will find more and more brothers and sisters who are accepting and loving for good fellowship. Thanks for your comment.
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@Done-with-religion I am so pleased and blessed to read your Blog very encouraging. I really believe in my heart that I did not leave church by my own choice but believe God himself made away for me to leave. I was manipulated and controlled by a certain individual for 7 years who used Gods authority to get what she wanted for her own gain and glory. I found this out and it was like a huge kick in the stomach God showed me I had leaned on the arm of the flesh and not on him. I repented and had to avoid this person at all costs meaning leaving the congregation.
The church had it’s issues as well on top of that I was pressured to attend meetings all the time to keep people happy, did a lot of work. They would get suspicious if you wanted to work outside of the church they could not understand that it is not about bringing people in the church to be a member but about preaching the Gospel outside in the communities I got sick of this carnal mind set. All I wanted to do is serve God I was under a lot of guilt and condemnation and my son hated going he was bullied and singled out I was insulted quite often so I am very pleased and thank full to God for making away and directing me on another path.
I have grown a lot spiritually this last year,it was very hard when I had come to the realisation I was on my own but I have Yeshua with me all the time. The church made a big fuss when I left I wonder why?? maybe the tithes, I was just there to fill a seat and keep the Pharisees in business
Well that’s how I see it. God spoke to me quite often after I left church showing me all the wrong teaching I had learnt and correcting it “I was under the law” I had so much peace knowing that the holy spirit teaches us and not man Rev 3:19 I hope this blesses other brother and sisters reading this I would still like fellowship however I do not know anyone in my area who would understand me and it would be best if they were away from the church just like my self. It would be a blessing if I did meet Christians to socialise with and encourage one-another with the gospel.
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This is something a lot of people are going through. I never realized that fact until it was my wife and I going through it. We are finding there is so much more to a daily life with Christ than religion ever gave us. Glad you are on the same path. Thanks for your comment.
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Thank you for this. You wrote what I have been struggling with for months. You put into words what i tried to. Thanks and God bless!
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Thanks. It is encouraging to know there are others who feel the same and are going through the same questioning. Thanks for the link, I will check it out.
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Thanks for your comment. I also read ‘Pagan Christianity’ and enjoyed it very much. Thanks for reading my articles.
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“donewithreligion” — you are definitely not alone. Your post speaks for many of us and I am so amazed that through WordPress blogging, we start to find each other virtually.
How would you see your church in this survey?
http://truthsetsfree.me/2014/07/28/sizing-up-a-church-christ-centered-or-community-centered/
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Everything you wrote about just resonated so very deeply with me. I came across a book called “Pagan Christianity” and from there on, I have been embarking on a new journey…the RIGHT journey, as it pertains to what it means to be the “Ecclesia.” Thanks for writing this.
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Yes it is…
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Isn’t it great to know there are others who feel the same way, and going through the same questioning process? Thanks for the comment Tim.
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“I grew up in a Christian family and was one of the kids who never got in trouble, didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, didn’t cuss, I was always in church whenever the doors were open. I actually got to thinking I might be one of God’s favorites….can you believe it?”
This was me as well–all of it!
I identify with a lot of what you mention in this post.
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Thank you for taking the time to read my article, and for posting a comment. I appreciate it.
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I share many of your experiences, but have seen Christians persecuting each other and have widely read the subject.
I do not believe Jesus ever intended Gentiles to be counted among his followers. Arguments over this controversy from the gentile side are very weak.
Many of the beliefs such as trinity were common in European non mediterranean countries, but their interpretation is based on the cycle of the sun in three seasons not three gods.
No religion has had a policy of conversion by the sword like western Christianity until the rise of Protestantism. Crusades and genocides against those Christians who would not accept Constantines version, the Saxons, Prussia, Vikings, Arab Christians and Muslims and Orthodox Christianity. In addition the repression of science and local beliefs as witchcraft. The latter and Roman conquest left Europe’s northern people in stagnation and degeneration for nearly 2000 years. Only in Spain were the germanic Visigoths able to display advanced innovation and became the world’s greatest civilisations. However, we have been prevented to know about these facts by Church repression.
The term AntiChrist most likely refers to gentile Christians, if not because Greeks are generally associated with a series of Seleucid kings Antiochus who tried to impose their own beliefs on the Jews and Samaritans. I think this term is meaningless until one realises Muhammad uses it to refer to Christians converting to Islam and diluting the faith and ossifying it. Most problems with Islam today are caused by this event.
All the problems with Christianity mentioned above caused by the Church becoming the worlds first multinational company based on cruel and barbaric persecution. The new liberal Church is a fallacy. They were only recently taking aboriginal children away from their parents and telling children in the Uk they are orphans and deporting them into near slavery in Australia. I could continue writing about the injustices of Christianity up to today. The weakness of the Church was priesthood. Allowing individuals uncontested influence and the rule of law has allowed the excesses I have mentioned. Fundamentally, people would rather leave someone else responsible for their spiritual affairs, whereas in reality they are responsible for themselves. Returning to Muhammad he forbade any form of priesthood and yet the excesses are all due to religious officials who claim to be teachers, but in fact are priests. The legal system Sharia was not mentioned in early Islam or in the Qur’an. It is something that occurred as Christians entering Islam brought with them
If one casts a wider net everywhere priests exist of any description exist intolerance reigns supreme.
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very intelligent reply….thank you for your thoughts
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you sound like you may have come out of the Church of Christ religion.
that is the religion that I was raised in. so far I am an Episcopal but considering
leaving organized religion as well.
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Thank you Bodie for your comment, I agree with you, a time of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ can happened anywhere, anytime. I appreciate you taking the time to read my article.
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Read a repost of one of your articles on Livingwalk (W. E. Smith). Although our journeys are a little different I have also found that fellowship in the Lord can be found anywhere you meet those who following Him. After all the bible didn’t take place in what is commonly referred to as “church” …it happened while walking along the road, in a boat, in a field, around a table, under a tree, in a tree, riding a donkey, while talking to a donkey, at a friends house, around a fire, around a lake, at a cemetery, at what we would call a party, in the marketplace, and many other ordinary circumstances of life (except for the conversation with the donkey)…..it was in the ordinary routine of life that the Lord revealed Himself and called others to follow Him……and it is there that He meets us and reveals Himself to us….fellowship along this path is rare and precious…..
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Dear revival culture, I will add this and no more to the current discussion……
1 Peter 5:1-3 “Therefore, I exhort the ELDERS among you, ..” Please notice that the elders are AMONG the church and NOT OVER it. Jesus is the ONLY Head and Leader and we are all equal peers under Jesus.
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I did not see a single reply to any point, verse, or question I raised. Literally you disregarded the entirety of 1 Peter 5. Your reply was completely unrelated to the scriptural evidence I gave. Can you answer anything I raised?
Thanks!
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[…] DoneWithReligion – My Journey To Leaving Church […]
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Thanks Jose. I’m glad you enjoyed the article, and thank you for adding it to the other site.
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Nothing More And Nothing Less!
November 20, 2013
Greetings,
“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.” Zephaniah 3: 9
Zephaniah is an interesting book. It only has 3 chapters and the first 2 and a half detail God’s fierce anger towards many lands including Jerusalem; and how the whole world will be consumed by the fire of God’s jealous anger. Finally in chapter 3 verse 9 it begins to describe, in detail, how God will restore the remnant of His scattered people.
I find it very interesting that God initiates the restoration process by purifying our lips. It is the work of God alone to bring us purification, for it is impossible for us to purify ourselves in any way without God’s intervention. Also of note is how God gives everyone full and equal access to call on His Name. That’s right…God does not play favorites. Then finally we see that in our restoration…. all that serve The Lord…. shall do so shoulder to shoulder.
In Christ and His true Body… no one is ever elevated over and above another. There is no hierarchy in the true Church. We are intended to serve and relate to each other shoulder to shoulder and NOT pew to elevated platform. There are no elevated platforms, literally, metaphorically, or figuratively, in the true Church. In Christ we all stand on level ground at the foot of the cross. The only true authority figure in the Body is Christ Himself. We are ALL equal priests and peers in God’s economy and anyone who preaches, teaches, or practices differently is operating in a fallacy and lie. Strong words, I know, but it is what Jesus Himself practiced and preached, and I follow Him and no other “man”. In Christ we are all brothers, nothing more and nothing less!
Jesus said:
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.” Matthew 23: 8
Love and…..
Kirk Out !
P.s. Just for the record..when I say that we are ALL equal priests and peers…that fully includes women.
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Thanks Mike I have added this article to the Transitions Section of GodsLeaders.com and I pray it continue to bless others
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[…] DoneWithReligion – My Journey To Leaving Church […]
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oikoskrk:
Please explain this verse and how it is consistent with your statement that “all Christ followers are mutual peers in Christ, with no one ever being elevated over others.”
1 Peter 5:1-3 “Therefore, I exhort the ELDERS among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, SHEPHERD the flock of God among you, exercising OVERSIGHT not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.”
Tell me, if everyone is the same in the Body, who are elders? What does it mean to shepherd? Who is the “flock” and why are they distinguished from the one “shepherding?” What does it mean to “exercise OVERSIGHT” over the “flock.”
I’m afraid the witness of the New Testament shows that there are levels of leadership in the body of Christ. However as Peter says, leaders are not to “lord over” those who are allotted to them.
But in any case, not everyone is identical in influence in the Church. Like it or not, it comes straight from the New Testament.
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Thank you for your comment. I appreciate you taking the time to read over my posting. I’m so glad to be finding so many people who feel the same way and are on the same journey.
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Thanks for telling your story Mike. Keep following the leading of the Spirit and He will continue to guide you on your journey. The traditional “church” has too much emphasis on Leaders and not enough focus on servanthood. In the true church all Christ followers are mutual peers in Christ, with no one ever being elevated above others.
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[…] DoneWithReligion – My Journey To Leaving Church […]
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[…] DoneWithReligion – My Journey To Leaving Church […]
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[…] DoneWithReligion – My Journey To Leaving Church […]
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Thank you. I’m always glad to hear from others who have been going through the same feelings. I appreciate you taking time to read my article.
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[…] DoneWithReligion – My Journey To Leaving Church […]
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I totally empathize with your experience because I spent years in an extremely legalistic and authoritarian church and had to take a long sabbatical from “doing church.” Christianity has always done better as a movement (preferably an oppressed movement) than as an institution. Thank you for your honest story.
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Thanks John for the note. It is always a pleasure to meet others who have/or are going through the same things. Until I finally came across some of the books and websites about this journey, I didn’t realize anyone else felt this way. It is encouraging to know that others feel the same way. I have read the book you mentioned and I did enjoy it. It has been a while since I read it and I am thinking I will re-read it soon. I am thankful to be finding so many good books teaching about life outside the institution. Thanks so much for reading my article.
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[…] DoneWithReligion – My Journey To Leaving Church […]
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Thanks so much for your post, I found myself relating to so much of what you shared. My journey has been for more than 30 years outside the traditional or institutional church. Although it has not been easy at times, I am so thankful to the Lord for how he has lead these many years, and how I have grown and changed, much like you said. I am continually amazed at how He has brought me through seasons these many years and how I continue to grow ever deeper in Him. I am thankful for all those who He has brought into my life to help me along this journey, some of which are authors of your recommended books.
As I continue to grow, I see more and more that all centers on Christ, seems simple to say, much harder to grasp and live. I have just recently finished reading a short book, a story, that was quite encouraging, and wondered if you had read it, if not consider doing so. In my opinion, the title lacks a bit, the book is certainly worth the time to read it. The title is – “So you don’t want to go to church anymore”. You can purchase a hard copy, or download a free PDF version, either way, I recommend you check it out.
I would love to know if you have heard of it, or read it. Or if you decide to read it now, what you think about it afterwords. Your brother in Christ, John Morris.
Link to book-
http://www.jakecolsen.com/contents.html
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Thank you David for the comment. I appreciate it. Thanks for taking the time to read my article. I will definitely check out the links and the book you mentioned. Thank you for the info.
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greetings brother,
I’m allways distressed by those who have an authoritarian attitude.You correctly state that we are to submit to the headship of Jesus alone.Those who would lead do so by example and persuadeing others.There is to be no top down leadership as in the world.That is the error of the nicolaitans,which the Lord hates,(rev.2:6)Those being called out of organised religion will be persecuted by those who are not walking in the Spirit.
I found your site linked at
truthforfree,and sent dave a link for a free download of the book(The Great Dream)at
apostasy.com & phililogos.com
I think you may be interested in reading it,as it was writen to those of us leaving organised religion.This was writen back in 1992.
Feel free to edit this message as you see fit,and or correspond if you like.I left the church almost four years ago.There are a lot more of us out there than you might think.May God be with you.
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Hello again, and thanks for the follow up reply. I truly believe we are all in a constant learning process. I believe the Spirit reveals truth to us as we are able to accept it. I really believe that what I believe today will be different from what I believe in the next year or so. What I believe today is a lot different from what I have believed in the past several years. Now don’t take that wrong, my faith and belief in God hasn’t changed, but the way I look at certain teachings and interpretations have changed and will continue to change. I don’t think they are things to be argued about, but it is good to discuss different views. We can all learn from one another that way. Thanks again. I appreciate your replies.
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Thanks for replying! I’ll leave one more comment as I’m not trying to start a huge discussion here on your blog. I believe I did leave some solid biblical evidence that church leadership does exist and does take a particular form and you seemed to just dismiss it. That was one of my main huge problems with your article in the first place: lack of biblical support for your statements about church government. In your view, what are “elders?” How do they “rule well?” (In fact how do they “rule” at all if everyone is the same?) Why are they worthy of “double honor?” Why are there offices of apostle, prophet, pastor, evangelist, and teacher that not all believers are called into?
It seems you are advocating an egalitarian, uniform approach to the church government (aka everyone is the same and we all just submit to Christ.) Do you really think that believers told Paul and Peter, “Sorry, we don’t submit to you we submit to Jesus only.” Paul went as far as to call believers to “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1).
Paul claimed enough authority to “command” people, under direction from the Holy Spirit, to do things. (e.g. “We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we COMMAND.”) (2 Th. 3:4 and at least 20 other passages in the NT). This is due to the fact that apostleship is an OFFICE in the church, not just some gift. Paul writes that the Church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” (Eph. 2:20) And again, NOT everyone holds these measures of authority and office, with apostle being only one.
1 Cor. 12:28-29 “And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?”
In any sense, just some food for thought. Also, corporate meetings ARE assumed in the NT. Maybe not on a certain day, but the Church did meet corporately together to hear teaching from the apostles and prophets and to hear exhortation and correction. Paul says in 1 Tim 5:20 that those who continue in sin are to be rebuked “in the presence of all.” That assumes that at some point, they would be “in the presence of all.”
Thanks again and I pray God moves powerfully in your life in this season!
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Thank you for taking the time to read my article and making such a good reply. I know personal meanings don’t always get taken the way they were meant through writing. You are right, there are many ‘churches’ that realize their place and they center on Jesus and not the pastor. I agree with the idea of the place doesn’t make a difference, but the leadership can be a big problem. I think the attitude or mindset of us Christians can be a problem also. We have grown up in a time when we are taught ‘church’ is a building, a place we go. We are told the house of God is the ‘church’. I think we need to adjust our thinking in that area to realize that in the age of grace, under the new covenant, we, His people are the church and the dwelling place of God. So many people look to the building, the pastor, the particular day, that they put more emphasis on that rather than a daily lifestyle in the presence of our Father. I do disagree with your statement of being submitted to elders, apostles and teachers. While many are further along in their walk, and have, through time and experience, more wisdom and knowledge in spiritual ways, I personally, at this time, don’t see submitting to anyone other than the head of the body, Jesus, through the Spirit. Of course we need one another and we can learn from those who are more mature in the faith. Yet I feel the one we are to submit to and place our total confidence in is Christ. Again, we all have difference viewpoints and interpretations. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and although we don’t always agree on everything, we still love one another in Christ. Thanks again for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it.
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You made so many good points in this article, and I can see that you obviously have had a less than ideal experience with many churches in the past. However, I would encourage you to be careful with the way you phrase things before you fall into a trap that I believe is equally unhelpful and that is labeling everything with the broad brush of “the church” or “the traditional church” or “institutional church” as if every church fits into the mold you describe. There are literally thousands of solid local churches that empower people and in fact exhort people to focus not on Sunday morning meetings, but on living a lifestyle of worship and service to the Lord. So I normally use the term “my church” or “churches I have been to” so as to not naively assume that I am knowledgable of what goes on in the vast majority of local churches around the world.
I know that the local churches I am most connected with see the Sunday Morning meeting as a meeting to celebrate and express everything God has done throughout the week in our lives as believers. It is not our focus, not is it the locus of what we do. It is a gift and a privilege.
However, your idea that two or three people can meet and that replaces the idea of the local church is not found in the New Testament. Your statement regarding leaders, while partially true (leaders are not “better” or “more spiritual” than other believers) is not entirely true. Paul, and in fact the vast majority of the New Testament writers make it quite clear that God has positioned certain people in the body of Christ as leaders and influencers who are given a greater measure of authority to steward. This is why Paul says that God has given the Church “apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists, and teachers.” (Eph. 4:11) These are unique gifts and they do not apply to every member of the church. The awesome thing is that these gifts and offices are given not so that these men and women can lord their gifts and anointing over people, but “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”
So no, not all believers are given the same level of gifting. Why else would people in the early church lay all of their belongings at the feet of the apostles? (Acts 4:35,37; 5:2)
Paul also says that “the elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.” (1 Tim. 5:17)
When people detach from local churches (whether they be 30 people or 3000 people) I find that they often have no concept of being submitted to elders, apostles, and teachers. Yet, Paul is very clear that these roles are not only legitimate, but are to be recognized by all who are in the church. So do you have to be going to a particular building on a Sunday Morning? No. But a house is a building. A bar is a building. Buildings are not the problem. The problem is leaders who, in order to preserve their ideas and control, manipulate and pull people into dependence upon them and their gifts. And that is, I believe the main problem you were addressing.
Thanks for being open and honest. Lord knows we could use more of this in every area of the Body of Christ.
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Thank you for your kind remarks. I am glad this spoke to you the way it did. I am thankful the Spirit speaks through the words he gives me. The life of a believer is not one done within four walls of a building once a week. We have been brought up in a world where this is the norm and no one seems to want to question why we do some of the things we do. Jesus is the focus, He is our everything. It is so good to begin to understand the grace He provided and the freedom we have from religion, rules and regulations. We are free to let Him live through us and love others day by day. It is a daily life, not a Sunday only thing. I certainly don’t want to look like an enemy of organized religion. There are a lot of people going to church who sincerely love God and want to follow Him. It is only as the Spirit reveals His truth to us, and as we are ready to accept it, that we can move on to a better way. A way where Jesus is the head and each of us are active, living parts of His body, allowing Him to live through us each and every day.
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Thank you for your comment. It is very encouraging to find so many others that feel the same way. At first I thought there was something wrong with me. I am glad I continued searching and following His leading. I pray you will also continue to have truth opened to you through the Spirit as we travel this life’s journey with Christ.
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This is by FAR the best post I have read on WordPress. Thank you so much for posting this. I thought I was the only one who felt this strongly about an organized Christian religion. I, too, am a born again Believer and love The Lord with all of my heart, yet I see right through the religion aspect of modern day Christianity. In all things by prayer and supplication…. Allow The Lord to speak to you and use you for His glory. You are not alone! – Elizabeth
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Wow – I could have written this as it is my story too. Encouraging to know others are being led in a similar way by the same Spirit!
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