I remember when I was young, I was in a church service just about any time the doors were open. My whole spiritual life depended on whether I was at church or not. If I did not go, I felt guilty and made sure I was there the next time.
I was always active and participated in many church activities. I felt it was my duty and responsibility to do all I could for the church. I felt that was the only way I could serve God and do what pleased Him.
After many years of being in the organized church system, my wife and I became disillusioned with the religious organization and became a part of ‘The Dones’. We no longer attend a traditional or organized church, and no longer put any hope or trust in religion.
Does this mean we no longer think it is right to be part of a church? Not at all, yet for us, we no longer are a part of it and we are very satisfied with the decision we made to leave. But that does not mean we expect everyone else to think the same way. We have several friends who feel the same way we do about organized religion, yet they want to continue to attend services.
Leaving the Organization
In our case, after leaving the organized church I have noticed a feeling of separation between church goers and non-church goers. After all the years we spent in the organization and all the friends we made, once we left it has been a struggle to overcome a feeling of us and them. Obviously we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and there should be love and acceptance between us no matter if we attend church or not.
If you still feel drawn to the weekly organized meeting, I do not see anything wrong with it. Although we do not believe the church system is designed as God intended, there were very many good things that came out of our time being involved. If you are going to be a part of a local church, keep in mind some important facts.
When going to church, you are not going to God’s house. God does not live in buildings made by human hands, but He builds His Church from living stones, which is us.
The pastor is not God’s mouthpiece. He or she is only a brother or sister in Christ, and their message is only their opinion. We have the Holy Spirit within us and He is our teacher and guide. We need no one else. It is good to hear other opinions and ideas, yet it is the Spirit that is to be our teacher and guide.
Bringing the tithe into the storehouse is not giving money to the church, and is no longer a requirement. We give out of love as we determine in our heart to give. If you give at the church you attend, you are not giving to God, but to support the organization and pay the bills.
Sunday is not the “Lord’s day”. Every day is the day the Lord has made, and no one day is more important than another.
The Word of God
The Bible is not to be held in the same regard as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The written word is inspired by God but written by men. All the translating men have done over the years, and men deciding which books are inspired and which are not, make it pretty clear that the bible is going to be flawed. It is clearly stated that Jesus is the living, inerrant Word of God. The written word is a guide to lead us to Christ, but as Jesus told the Pharisees in John 5:39, You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me. They put the scriptures (written word) above the Living Word (Jesus).
When we are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, it is not talking about an organized church meeting. It is talking about loving and accepting one another, and depending on one another. We do this in many different ways each and every day, not just on one particular day.
When you go to church, do not fall for someone telling you God is going to show up and the Spirit is going to fall on this place. God is everywhere and the Spirit fell upon mankind 2000 years ago. The Spirit of God is within us and with us all the time. He is not sitting on a throne up in the sky waiting for us. He goes with us each and every day, everywhere we go.
Realize that worship is not singing a few songs, raising your hands when the worship leader tells you to and reading a few scripture verses together. Worship is daily praising God, trusting God and letting Him be Lord of your life. To worship God in spirit and truth involves loving Him with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.
And do not give way to a prideful spirit, thinking you are more spiritual or a “better” Christian because you went to church. Going to a service is a choice, not a requirement and you are no better if you go, and no worse off if you do not go.
We are the Church
Remember, each of us are living stones and equal parts of the body. We are the Church and Jesus is the head of his body. As his Church we are to show God’s love every day to everyone we meet. If you want to attend a local group of believers there is nothing wrong with that. Enjoy meeting with other believers, enjoy the atmosphere but remember you are the Church, you have the mind of Christ and the Spirit of God lives within you. We are to go about our daily lives under the leading of the Spirit, loving God and loving others.
So, rather than looking down upon one another: those who attend church thinking we who have left the organization are backsliding from our faith or have walked away from God. Those of us who have left church think those who still attend are stuck in a man-made institution and following doctrines and interpretations of man. Rather, we should realize that we are brothers and sisters in Christ and each of us are loving God and doing what we feel is right and best at this point. We should be loving and accepting of one another and let the world see the love we have for one another. John 13:35..by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
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I really relate and identify with what you are called to do.
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This is such a great post and very well explained. I am in agreement.
We are our own walking pulpit as I have been. Most people ask where is the church that I preach at. We are the lighthouse for those in the dark.
When the Lord leads me to a church again, His Divine purpose will be as He chooses.
Jesus is for everyday living. I need my spiritual positive energy fix all through the day.
Continued Love, Light and Blessings, Emma
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Yes, every day living in Christ, not one day a week during a service. Thanks for the comment.
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Wow, you nailed it! This is something that every person that decides to leave should read. I have been a ‘done’ for the last three years and I admit that it has been very difficult to let go of man’s way of worship. The guilt in the beginning was overwhelming. When Sunday came, I would curl up in the fetal position and cry. Now, I spend that day doing whatever the Lord leads me to do. I used to feel embarrassed to tell anyone that I did not attend a sevice somewhere. I was worried about what they would think of me. Now, I no longer care what anyone thinks.
I read about another blogger on another site and he called himself a ‘more’ also. I like that because I do want more spiritually. This is an exciting journey that the Holy Spirit has led me to and I’m learning to embrace it.
What helped me also was a book that I read called, ‘The Harlot Church System’
by Charles Newbold, Jr. This book really gave me a deeper understanding of why the religious system is the way it is.
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I like that comment about ‘more’. I have read that book and enjoyed it too. Thanks for the kind words. Good comment.
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Great post – as always! I don’t blame you for leaving, even as some of us try to change things from the inside. If we all do as we are led by God, we’ll be just fine. I look forward to the day when I’m the lead pastor and I do less preaching, a little more teaching and am able to train folks to go minister. I don’t know when “minister” stopped meaning the act of serving others and became a title by which “Ministers” could place demands on others to serve them, but I don’t want any part of that. I want to give everyone a voice because no one has all of the pieces and we need to share to get a clear picture of Jesus and what we’re supposed to do. Be blessed, my brother, and don’t let the religious folks get you down.
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Thank you.
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Wow, you’ve really been able to respectfully put into words very close to where I am. Thank you for putting the time and effort into expressing this.
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Thank you. I’m finding there are a lot of people who feel the same way. It’s good to know we aren’t alone.
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Thank you for this! I shared it with several friends who are still attending meetings and believe my husband and I have ” forsaken the assembling with others” and have or are backsliding and nothing is further from the truth…your words resonated with us and touched our hearts! So much of what you said has been what we have felt for many years yet we never quite had the words to explain it as clearly as you did. Mans way is not God’s way…..period….You stated it all so clearly. Thank you again. God bless and keep up the good work!
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Thank you Kris. I appreciate the words of encouragement. I’m finding there are so many more people who feel the way we do than I realized.
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I have not heard these truths put so clearly yet without condemnation on anyone. Well done and thankyou.
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Thank you Cheryl. I appreciate your kind words.
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“…we should realize that we are brothers and sisters in Christ and each of us are loving God and doing what we feel is right and best at this point.”
And wouldn’t it be good if we trusted each other to God, and believed he was big enough to teach and guide each one of us as he sees fit.
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Very true….and very hard to do sometimes. Thanks for commenting.
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Yes, very well put. Lots of good info, and good reminders.
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Thanks Lynne.
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A very nice writing and one I can honestly learn from. I do tend to be very frustrated about the fact that organized religion and it’s culture keep on existing. But for the sake of unity and understanding I might want to learn a more patient approach.
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It’s not always easy, and we certainly don’t have to agree on things, but we should be known for our love for fellow believers. Thanks for your comment.
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P.S. And, no, I won’t forget to pray for these people who, as you say, think they are doing the “right thing.”
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I just got wounded yet again by organized religion (I am definitely from the island of misfit toys), this time in the form of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). I have gone for 3.5 years (42 months, as per Revelation and Jackie Robinson’s jersey number) and been constantly told to “pipe it down,” scolded for my enthusiasm and being, in the last 4 years, born again and not afraid to say it. I was the only one in my study group of about 17 women who described herself as born again. Alas, this last week several of the very same ladies who couldn’t be bothered to send me a card when my dad died told the leader I was too “open” about my past sins and, once again, I got the scolding censorship “call.” This time I said goodbye. God has things for me to do and it’s not micro-studying the Word (a chapter a week with many questions about that one chapter) and being told how I “have to relate” to God. I have my One Year Bible and a born again mentor and you bloggers and a world of people who need Jesus, and it’s time to get dirty (something the BSF ladies fear) in the trenches. Please pray for me to do what God wants of me now: my schedule is much more open to serving God directly now that I’ve been rejected by the “Bible ladies” of wealthy Boulder County, Colorado! Great blog again, and thanks for reminding me that religion is a distraction from the real thing…and sometimes does Satan’s best to censor and wound followers of Jesus.
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Hang in there. We will be praying for you. Thanks for the comments.
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I’ve been walking this path for over twenty years and I can tell you that your experience is not uncommon for those of us who have a past. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told I shouldn’t share my testimony because of how “Christians” would judge me. Excuse me? I’m pretty sure the word says “They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony”. I don’t believe for one moment that Jesus is telling me to keep my past to myself. My favorite response to those folks is “Those who have been forgiven much, love much.” Maybe we love God more than they do… After years of feeling “less than” because of my past, God finally got through to me that we’re the best ones for reaching into a lost world. We aren’t too good to get dirty or too holy to contaminate ourselves with “outsiders”. Sinners can relate to someone who has lived in the muck; they tend to avoid church because it’s so full of people who have always been perfect – and aren’t afraid to let you know it. They were born saved and never sinned (in their minds). I don’t want to be around those people. When an unsaved person says “You’re a Christian; you can’t understand”, I can give my testimony and they hear the good news that Jesus can save them because He saved me. Pray for the Bible ladies to find the truth while you go out and reach the world for Jesus. Be blessed as you move forward.
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Good reply. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, usafbeth! I am so glad to know that there are others who can’t wait to do whatever God tells us to for HIM: the other day I had the thought really sink in that everything I have is God’s: everything. And then my shower curtain fell down with a big Whampgh. It was hilarious: Him tearing down the curtain as if to say: you got it, girl!!!
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Absolutely fantastic post. Maybe it’s my mood right now, but every word touched my heart. Thank you.
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Thank you. I appreciate your kind words.
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