HCTOP

Churchless Christianity

Anyone ever watch the Animal Planet? If you’ve never seen them filming about lions and how they hunt, you should check it out. The female lions are actually the primary hunters, and they are vicious when they’re hunting. It can be quite entertaining to watch as they stalk their prey. You’ll notice that they blend in with their surroundings in the high weeds as they approach the unsuspecting antelope herd. Most of the antelopes are grouped together, but there’s always one that doesn’t pay attention. It wants to be independent, or it is sick, weak and lethargic, so it wanders away from the herd unaware of the approaching danger. He may look up every now and then and smile for the camera, but the antelope is so focused on eating the grass that it isolates itself from the herd, and that means chow time for the feisty mothers as they quickly converge on the lone antelope.

I Peter 5:8 warns us to be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Hebrews 10:25 continues to warn, Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Both these scriptures are in the context of the “Day” approaching which is referring to the return of Jesus. “Be self-controlled and alert…”or some versions say be “watchful.” I don’t believe our little antelope friend was very self-controlled or watchful as he stuffed his face with the temporary pleasures of the moment and got in the habit of going off on his own. I know many believers who have fallen into this trap, and I was one of them. Regardless of past struggles and run-ins with the Church, all Christians are called to be a part of a local church. No amount of time spent in personal prayer, fasting, Bible study, ministry, or any other spiritual discipline can substitute for a believer’s involvement and fellowship in the local Church. In contrast to biblical command, however, there has been a recent surge of a mass exodus from the Church. Many with various distastes for Church community have begun to embrace a concept called “Churchless Christianity.” The concept encourages an isolated, rules-free approach to Christianity. There is no biblical support for Christianity without community.

The New Testament is an endorsement for Church community, nearly every one of its books is directed toward a specific local church that functioned as a spiritual family. “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.” (Prov. 18:1) Many people get confused and just say forget the church “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” That’s good! The home needs to be the primary source of teaching and training, not the public school. If you’re a believer, then you are a “holy priest” (1 Peter 2), and it’s not just the pastor. We can all enter into the holy of holies by the blood of the Lamb and know God for ourselves. The man should be the head of the home as Christ is the head of the church, but just as the pastor and everyone else submits to the chief shepherd, so should we submit to his leadership. Pray for our leaders, not our will, but God’s will. We desperately need to encourage and sharpen one another as we are all being conformed into the likeness of Christ (Gal. 4:19).

It’s a shame that most churches today are started out of an offense rather than a true calling from God. Someone may have been offended by something that was said or done, and, like Demas, they may fall in love with the world and abandon their church family, completely rejecting the spiritual authority God has placed in their lives.

The truth is what draws people, and it’s what makes them leave. What good is an accountability partner that when they tell you something you don’t like, you just change accountability partners? We don’t need more accountability partners; we need true brothers and sisters in Christ! We don’t need mentors; we need spiritual fathers and mothers! We don’t need church members; we need body members! “Indeed there are many members, yet one body.” (1 Cor. 12:20). Everyone is important, and we can always go the furthest if we go together. We must “stay with the herd” and be watchful. In one mind and one accord, we must have humility. Let’s put our own agendas aside and be a part of God’s agenda. It’s not about my ministry, but it’s about His kingdom. Jesus, come and take your place at the center of our hearts.