I’m still thinking about people like Anne Rice who say they’re leaving Christianity, but who state unequivocally that they love Jesus. They’re very disillusioned by organized religion, and I certainly understand that. I see a lot of people in the discussion, though, who are confusing Christianity with belonging to a denomination or a local church, and that’s not at all what Christianity is. Christianity is simply the name ascribed to those who believe in and follow Jesus (Acts 11:25-26).

And Jesus didn’t belong to a local church or a denomination. He was Jewish by birth, the Son of God, and He actually did a lot of rebuking of religious people who clung to traditions that missed the heart of God: Love. Mercy. Justice.

So it should follow that “Going to church” doesn’t make me a Christian, and being a Christian doesn’t require my “going to church” in order to obey God. Or does it?

Jesus gathered with His disciples often, to teach and encourage them. His disciples went on to do the same with other disciples, as Jesus commanded them to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

The early Christians gathered together every single day in the temple courts (the Jewish temple), and broke bread (ate together) in one another’s homes (Acts 2:42-47).

The writer of Hebrews admonished Christians to not turn our backs on the importance of gathering together to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds,” and to “encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

But here’s where many Christians get confused by tradition: we don’t have to gather together in big, fancy buildings on Sunday mornings. We can gather together over a shared meal, at the park, in our living rooms, serving alongside one another in ministry, or wherever else Christians come together, with the intent of encouraging one another in our faith, and inspiring one another to do good deeds in love.

I know that probably upsets some people, particularly those who make a living by serving on staff at churches, or who run the finances and pay the bills with their members’ weekly offerings, but it’s the truth. The first Christians didn’t build big fancy buildings that had to be financially supported. (Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15, Philemon 1:2)

Paul asked the individuals in the churches (local communities of believers) he’d planted to set aside an offering on the first day of each week, save it up, and wait for him to come. The offering would be delivered to the poor “saints” (Christians) in Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-26, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4). The model there is for Christians to think of their brothers and sisters outside their local communities of believers, and to care for one another wherever we are. That’s why we support missionaries. I’ve never believed that was a “read between the lines” command for Christians to gather together every Sunday in a special building to recite a liturgy, sing some songs, listen to a sermon, and take an offering.

But what I do know is that believers, whom Jesus called “the church” (Matthew 16:18), cared for one another. They were communities of believers within the larger communities they lived in. They shared everything, ate together, and ministered to one another (Acts 2:42-47). In our culture today, we follow that pattern by finding local groups of believers, usually (but not necessarily) in the form of a group who meet together in a church building built especially for the purpose of worshiping together regularly.

However, I know many Christians have been hurt and disillusioned by local churches who are led by false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-22, 1 Timothy 1:3-20), churches whose members have an “us against them” mentality that’s decidedly not Christ-like, and churches who spend exorbitant amounts of money on staff, programs, and buildings while the poor in their neighborhoods (and in their own churches!) suffer. I understand the disillusionment of many of my brothers and sisters. I do.

That’s why Jesus and Paul warned us that there would be false teachers and false converts, people who would do things in the name of Jesus, but about whom He would say, “‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:15-23)

That’s also why I know I’m so thankful to have found a healthy local church in my own journey of faith.

In my next 5 posts, I’ll share 5 reasons I love my own local church. I think when you’re done reading the posts, you’ll agree that I’m blessed!

In the meantime, why do you love “going to church” — or not?