Should We Forget Organized Religion and Simply Follow Christ?

Question

Pros/Cons?

Answer 1

i have

peace

Answer 2

I have, and I am a stronger Christian because I followed after the leadership of the Spirit and not a man made organization, find fellow believers that have done the same, make sure you are plugged into some type of a local body of believers.
Stay sensitive to His voice, this is the key, also pray, and bible studies. Continue to hunger and thirst after His righteousness.

I have been involved in a house church for the past 4 years, and the Lord continues to bless, keeping Him the Head and not man, we believe in shared leadership (eldership) I encourage you to do a study on this, most importantly listen to His voice, the Voice of Truth.
The problem with organizations is that each one feels that they have arrived ( in a sense), that gives no room for error, I came out of a very legalistic organization that continued to preach "we are God elect, you know the remnant of God, unfortunately for some time I believed that (when I was a babe in Christ). From the very beginning the Lord was calling me into the ministry, the funny thing was that in the back of my mind, I also questioned cant we just believe in the fundamental doctrine and be licensed non-denominational, there were many things like this, Its called the voice of God, I believe that hunger and Truth go hand in hand, those that truly hunger after God, will forsake many man made traditions, and move on, with me I came close to being licensed in the UPCI, WOW, I thank God for discernment that’s for sure, I could of also taken the easy road, got licensed UPC, moved on to what they think is bigger and greater things of God, start a home missions church, be the Pastor, have a name for myself, continue to move up in the rakes of religion, have the fame, and everything else that goes with it. Instead I steadfastly sought the face of God, Lord what is you will concerning the government of the church, I had much discernment even when I was a young Christian, you know, when things don’t quite settle right in your spirit, it is never wrong to question things, I could say much more but I need to get back to work!!

God Bless

Answer 3

It's not a "simple" answer.

I say no...not at all. Certainly not if we believe that the church that Christ founded:

1) Is the Body of Christ, with Jesus Christ as the Head and all Baptized persons being the members....

2) Is filled with the Holy Ghost on the first Pentecost and continuously through the Holy Sacraments...

3) Met in Ecumenical Councils, also filled with the Holy Ghost, seven times during the pre-Schism period before 1054

4) Is still visible today...

and...

5) Continues to preach the Faith Once Delivered....

No...."organized religion" does not necessarily mean the "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" - this is the only church the Creeds of Christendom recognizes.

Answer 4

Wow! Excellent question.
Growing up I have been through the whole spectrum of christian denominations from Catholic to Nazarene. The church institution as much good as it has done, fails to develop real disciples of Christ. One day a week is not nearly enough to be truly spiritually fed.
I have been involved in a "house church" that fashions itself right from the book of Acts. We meet together, share a meal, fellowship and pray together. When a member is in need financially, we band together to meet that need. And we give of our time and finances to wherever the spirit leads.
Check out the book "Houses That Changed The World", by Wolfgang Simson.
May the Lord bless you.

Answer 5

Man created organized religions in order to satisfy their selfish needs. That is the main reason why there are some many Christian sects in this world. Of course Heb 10:24,25 said we shouldn't forsake the gathering of ourselves, but we should all abide by what the meaning of being a Christian is and what it stands for.

Jesus said there is One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism...One God and Father of All. In Matt. 7:14, Jesus said there are two roads, the narrow and the broad. Only true Christians will try to go into the narrow gate. Of course its cramped and tight, but if you follow the course that Jesus set for us to follow that is in the Bible, the reward is everlasting life in Paradise.

ONE FAITH PEOPLE!!!! Not many faiths. Either you believe in God's Word, the Bible in its entirety, or you don't. You can't pick and choose.

Answer 6

Yes, we should,

I am doing it, and so do others who are Rational Spirituality (available on the Dhaxem website).

The pros are that you recognise it in your heart as the Truth, and that Christ himself will guide you to that recognition.

The cons are that if you cannot think for yourself and do not have Christ in your heart, then by giving up organised religion, you may lose your crutch that supports you.

Answer 7

How can you follower Christ Jesus if you are not organised? Should followers of Christ pick and choose from a "buffet" what he/she feels or dislikes (Pro/Cons), how they may follower him?

Please consider 1 Pet. 2:21: "In fact, to this [course] YOU were called, because even Christ suffered for YOU, leaving YOU a model for YOU to follow his steps closely"
So, "Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it." -Matt. 7:13, 14; Because, "“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will."-Matt. 7:21

So, is belonging to an organized religion necessary? And does the Bible show that true Christians would be an organized people?

Note: John 10:16: “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.” (Since Jesus would bring such ones into “one flock,” is it not obvious that they could not be of different ways of worships?)

Most religious organizations have produced bad fruitage. It is not the fact that groups are organized that is bad. But many have promoted forms of worship that are based on false teachings and are largely ritualistic instead of providing genuine spiritual guidance; they have been misused to control the lives of people for selfish objectives; they have been overly concerned with money collections and ornate houses of worship instead of spiritual values; their members are often hypocritical. Obviously no one who loves righteousness would want to belong to such an organization. But true religion is a refreshing contrast to all of that. Nevertheless, to fulfill the Bible’s requirements, it must be organized. Please note:

Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them . . . teaching them.” (How would this be accomplished without organization? When Jesus trained his early disciples for this work, He did not simply tell each one to go wherever he desired and to share his faith in whatever way he chose. He trained them, gave them instructions and sent them out in an organized manner. See Luke 8:1; 9:1-6; 10:1-16.)

Heb. 10:24, 25: “Let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near.” (But to where would a person direct interested ones so they could obey this command if there were no organization with regular meetings where they could gather?)

1 Cor. 14:33, 40: “God is a God, not of disorder, but of peace. . . . Let all things take place decently and by arrangement.” (The apostle Paul is here discussing orderly procedure at congregation meetings. Applying this inspired counsel requires respect for organization.)

1 Pet. 2:9, 17: “But you are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. . . . Have love for the whole association of brothers.” (An association of people whose efforts are directed to accomplish a particular work is an organization.)

Answer 8

Christ is still an organized religion. Jesus or Christ is still the organized religion of christianity. its not a religion but a relationship is a cop out and a LIE.

Answer 9

I've considered this myself. I cannot give you one "right" answer, it really is up to you. I however, prefer to avoid the confusion of churches. The pros of this would have to be no one else can confuse your spiritual search, and the gossiping people can't get to you. Unfortunately, most people cannot stay on the right path without a spiritual leader. I'll pray for you.

Answer 10

Following Christ is what its all about, but in the Bible it says to not forsake assembling together so it spells out to be involved in a church family. You can't go it alone because you will need support from other Christians.

Answer 11

I've wondered about this myself.Everybody is turned off by the "in your face Christians".These people are religious but not spiritual.They need to be loved not argued with.That's hard to do isn't it?

As for me I go to Church and try to make it a spiritual place.