Are any of you anti-church while still being Christian?

Question

I love God and Jesus and believe that I am being guided by God in my daily life. However, many of my family members and some acquaintances keep telling me that I "need to go to church". Frankly, I have had it with specific religions or churches. To much nonsense not even suggested by God or Jesus. Do any other believers out there feel as I do? I am beginning to feel guilty because I sometimes wonder if I am just being stubborn and want everything my way. Help please.

Answer 1

"Religion is a Godless business." -Mark Twain-

Some dogma was added in the middle ages to the effect that "Wherever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there shall I be."

Often, a strong faith will prevent you attending most churches.

Answer 2

I've thought these things before just as I'm sure all believers have at some point. The best place to look for answers to your dilemma about going to church is in the Bible. Hebrew 10:25 says to "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves as in the manner of some". Here Paul must have been talking about some Christians that did not believe in going to Church. In the Gospels it says that Jesus was in the Temple on the Sabbath as was His custom. So Jesus went to a Church where uh He didn't exactly get along with everyone. I'm not saying you will go to hell if you don't go to Church but I think it is clear from the scriptures that he wants us there. Whats wrong with the Churches that you visit? Look in Scripture and see if they are in the wrong, if you don't help fix them who will? Look at a lot of different Churches, surely somewhere there is one that will fit you. Think about the Christians around the world that are being persecuted for holding secret Church meetings? They are thrown in prison for having a service! What would they give to be able to go to Church freely? Finally if you love the Lord why would you not want to go to His house? If you didn't exactly like all the members of your wife's or girlfriend's family would you never go see her?

Keep looking you will find a place you like and people you will like. Someone will probably tick you off even in a place you like but that gives you a chance to show the Grace of God. I heard a saying once that if a hypocrite is standing between you and God guesss which one is closer.

Again most of us have been there just keep looking and stay strong in the Lord. I can honestly say I look forward to hearing my pastor speak every week. You will find the right place or figure out what is wrong...just don't give up.

Answer 3

I kind of feel the same way. I would definitely consider myself a Christian in what I believe. But when it comes to going to church, I just don't feel like I get much out of it. I don't think churches are bad, they do a lot of good, charitable things. But I've tried out many different churches, denominations and nothing seems to fit. I pray every day and read a lot of books related to Christianity, etc. I also wonder if I'm being selfish by not going. But if I go and my heart's not in it, does it matter? I think it's more important to live your life/treat others every day in a way that would make God happy...and communicate with God on a regular basis whether it be at work, outside, lying in bed, in the car, whatever. I know many people that go to church and their hearts are into it, and that's great. But I also know people that go to church just for the sake of going to church and don't seem to really gain much from it.

So, I don't quite know the answer, but you're not alone!

Answer 4

I know what you mean.

The churches my family went to when I was growing up could develop more problems than any other establishment I have ever seen. These days, I don't go to church, and really have little intention of doing so. I still believe in most of the tenets of the Christian faith, though I think I am starting to lean toward being a "Liberal Christian," something the fundamentalist/evangelical churches I grew up in would certainly frown upon.

In the end, I think God is more concerned with what's in your heart (i.e. what type of a person you are, how you treat other people, and so on) as opposed to where you spend every Sunday morning. Just follow your heart and use your best judgment to decide what's right for you.

Answer 5

Considering what churches get involved with & condone is enough to make one wonder with good cause! It was their many teachings that Conflict with Actual Scripture that I left them over.
These will explain ...

Can the Churches Be Saved?
- Who Is Saving Whom?
- A Gathering Storm
True Christianity Is Flourishing
- The Basis For Christian Unity
- Why Churches Are Divided
- True Christians Are Still United
http://watchtower.org/e/20040301/article_01.htm

Why They Go to Church
- The Right Reason for Believing
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2003/12/1/article_01.htm

Should You Belong to a Church?
- How God Dealt With People in the Past
- God has long dealt with his people as an organized group.
- Which Religion Should One Choose?
- True Christians Then and Now
- The Benefits of Right Association
http://watchtower.org/e/20040601/article_01.htm

Religion---How Should It Be Financed? :
- Giving Until It Hurts
- Giving That Brings Joy
- - - Tithing and the Law
- - - Christian Giving
- - - "As He Has Resolved In His Own Heart
- - - Voluntary GIving Today
- - - Did the Early Church Fathers Teach Tithing?
http://watchtower.org/e/20021201/article_01.htm

True Teachings--Where Can You Find Them?
- True Teachings That Please God
- - How Old? - - How Organized?
- - Can You Trust the Bible?
- - What Does the Bible ITSELF Teach?
http://watchtower.org/e/20050715/article_01.htm

What Does God Require of Us? :
- How You Can Find Out What God Requires ...
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_00.htm

Actually, there are quite a few of us! (;
http://www.jw-media.org/people/statistics.htm

If you would like answers to more questions --or would merely like to observe-- where you can find us in your community, and what you can expect on a visit, is explained here:
http://jw-media.org/people/worship.htm

I was once in your shoes.
And doubtful that I'd ever find what I was looking for.
But God reveals his will to those who earnestly seek him.
We Can't go wrong following His guidance!

Prayers That Are Heard by God
http://watchtower.org/e/20020908a/article_01.htm

Advanced Search (can be used to find future-modified URLs) http://watchtower.org/search/search_e.htm

Answer 6

A Christian is one who follows Christ, so I assume when you say that you've had it with specific religions or churches that you mean denominations or sects. I Love the Lord and yet I also am not so thrilled with the condition of the "organized" church. I don't think my Father is too pleased with it either, yet having said that, He sure does love the people who are involved with them. When you receive Christ, you automatically become a member of the body of Christ. So, the question should not be church membership or fulfilling one's duty, but I think it should be about how do I please the Lord? Christianity is not about building programs or ritual- it's about knowing Him. He hungers for you to know Him face to face. You really can! The Word says that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart,soul, mind and strength. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. I guess my question to you would be, " Are you loving Him with all you are and are you loving those that He's put around you?" I have found that the more intimate that I am with Him the more I yearn to be with others of " like precious faith". Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty!

Answer 7

Yeah, I understand EXACTLY where you're coming from. If Jesus were here today, I can see Him storming into a few of these "churches", tossing the collection plates on the floor and chasing the preachers, elders, deacons, ad nauseaum out into the street with a whip.....

ON THE OTHER HAND...it doesn't help anyone to sit home and complain about it. I guess the best thing to do is to find a church you can live with, and try to help bring the original purity back to those people who are as thirsty for that Living Water as you are. No point in hogging it all to yourself.......

Answer 8

I believe you should go to church only if you feel comfortable there, otherwise, it defeats the whole purpose. That is the main reason I don't currently belong to a church-because I'm so tired of the religious dogma. Don't let people make you feel guilty for not doing something you feel uncomfortable doing. I'm a very spiritual person-I love God and do my best to make a difference in this world. That is what it's really all about, isn't it?

Answer 9

I think you might have the question wrong. Its more like being anti chrcuh but loving the church. It depends though the Church is really the people but it seems like Christians try to put on this display sometimes to look like something they wha jesus would have them see. Where the Christ followers are just chasing Jesus. I don't know if this makes sense to you or not but these are my thoughts. I guess it sould go either way.

Answer 10

What I hear you saying is the church "dogma" and "politics" are nonsense - good for you!-)

God wants a relationship with you - and has it.

At some point you will want to share with others, and that's when organizations come into play.

Let's say for the moment that you have the single most significant breakthrough in faith that would help hundreds of thousands of people. It would be a shame if you never shared it.

Perhaps your time (right now) is best spent healing yourself and gaining confidence and strength - so that when the moment is right, you will be there for someone else. (even if it is just one person)

There are no coincidences...

Answer 11

Hello Friend,

Being nagged about going to church can be irritating. Jesus loves you no matter what and he is happy the way you are, after all he created you. However, going to church does have a positive effect and that is to listen to other people's view and experiences with Jesus.

God Bless my friend.