A Christian Without a Church is a Christian in Trouble
By Michael Kelley
Several years ago, a phrase gained popularity in religious circles and it went like this:
“I like Jesus; I just don’t like the church.” The sentiment behind the phrase was that a person could have a very fulfilling and growing relationship with Christ without actually being a part of a local fellowship. While the relationship with Jesus is essential, a relationship and commitment to a local congregation is optional.
To be fair, there is a way someone could justify an opinion like that. Christians believe in a doctrine often referred to as the priesthood of the believer, which means that anyone who has trusted in Christ can approach God directly. The only intermediary we have is Christ alone; we don’t need an institution or a special class of religious person to serve in that role. The Book of Hebrews helps us understand this incredible privilege that comes with being made right with God:
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need (Heb. 4:15-16).
And yet that same Book of Hebrews also helps us see that our life with Christ is not meant to be lived apart from other Christians:
And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching (Heb. 10:24-25).
That last passage is in the positive; we should not neglect meeting together because in meeting together we can encourage one another to love and good deeds. But the opposite is also true:
A Christian without a church is a Christian in trouble.
It’s a humbling thing to recognize that truth because it means that it’s not just unwise to be without a church; it’s dangerous. And the reason it’s dangerous is because we aren’t strong enough to go at life with Christ on our own.
We need other people in our own weakness. And other people need us. This is at least part of the reason behind the biblical metaphor of the body Paul used to describe the church. To keep with that metaphor, can you imagine the pride of a leg thinking (if a leg could do that) that it could just go off and have a sustainable experience without the rest of the body?
In a sense, that’s exactly what we are doing when we stop going to church. We are saying, “I don’t need this. I don’t need you. I only need me.” And there we find ourselves on the slippery slope of pride, which inevitably leads us not only to neglect the church, but to neglect the authority of God. When there is only me, then I’m the only one I have to obey.
When it’s only me, I’m left to constantly be inside my own head, and once there I can easily convince myself that my personal preferences are actually the right thing for me. I assume the role of sole authority in my own life, doing and believing as I please.
This is a dangerous place to be – to leave ourselves open to whatever influence tickles our emotions and fancy at the moment, and to simply embrace that thing or person because there’s no one else there.
Conversely, the church anchors us from drift. The church holds us accountable to truth rather than preference. The church forces us to deny ourselves and keep following Jesus. To leave the church is to make a statement that we don’t need that protection - we are just fine in and of ourselves without it. And that is a drastic overestimation of ourselves.
Yes, a Christian without a church is a Christian in danger. Let’s not think so highly of ourselves that we fail to recognize it.
Michael Kelley is a husband, father of three, author, and speaker from Nashville, TN. His latest book is a year-long family devotional guide called The Whole Story for the Whole Family. Find his personal blog at michaelkelley.co.
