[vc_row text_align=”center” text_color=”#ffffff” type=”image” padding_top=”300px” padding_bottom=”200px” bg_image=”749″][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]I agree with Conway as he disavows the view that true disciples are known for where they are between nine and eleven on Sunday morning, and an assessment of faithfulness by averages to sinful activity that he likens to a baseball batting average.  In addition, he responds to the notion that there is a connection between not sinning and attending church services that is directly connected to a better batting average against sin.  The suggestion is that more attendance is the solution to sin.

However, he ends the thought suggesting that no one following Jesus will not have community with fellow Christians and that this is, broadly speaking, the church.  Then, he writes, “Since the Greek word translated as ‘church’, ekklesia, literally means ‘assembly’ or ‘meeting’, any group that meets or assembles in the name of Christ is a church.”  He calls this the lowest common denominator of understanding, but this is the creation of human wisdom.   This is a very common problem whereby we use words that are figures of speech to identify spiritual realities.  We readily acknowledge other terms that define the people of God.  The body or kingdom of Christ was never intended to be understood literally.  References to “shepherds” do not refer to literal sheep herders.   This is neither the lowest common denominator of understanding nor a matter of forms of meetings.  The word has nothing to do with physical meetings any more than any other of the terms above.

The word, ekklesia, is the called-out and describes a class of people who are God’s possession.  They are assembled by God and are thus called out as a work of God.  Every individual who is called-out is added to this class of people.  God does the adding or the assembling, and it has nothing to do with being physically gathered.  I am in the homes of my brothers and sisters regularly.   But, I’m not going to church.   We go to baseball games and sing praises the entire trip.  We may work on the roof, stop to get some tea and pray for fifteen minutes.  There is no service attended, no scheduled meeting for Bible study or worship, but there is plenty of togetherness in phone conversations and face-to-face discussions.   We don’t “go to worship.”   We may worship at any given time or place.  Churchless Christians is a biblical concept, but living as a recluse is not.  All of the “one another” passages and examples of being together address the need to be together as a natural result of the greatest of commonalities.  This is not accomplished in a church where members fulfill membership expectations and go their way until the “next appointed time.”  The home is always open, and each continues to be a guest at the table.   What needs fixing is the home that provides opportunities for such gatherings as a way of life.   It represents the kind of sharing that enables the opportunity for edification, encouragement, and giving.   I believe in churchless Christians because the ekklesia defines a class of individuals who form a brotherhood, not an organization of local churches.   The arena of activity is the same as that which all individuals control — the home.

Conway proceeds to give reasons why people no longer go to church.  He mentions those wounded souls who have been hurt on more than one occasion.  In a fellowship described by the Scriptures, moving from “house to house” does not limit one to a specified place but makes available many options for gathering with fellow Christians.  There are many justifiable reasons why some members of a local church could be hurt and wounded, but such would be eliminated without local church arrangements.  Social complications that he mentions are also eliminated for the same reason.

He also mentions others who have a different view that is in opposition to the view of the church.  This, again, does not exist without the arrangement.  It has never been a matter of what the church teaches but what we as individuals have come to believe as a result of biblical study.  Being a member of a church often obligates one to follow the status quo and never question it.   Elders are focused on this and become edgy when they feel a threatening view coming to the surface.  This should provide opportunities for these shepherds to use their skill in the word to silence error, but instead, political maneuvering and power shut down all conversation.  This, also, is a perversion, but it is one of many elements that describe the organization.

The “busyness of modern life” can be a reason for failure to attend church, but I would add that churched Christians prefer the arrangement for the same reason — they are just too busy to be any more involved than a scheduled meeting once a week.  It’s quick, supportive, and frees people to live in their busy world.  They can even work up enough energy to smile, shake hands, and be amiable for an hour or so.

He mentions family responsibilities or the addition of another child that can disrupt church attendance.   Still, the fellowship of saints in the home opens the door for many visits and assistance at the convenience of the mother who provides much-needed support.   Going to church with a screaming baby or handling other family issues is not doable.  But, a visit from sisters who can assist her while keeping the focus on heavenly things is a great asset.

Yet, Conway tells us that churchless Christianity is unsustainable.  Of course, he clarifies that “home churches” are not churchless and doesn’t come down hard on those who are members of these house-churches.  Again, it is my intention to draw on the concept of individual sainthood and brotherhood that involves fellow saints as a part of their family.  They are not having church services in their homes in which case the only real difference might be location and amount of participants.  They are living as family in their homes. This way of life spends much more time fulfilling “one another” texts, studying the Scriptures, singing to one another, prayer than any membership in a church.

Granted, few are willing to espouse this way of life, but it is the view of biblical fellowship.  Any idea that church membership is preferable is only an option among those who do not desire to spend any more time than they deem necessary.   After over thirty years of preaching in churches, I have observed more ignorance, immorality, broken homes and marriages in the lives of attending members.   No one was even aware of the pain and spiritual needs until it was too late.

I am advocating more fellowship and togetherness in the home where people live than any church organization offers.   It offers a beauty that cannot be experienced in any church.  Further,  I have observed that church membership does not fit the spiritual-minded model but the carnal model that seeks to provide convenience, a restful conscience, and a full bank account that keeps the church doors open.   The misplaced value and/or misunderstanding that is revealed among the status quo church member equates faithfulness to God and brotherly kindness to faithful church membership.  I have witnessed many funeral services in which the deceased is honored as a faithful Christian because of their faithful affiliation with a local church, especially when making great sacrifices to come.   I pray that we open our eyes and hearts and recognize that what we promote as essential may be our downfall as it creates a false security.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][kleo_button title=”Launch Project” style=”see-through” size=”lg”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row inner_container=”no” type=”color” bg_color=”#000000″ padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″][vc_column][vc_images_carousel images=”741,740,739,737,736,734,733,735,728,731″ img_size=”300×140″ hide_pagination_control=”yes” min_items=”2″ max_items=”8″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row section_type=”footer” padding_top=”40px” border=”bottom”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

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