Believe in God, but not the church?

[VSL]

That's pretty much my question..

Is there anyone here who believes in God and Jesus (obviously I'm working with Christian based beliefs here) but does not attend church, or does not 'believe' in the church?

A simple yes/no answer will suffice, but any details of why you do/do not are also appreciated!

Please, no fighting - I'm not saying either is right or wrong, but am just interested if all Christians who consider themselves 'practicing Christians' attend church.

TIA

 

[TLC371]

I believe in God, but I don't attend church. I worked for 7 years in a church, and many of the people that attended the church just kind of turned me off to the church experience.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I have a strong belief in God but do not attend church any longer after experiencing much criticism and cattiness from the last 2 churches I attended. My faith is between me and God - not the hypocrites in the church.

Just my opinion.

 

[In a hurry]

For years that was where I stood. After about 4 church splits that racked our lives and our family, I totally blew away from both the church and God. God and I made peace several years ago, but I will never fully commit to a church again. I will never again put my faith in the people of an organized church again. I do not believe that I am better than they are, or less of a sinner, or more of a sinner, I am just not going to risk my being hurt so badly again.

 

[hugsquared]

I'm a Christian, have been saved, and have a very strong belief in God. But, no, I do not attend church. My 1st husband really turned me off on church, which is sad. The one we attended was so full of "who drove the biggest car" or "who lived in the biggest house". It seemed God was the last reason anyone was there. I begged and begged for us to move but he brow beat me into staying and being miserable until I was so turned off I just stopped going all together. My DH is Agnostic. I don't go because I'm turned off and he doesn't go because, well, he's Agnostic. We respect each others belief's and never turn it into an issue.

 

[DVC Jen]

I have an extremely strong belief in God and his love for us. I do not however have a strong belief in any one organized religon. I have seen and or experienced more hypocrisy there than I have wanted to.

I feel closer to God sitting outside enjoying the world he so wonderfully created for us than I do sitting in a stuffy building with so many whom are only there to be seen, have control and socialize.

For those who do feel a need and find great comfort in an organized religon.. that is awesome and I am very happy for you. But I do have a hard time dealing with those who feel I am less of a Christian because I don't sit my rear end in a specified building once or twice a week.

edited to add.. I have taught preschool in the same church that I last attended and have been doing so for the past 10 years. I am constantly disgusted with how the church administation/staff and most active members view the preschool and the work we do there.

 

[Free4Life11]

I grew up in the church and there are many wonderful churches; my dad is pastor of one of them! I haven't been to church lately though. I guess I've gotten turned off of it; just been to so many where people are so unwelcoming -- no one makes any attempt to greet or chat with newcomers. It's too much like a big clique. I've been an "outsider" so many times during my life, the last thing I want to do is go to a church and be an "outsider."

It takes a lot of courage to walk into a new church, especially when you are alone and first impressions really are everything.

I went to one for a while and attended their college program and it was fun but the leader was starting to get to me. I always felt pressured to say something. I am just NOT a talker by nature -- I'm not eloquent and much more of a listener. I don't feel the need to always chime and felt pressured to say things and it just became too uncomfortable. Also this same leader preached one Sunday and it was an awful sermon -- he said the word blessing dozens of times and that is a HUGE turnoff for me.

 

[alabamaalan]

Well, okay, I guess someone needs to step in with a different opinion.

There was a time when I was younger that I became extemely burned out and spiritually dead due to the church I was attending; it just drained me.

However, I think that believers have a responsibilty to worship in a community and not just individually.

Unfortunately, any organization of size is going to have problems. We're human. Yes, I expect more from a church than I do a business, but I will realize there is no perfect church.

In fact, once I find the perfect church to attend it will cease to be so once they let me in the door

Nevertheless, we are instructed to meet together. There is strength in combined worship and I certainly have great friendships and support through my church family.

Yes, I have gotten mad on more than one occassion. But for me, my spiritual life will suffer if I am not meeting regularly. It is where I have Bible study, instruction, encouragement or my toes stepped on when I need it.

Of course I don't want someone's church to be such a pain to them that it hurts their worship, but too many people use that an excuse. Try another church or possibly look within to see if some of the unhappiness is because you feel confronted with something that must be faced.

 

[Livie's Mommy]

We are Christians who do not attend a particular church. It is not because we don't like church or had a bad experience, I love the worship and fellowship that attending church offers. But ever since I got married and moved near DH's job, I have not found a church that I have "felt right" in....know what I mean? We tried several churches, but never felt like we were "home", so to speak. I loved the church I came to the Lord in, and if it wasn't 1 1/2 hours from where I live, I would go there definitely. But for now, we study the Bible, , in our home with study guides gather with friends from various churches for fellowship, and we watch a couple of TV pastors ( I do not want to start a debate on televagelists, I am just stating that there are 1 or 2 that we like to watch regularly ). Sorry, I just know that certain TV preachers are disliked by some Christians and non-Christians alike, and I do no wanna go there!!!

 

[Wishing on a star]

I guess I agree with many of the points in these posts.

Even attending a given Church two-three times a week, my 'Faith' would never never never be in any organized religion. Many Churches make it hard to draw that line. They require a commitment to their particular organization. The lines between Christ, and the 'church' are very much blurred.

Yes, I feel that worshipping in a church can be beneficial. However, I feel that many churches are not in line with Christ's ideals and commandments. Some can even be completely contrary and in contradiction to Christ's ideals and commandments.

So, yes, I believe in God and Christ and what He tells me in my heart, and what He has layed forth in the Bible. I would never 'believe' in a church. Church organizations, like all of us, and the men who run them, are not perfect and fall short of the glory of God.

 

[cardaway]

Yes to God, no to organized religion (church)

 

[kdibattista]

I just went through this....

I was a very, very, very bitter non practicing Catholic for over 10 years (I'm 29 now). I was disgusted with the way the Church was run, the abuse scandal, the first hand knowledge of how the finances were spent, etc. I believed that I did not need the "church" to believe in God. Not long ago that became not enough. I talked the monsignor at my local church and decided to try and go back. I was welcome with open arms. I have learned how to separate the "Catholic faith" with the "Catholic Church". I have been going regularly however I will not contribute to the collection plate (unless I know it is going towards a specific cause) for the reasons mentioned above.

Do I need to go to Church... no. But it sure does make me feel closer to God.

 

[Aidensmom]

I attend church when I can find one that I feel comfortable at. There are a lot of churches out there which to me seem "spiritually dead" or have lost their focus.

I attended a certain church for about 6 years, even taught Sunday School there, etc, but it grew astronomically large, and I just didn't like it anymore. I didn't attend church for several years. The pastor of that church left and went on to start a new church. I attended that one until last week, the church was not making it financially and the pastor took a job at another church, another very large church. So now am am churchless once again.

I have a deep faith, but I do think it is beneficial to be involved in a church for the community, fellowship, and the opportunity to learn. However, I don't think church attendance is what makes you a Christian or indicates the level of your faith.

 

[oogieboogie]

I was brought up Catholic, went to catholic schools all my life but never really felt an attachment to the church.

I've always believed in a God (sometimes Gods/Goddesses) but I just don't believe in organized religion. I feel that if there is a God then His/Her relationship with me should remain private between the 2 of us.

 

[tekmom]

Count me in, also. As a child I regularly attended church, but many of the people seemed to be huge hypocrites. I consider myself a Christian, maybe not a great one sometimes, but I believe that I don't need to be in church for God to hear me and know me.

 

[always quiet]

I was raised Catholic and attended catholic school for 12 years. Even way back when I was in 8th grade, I had a nun tell me I wasn't a "good" Catholic because I told them, when they were marching all the kids over to church for confession before Holy Week, I was not going to go to confession. I told her that if God was going to forgive me for something I did, that was between Him and me. I didn't need a middle man telling me if I was forgiven or not.

When I had my youngest DD, I wanted to have her baptized. I got really turned off to the church when the local parish priest would NOT baptize my baby because I hadn't contributed enough in the Sunday envelopes!

When my mother passed away, my dad wanted her to have a funeral mass. After all the arrangements were made with the funeral home, he called me up and told me that we were being charged an additional amount of money because in recent years, my parents Sunday contributions had gone down. My mother suffered from Altzheimers so yes! She did stop going to mass!! For them to charge extra to a family who gave every week for DECADES, sent all 4 of their kids to Catholic school............don't even get me started!!

My beliefs have not changed....it's my faith in the powers that run the church that is no longer there.

 

[disykat]

I have a deep faith, but I do think it is beneficial to be involved in a church for the community, fellowship, and the opportunity to learn. However, I don't think church attendance is what makes you a Christian or indicates the level of your faith.

Great post!

 

[disykat]

"However, I think that believers have a responsibilty to worship in a community and not just individually."

Unfortunately, any organization of size is going to have problems. We're human. Yes, I expect more from a church than I do a business, but I will realize there is no perfect church.

"In fact, once I find the perfect church to attend it will cease to be so once they let me in the door "

Nevertheless, we are instructed to meet together. There is strength in combined worship and I certainly have great friendships and support through my church family.

Yes, I have gotten mad on more than one occassion. But for me, my spiritual life will suffer if I am not meeting regularly. It is where I have Bible study, instruction, encouragement or my toes stepped on when I need it.

Great points, Alan! When people say "church is full of sinners" I always think "isn't that the whole point?"

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

My brother's like that. Believes in God and Jesus, but doesn't believe in organized religion. I stopped going to church in July, even though I do believe in organized religion (and God and Jesus). I stopped going for other reasons that are too personal to post here.

 

[DisneyDotty]

A wise woman once told me, "Do not let humans (church) take away from the spirituality God has given you (the Church)." It's a hard distinction, one with which I often struggle...