Actually G-D doesn’t call us to be IN church but, to BE the church. The Idea of living life as the church is the idea of BEING the church and not going. If you go back to the very beginning of why the Jewish Synagogue was set up in the first place, it was not because it was a command of G-D, but because it was a desire of the people. So, because it was the desire of the people he allowed the temple and eventually the synagogue to exist. When he did, he set down rules and guidelines as to how the temple should be run.
The synagogue was a man made tradition which later replaced the temple which was never given any specific rules or guidelines at all from G-D. The heart of the synagogue was to go to learn and discuss the teachings of their scriptures. Most of the time there was a teacher because people couldn’t read and so it was a journey that they took together as a community.
The idea of the tithe was set up to support the people that took care of the temple. The tithe would support the Levites, priests, or other peeps that would help the temple to run smoothly.
The temple came from the “tent of meetings which was constructed from pagan religions and pagan gods. The people of G-D figured that since other gods had these little places of worship, that they should have them as well. Hence, where their original request for a place to worship came into effect.
The idea of deacons and elders were set up to structure or help run larger groups of people who gathered together as the messianic community. It was Paul’s response to how people were not living as they should in the messianic communities.
Also, there was never a command from Jesus to be in church or a part of a church, and if there was then he broke it because he never went nor was he a part of one. The focus was always loving G-D and loving others which the heart behind all that he did and all that he talked about. Nor did he ever encourage his disciples to do so.
So, By not being in church we are not defying any command that has been commanded by G-D, especially from Jesus. Although, we are commanded to live as the body of Christ, so we are called to be in community. So, I am not denying the fact that we are to be the church, or gather with others that love Jesus. I am just arguing the idea that to be in church is not necessarily a command, but we are to be the church.
I am also not saying that church is bad or to be in church is bad. There are communities of believers who call themselves a church, that I think are doing amazing things and are doing an incredible of job of living in community or living as the church or being the church. Even the ones that I don’t think are doing a good job, I do still believe that G-D does move through many of these people.
I am not denying the fact that G-D does not work in and through the institutional church as we see it today. I don’t agree with how it is run, but I believe that G-D moves in and through those communities of believers. But, we lose the heart of church when we forget that the church is ultimately, G-Ds people and not the idea of institution. When Paul refers to meeting as the church, he is ultimately promoting the messianic community. Community being the key to what occurs. Also, most of the things that Paul addresses are in response to people being stupid or choosing not to follow the commands of G-D. People ultimately not loving G-D or loving others which is what all of scripture boils down to. It is people being selfish or abusing various aspects of their faith, or life together that Paul usually addresses.
Do I sometimes go to sing songs of praise with a community of people that passionately love Jesus? I DO!
Do I hang out with many different groups of people who passionately love Jesus? I Do! Do I belong or have a membership at any specific church? Nope!
Do I tithe to any specific organization or community of people that call themselves northstar, 4 corners, vcc etc.? at times just to support the people who put those praise gathering together, BUT most of my tithe goes towards helping the poor, helping people who need help in the kingdom of G-D, etc.
Will I ever be in church, nope because I am in the church, being The Body of Christ…The Kingdom of G-D… and that is all that I need to be.
Do I necessarily agree with the church (being the organizational church)? NO! But by no means does that mean that G-D does not move in and through the people who are there. Nor does it mean that church does not occur, as people come together to BE the church or live life as the church.
