"Unchurched" Christians

[Guest]

I have a question for anyone here who has left the institutional church, either for non-denominational churches, home fellowships, or just, well, whatever. Yesterday (Wed, Nov. 15) on Steve's Narrowpath program he was talking with a caller about unity. I transcribed the following statement he made:

"…[W]hen I meet people, and I do all the time, people who’ve left the institutional churches, and, you know, they’re just fellowshipping wherever they can and they’re not identifying themselves as a Baptist, or a Presbyterian, or a Lutheran, or something else, they just identify themselves as followers of Jesus; it’s amazing how much these people tend to have similar beliefs about other things, even though no one has organized them or dictated to them what they have to believe. It’s amazing how close they are. They’re much closer in their beliefs to each other once they have left the institutional churches than they are when they are locked in and identified with them."

I think that is astounding. Have any of you found that to be true? I believe it to be true, but I haven't met enough "unchurched Christians" to know for sure.

[Guest]

I agree and found this to also be the case. I have attended church here and there, but until recently I have never really gone on a regular basis. I find many of the views I discovered for myself expresed by those who do not belong to a denominational church or do not attend church at all anymore.

[Guest]

I find it to be true of all Christians in general. There are some in every institutional church and some who've left the institutional church. But it seems to me everyone who has a serious and passionate walk with Christ evidences the sort of un-organized unity with the rest of the church.

[Guest]

i agree with matt-- although i attend a evangelical denomination, there is a group of several of us who seem to have "ultra" unity. some common denominators: a desire to truly grow deeper in the Lord; a willingness to question traditional viewpoints; agreement regarding the importance of prayer, and desire for greater practical outworking of our faith. there are likely other "subgroups" in my church as well- in fact i am sure that there are.

TK

[Guest]

There are some in every institutional church and some who've left the institutional church. But it seems to me everyone who has a serious and passionate walk with Christ evidences the sort of un-organized unity with the rest of the church.

Maybe when the church is to institutionalized it starts to become an obstacle to the christian's walk with Jesus. It's like you have to run things by their approval committee first even if it's only in your mind it's only natural to not want to disappoint the leaders. At my place of worship there is very little emphasis on doctrines just mostly worship and the relationship with Jesus.

[Guest]

I have heard it said that most problems between Christian groups involve those on the fringes. But if you should bring together those at the centre of each group, you would not find much difference.

[Guest]

Hi Michelle,

I guess I have just the opposite experience. However, I must also say that my experience with various non “IC” groups is not as vast as Steve’s so I’m only speaking from a very limited experiential knowledge here.

I have not attended an institutional church for several months now because after a pretty exhaustive search of my area, I could not find any that I was quite comfortable with. I have, however, managed to find a loose network of independent home fellowships that I feel pretty comfortable with at this time. The believers I’ve been in fellowship with have a very wide variety of views that are different my own. It’s a little like this forum.

Remarkably, I have a greater sense of unity with these folks than I did in any institutional church I’ve been in. I think it’s probably because those issues don’t seem to be a cause for much concern among everyone since there is no organization with an official doctrinal statement to defend. We tend to focus on “weightier” matters of our daily life in Christ when we’re together anyways.

I was very surprised to discover the depth of knowledge most of these people have. Many of them are former church leaders, many have a seminary education, and almost all that I have met so far have a very real and deep spiritual hunger.

As a matter of “unity”, I’ve found most of the people I’ve met have these things in common:

1. Hunger for a deeper personal relationship with God.
2. Desire to live righteous and holy lives.
3. Interest in community.
4. Passion to see a visible expression of Christ in the body of Christ.
5. Hope to see a revival.

Occasionally peripheral matters are discussed, but it’s more of a leisurely chat. It’s kind of like talking about sports or something and I’ve often seen people laugh off their differences of opinion. Some of the people observe the Sabbath and Jewish feasts, and others (like myself) do not. The environment is very relaxed when it comes to those kinds of things and there’s no pressure to conform.

Anyway, this may not be the norm outside the “IC”, but it is what I’ve found in my very limited experience and I rather like it that way.

Lord bless.

[Guest]

I do not attend church at the present time. I do visit and always
pray to find a church that I can grow and fellowship. Most in my
area are "seeker friendly" Others are baptist or mainline denominations.
It would be a blessing to settle with a group of believers either in a
bldg. or home. For me personally, I have not yet seen a home fellowship
that has worked out.

That does not mean that I am not aware of others around me that
may need help, support, fellowship, prayer...I am currently looking
into volunteering at the Salvation Army....I am praying to worship
with others but I wont settle in a cozy church that wants to preach a smooth gospel.

[Guest]

In my area of west central Ohio, which could probably be called "the northern fringes of "The Bible Belt"...there are lots of "non-denominational" churches. Almost all of them are actually pentecostal/charismatic in terms of their theology and beliefs. This brings to mind how the pentecostals and charismatics have sort of "meshed" in the last couple decades.

I was "unchurched" (and also "backslidden") for almost 20 years though I visited different churches from time to time. In the last seven years I've got faith back, is how I'll say it, and have spent most of my fellowshipping on the internet. I used to post on forums like, lots. (13,000 posts @ beliefnet for one), lol

But this year I've made intentional efforts to do more "f2f stuff" (doing face-to-face things) like visiting churches. I liked one mega-church for a while (United Methodist) but found it lacking in theological depth. Everyone was real friendly and I even joined a Bible study/cell group. But one day after the study was over someone was saying,"I would really like to take "A Course In Miracles." I replied, "Oh, I see. I'm not really into that," (thinking to myself mmmmm kay?). One other Bible study someone I'm acquainted with goes to is on "the end times." I asked if it was pre-post-or-amillennial, as I had seen some John Haggee "prophecy" books in the church's bookstore. I got a look from this person as if I was from Outer Space. "Whaaaaaaaaat?," they sed. "Nevermind, it's just some theology stuff," I replied.

I have found a few folks here who seem to be genuinely interested in the Bible and/or theology (we listen to Steve Gregg, among other things)...but this isn't "in church." Btw, I don't separate theology from "the Christian life." Maybe I'm getting to be an "old dude" (am 50) but I'm having a hard time finding people who seem to have a biblical worldview (leave alone many who even know what a worldview is)! When did they do away with that? (jk, sorta).

I see a lot of syncretism going on. For example, the book "Alcoholics Anonymous" and other A.A. materials are sold in this same church bookstore that has John Haggee (?), um, go figure.

To sum up, the kind of fellowship I've found, since un-backsliding, is "warm (want some pie?)" but on the "dumbing down" end of things, intellectually. I repeatedly hear phrases like, "We don't argue about doctrines" (which seems to be saying they are intentially totally avoided) and "We just want to reach out to people who need the Lord," etc. Recently I went to a "Christian 12 Step meeting" just to see what it was like. One person who I noticed was wearing a Masonic ring was saying stuff that was just plain unbiblcal. I heard others say, "Jesus is my Higher Power" and I knew what they meant, I think. But is Jesus one among many higher powers or the Way, the Truth and the Life?

I thought I might be out of line if I asked....
Rick