Storyline Blog

  • Scary Close
  • StoryBrand
☰

TURN WEBSITE BROWSERS INTO BUYERS


Donald Miller's FREE marketing course


GET IT NOW

Why I Don’t Go to Church Very Often, a Follow Up Blog

Donald Miller

by Donald Miller

Monday I wrote about why I don’t attend church regularly. I was naive to open such a sensitive conversation without expecting a backlash and was taken aback at the response. Many people thought the blog was saying people shouldn’t go to church or that I had something against church. None of that is true. And yet, most of the influential Christian leaders I know (who are not pastors) do not attend church. Perhaps it’s something we should talk about in an open, safe environment. All I can offer is my perspective, which I do not offer as an answer, only a contribution to a discussion.

On that note, one caveat: I can only give camera angles on the issue because that’s how I think. I tend to see things from multiple angles and am comfortable not choosing “the right opinion” because I’m not convinced the right opinion is even on the table or that there is one in the first place. Many opinions can be right. Binary thinking causes more false dichotomies than true answers or helpful discussions, so I’ll avoid them as best I can.

This blog will likely be misquoted, mischaracterized and parsed in an effort to demonize. This happens when anybody puts their thoughts out there on any subject. It’s expected. But I’m hoping something more happens. I’m hoping, for some, it contributes to unity. We are not that different.

So as you read thoughts that may seem foreign, please understand my intent is not to judge or pose threat. As Ravi Zacharias often prays, let there be more light than heat.

*Photo Credit: Oleh Slobodeniuk, Creative Commons

*Photo Credit: Oleh Slobodeniuk, Creative Commons

Camera angles on church, why many people don’t go, pushback to the blog and an increasing cultural inability for nuanced thought:

1. I WAS MOVED BY READER SENSITIVITY

Reading the comments from Monday’s blog let me know how far my personal spiritual journey has taken me from modern evangelicalism. Theologically, I find myself in the evangelical camp in many ways, but as for the “one way to do life and church” I’ve gone a different path. And I’m hardly alone. While I love the traditional church, I love it like a foundational part of my past, as though it were a University I’ve graduated from to join a much larger church those still in the University program are quite suspicious of. (More on church as school later)

For many, though, the church is where people find spiritual security through communion with both God and a local tribe. People love their churches, their pastors and their community. Some people believe church is the main place we worship God, that it’s superior and more sacred than worshipping with their family or friends or through other outlets such as work or daily life. My faith and intimacy with God has grown as I’ve evolved in my understanding of church, and as I said, many find that threatening. And yet, in the comments, even the heated ones, it was beautiful to see a group of people love something so much. The passion moved me as much as it frustrated me.

2. FEELINGS ARE NOT VALID?

A response I kept seeing on twitter and in the comments was that my blog was all about feelings. It wasn’t. It was actually about learning styles. I used the word “feel” a couple times and it was pounced on like a fumbled football. And yet I kept asking myself “why do these people have a problem with feelings or the concept of feelings?”

Feelings are, essentially, thoughts. They don’t come from the heart, they come from the brain. Both thoughts and feeling are chemical and electrical functions of the brain. It’s true they are different, but one is not a lie while the other is true. The reality is, neither is trustworthy without verification and consideration.

The distinction, however, that feelings are lesser trustworthy experiences is a false dichotomy. Certainly you can’t do math with feelings, but you can’t love with math. Is math an invention of God while love a worldly experience? Did God create your mind to be a calculator and Satan stuck some feelings into the mix?

The Bible itself includes a large amount of art and history and comparably few rational essays, so the evangelical tendency to dismiss “feelings” is confusing. Add to this “rational thought” can also be misleading. Both Richard Dawkins and C.S. Lewis arrived at their different positions by taking trails of thought. Both consider themselves rational and grounded in foundational philosophical principals, but they ended up in different intellectual places. Why then do modern evangelicals elevate thought as though it is the only path to truth? And why dismiss feelings as though they are weak or lesser than? Shouldn’t the issue be given a more nuanced treatment?

Add to this yet another conundrum, and that’s the myth any of us are objective thinkers in the first place. Research indicates we are given to tribal thinking and confirmation bias and defend those “feelings” with rational justifications we most often mistake for a linear line of thought, as though we are objective. We are not objective. Mark Driscoll, Tim Keller, Richard Dawkins, Bill Nye and Ken Hamm are not completely objective thinkers. They are given to tribal thinking and confirmation bias. Find me a theological rant of any stripe and I’ll show you a “thinker” using rational thought to defend the presuppositions of a tribe, likely in an effort to gain security or from a fear something is being taken away, in other words, rational thought fueled by feelings.

Before we get too irate and have a trigger reaction against the idea feelings are actually valid if verified and tested, we should consider new revelations in brain science, learning-style revelations and basic psychology. What about intuition, what about the whole brain? What about Daniel Goleman’s work on emotional intelligence? What about Sir Ken Robinson’s work on education reform? What about Jung’s early work on personality theory and motives? And even Malcolm Gladwell’s work on thinking without thinking? When evangelicals attack “feelings” they’re discrediting thinkers and researchers more knowledgeable than they on how the brain actually works.

The attack on feelings works great to sway young seminarians who like to label liberal theologians, but in the end, it’s a limited and narrow perspective.

The point, though, is this: Feelings matter. You can’t build a house on them, but they guide, shape, validate and work with rational thought to shape who we are and how we do life. When Jesus interacted with people, He cared about how they felt. And He was not weak or weird for doing so. He’s the one who made those silly little “feelings” in the first place. How odd, then, His own children would dismiss them as irrelevant.

3. CHURCH ISN’T ABOUT YOU, IT’S ABOUT GOD?

It’s a nice cliche and has some basis in scripture, but while the thought makes a great tweet, it should be parsed in a more nuanced way. Many people seemed to want me to attend church out of a sense of duty or responsibility. These were the comments I received that were most traced with guilt and shame, interestingly.

Certainly we have a duty and responsibility in many areas of life, including church, but God has no problem with us enjoying Him, each other, nature and for that matter a worship experience. And if we don’t enjoy a specific kind of worship experience, He could care less whether we go choose one we enjoy more. David danced naked, not out of responsibility, but because he went temporarily pleasure-go-nuts with emotion. He liked it. He was wired to like it. His son worshipped God as a philosopher, playwright and architect. Everybody worships differently. The church offers music. And let’s face it, most of them offer the same music. Jesus isn’t crying Himself to sleep at night because somebody wants to worship Him by planting a garden more than singing a song.

But this is a much larger issue. The subtext of these comments seemed to insinuate that God wants us to suffer for Him. But not suffer by reaching the poor or by being outcast, suffer, literally, by standing in a church service singing songs you don’t find catchy. Really?

The subtext of these comments reminded me of an elderly Catholic woman I watched in Mexico City, crawling on her bloody knees to the Metropolitan Cathedral. She’d crawled for nearly twelve miles. She was in her eighties. She wanted to suffer for Jesus. Her family followed her, wiping her brow and offering her water. It was moving to see. But in my opinion, entirely unnecessary and perhaps the stuff of bad theology. I applaud the devotion, but I don’t admire it. I don’t think when Jesus told us to take up our cross, he was talking about self mutilation.

The point is this: God has no problem with you having pleasure enjoying Him, and when we don’t through a specific methodology, He has no problem with us switching things around so we do. He’s not calling us to be sanctified through dutiful boredom.

4. WE MUST ATTEND A CHURCH SERVICE TO BE IMPACTFUL FOR GOD?

I’d say half of the most impactful people I know, who love Jesus and tear up at the mention of His name, who reach out to the poor and lonely and are fundamentally sound in their theology, who create institutions that feed hundreds of thousands, do not attend a traditional church service. Many of them even speak at churches, but they have no home church and don’t long for one. They aren’t wired to be intimate with God by attending a lecture and hearing singing (which there is NOTHING wrong with) they are wired to experience God by working with Him.

That said, they also have no opinion about church, don’t talk about it and are too busy with enjoying the global, non-arguing, non-tribal community that they consider to be the church to worry about what people think.

That said, they wisely keep their mouths closed on the issue where I went and talked about. Serves me right.

The point, though, is this: Jesus engages people inside and outside the church. It’s almost as though He sees the church as one, without walls, denominations or tribes. I’m starting to see the church that way, too.

5. NO CHURCH MEANS NO COMMUNITY?

These comments also surprised me. It was as though people thought because I hadn’t been to church in years, I had no community, that I lived in isolation. This is untrue. My community is rich, deep, spiritually sound, gracious, sacrificial and at times (because I’m an introvert) exhausting.

What I hadn’t realized before I read those comments, though, was that I had worked to create my community.Community is everywhere, and every church you’ve attended was a community that somebody sat down and created. I happen to think a lot of them look exactly the same and have no problem making mine look different, but it’s still a community. Millions of people who do not attend church have rich, meaningful communities that they created or have joined. You could create your own community out of your home in a matter of months.

6. YOU ARE EITHER WITH US OR AGAINST US

This was perhaps the most surprising response. Because I said I’d not been to church regularly in years, people supposed I had something against the church. But I didn’t and I don’t. In fact, since I left, any issues I’ve had with the church have gone away. I have nothing but kind feelings for the church and consider myself, in a strange way, part of it. Or at least I believe Jesus sees me as part of the church, part of His Bride.

But again, there’s a subtext here, and I think it involves insecurities. It’s a common human issue: If they aren’t like us, they are threatening. But I promise, Christians who do not attend church are no different than you. They are kind, they struggle, they are gracious, they are judgmental and they are trying to connect with Jesus sometimes and sometimes not. But for the most part, they aren’t against the church.

Tribal thinking often causes a great deal of harm. We think people who don’t agree with us are likely lesser people because what is foreign often feels threatening. But that’s hardly true. People are people. Some of them do bad things both inside and outside the church. I’m convinced the distrust we feel at the foreign is a divisive and deceptive thought pattern meant to cause harm.

Imagine the relationships people lose out on, the incredible life memories, the healing and community they aren’t involved in because they can’t engage or have community with people who do not agree with them theologically. I’ve no interest. People are either kind or mean. I choose kind ones, I don’t care what they believe. This is part of why I feel like my community is so healthy.

7. DO YOU ATTEND A TRADITIONAL BIBLICAL CHURCH?

Your church likely looks nothing like the church in the book of Acts, which, was not much of a prescription on how to do church anyway. There are some marching orders in the book, but there aren’t many. Mostly those direct instructions are about choosing elders and deacons and dividing up each others money so that it’s shared. But that’s mostly it.

The modern traditional church sticks to the part about the elders, very loosely nods towards the financial stuff, but is basically a large school system. The modern evangelical church is an adaptation of an ancient institution led by scholars after the invention of the printing press. It is also an evolution of a government-run institution dating back centuries. And it continues to evolve today into something else.

Unless you are Shane Claiborne, your church probably doesn’t look anything like the church in the book of Acts, so let’s not get self righteous.

As a side note, many thinkers in America credit the growth of the American church with supply and demand principals. They say the reason the church in England is struggling is because it was so influenced by the government it didn’t adapt with culture, where in America churches had to compete with each other and so adapted, evolved, grew in style, shared best practices at conferences and adopted marketing and branding strategies they learned from business leaders.

The church in America, in other words, is a product of a school-like system mingled with best business practices and is quickly moving toward entertainment-like institutions. And to be honest, that amazing adaptation and evolution has worked fantastically. I think it’s great. These practices reach tons of people who want Jesus, community and wisdom from an ancient trustworthy text. That said, to say traditional church is Biblical is a stretch because of two false presuppositions.

Those two false presuppositions are:

1. The Bible has specific, robust and complete instructions on building and running a church community. It doesn’t. As I said earlier, the book of Acts has a few marching orders, but as a writer I assure you, that’s not the author’s intent in that book. It’s a history of the early church and an encouragement for us.

2. The church you are attending is a Biblical church. If you mean it’s a church that is centered around Jesus and takes the eucharist, perhaps. But, again, your church likely doesn’t look like the church in Acts. And I think that’s fine. God wanted the orthodox theology to stay the same, but the church can, should and has evolved in style, language, customs and so forth.

It’s a hard thing for some people to get their heads around, but God shares agency with us in creating the church and we get to use our creativity and heart and passion to incorporate these loose instructions. Actually, big business could learn a thing or two from churches. And so could education reformers. Because of the passion pastors have for the gospel, their willingness to share best practices and the economic competition they face with neighboring churches, they often adapt faster than business. When I was a kid, our church looked like a school mixed with an anglican-style high church.

Today, many churches look like night clubs complete with pastors being piped in on video. It’s quite brilliant and I’ve no problem with it, it’s just not my thing. I don’t like night clubs. And I don’t like lectures and I don’t emote to worship music. And I still love Jesus. It’s shocking, but it’s true. That said, let’s stop using the word “Biblical” as some sort of ace card when it comes to how church should be done.

8. JESUS DOESN’T HAVE POWER OUTSIDE THE CHURCH?

One twitter comment said by leaving the church I was committing spiritual suicide. I read that comment to a friend (a nationally known, strong Christian leader who does not attend church but doesn’t talk about it) and both of us were taken aback.

Do people really believe there’s no spiritual life, no walk with Jesus, no community and no love outside a Sunday morning worship service? For those who’ve never taken a break from church, this will be a hard one. But I assure you, He’s alive and well and happy and working both inside and outside the traditional church. He’s going places many of us are unwilling to go, or perhaps scared to go. He exists outside our worldly tribes, even if those worldly tribes are labeled as a local church.

I’ll tell you a story, and this one may seem crazy to some, but I promise it’s true. A few years ago I was interviewing a prominent world leader. Can’t tell you who, but every person reading this knows who he is. We were two hours into a conversation about leadership and he asked me to turn off my recorder. I did. Then he began describing a kind of knowing he had in his spirit. He knew he was supposed to help people, especially the poor, those who are true victims. I said I thought that was great. But then he asked me, he said Don, I don’t believe in God, I walked away from the Catholic church when I was a young man. But I can’t explain that feeling. It’s like God is talking to me. He’s wanting me to go reach these people. I’m confused a bit.

For me, that was an intense paradigm shift in my faith. I believe he was hearing from Jesus. I just don’t think he knew it or had a category for that kind of reality. And as I continued to interact with traditional evangelicals, I realized they would have no category for that man either. Potentially, he can help millions of people (and since then, has) but evangelicals wouldn’t be able to understand that Jesus was partnering with him unless he agreed with their foundational theological positions and perhaps even attended their kind of church (of which, in the Christian tradition, there are 360,000 different kinds).

So what do we do with a man who is interacting with Jesus and doesn’t know it? Here’s what I did with it: I decided I didn’t fully know what Jesus was doing, that much of His involvement with the world was a mystery, and He was going to reach out to the poor both through, and outside the church. Quite a paradox. And most evangelicals are uncomfortable with paradox.

9. THE CHURCH CAN’T ADAPT BEYOND A LECTURE/WORSHIP SYSTEM

I do think church can evolve beyond a lecture/worship/performance institution, but the current leadership is unlikely to make that happen. When and if the church evolves, it will evolve from outside the current leadership and that evolution will pose a threat to existing tribal values as well as financial systems that are sustained by the current model. In other words, the church will be reluctant to change because things that are foreign are perceived as bad and we’ve got to keep doing it this way for job security.

The reality is, though, there can be entire avenues of church (within existing institutions) that explore all the ways God has created the brain to work, in other words, all of His children, not just those who best respond to traditional services. There can be art tracks, work tracks, business mentoring programs, community gardens and so on. In other words, the person of Jesus can be brought into every facet of the life He Himself created.

If we are honest, and look at the whole situation objectively, the greatest resistance will come from an unseen but largely inarguable hurdle: job security.

The lecture/worship system is the most efficient program to get the most people through a church experience over a given weekend. It’s an unbelievably smart business model. A staff of 50 or so can reach thousands at once, give them a brief experience, send them off into community groups and so forth and sustain church activity while still collecting offerings. Few consider that church has evolved to look as it does for financial reasons, but this is likely the first thing a truly objective thinker would notice. Current church programs involving a short lecture and worship is an astoundingly efficient financial model, and so it will be reluctant to change.

Please don’t misunderstand me. What I did not say is that pastors are in it for the money. I’ve met very few pastors who didn’t have the skill set to make much more money in the business world. Most of them are in it for the ministry, I’m convinced. The point was to sustain a church budget, the current worship experience is the most efficient model.

Neither am I arguing the current model should change. Millions are fed weekly through these kinds of programs. What I’m arguing is that nobody should be faulted for creating something different. Those who would argue “we shouldn’t simply create the church in our own image” forget it already has been created in our own image. First the image of the royal government then the image of the university or school and then big business and now moving toward the entertainment industry. The church has always been recreated in the image of the dominant institution in society. For the early church, that was the family. For our culture, it’s business and education and entertainment.

In fact, I’d argue that by making the church smaller, less formal, less organized, less institutionalized and more like the chaos of a family structure, the church would be moving MORE toward the historical church in ACTS and less like a culture-formed institution by deconstructing itself. Though I hardly consider that a God-given decree. Again, I believe we can make it what we want (within God-given parameters) and share agency with God in positively impacting the world.

So that’s about it as for camera angels. For any offense I’ve caused, I ask forgiveness. You are more important to me than this discussion and I’ll likely not talk about it again for a long time.

The final issue for me is control. I can’t control you, you can’t control me, and none of us are going to control Jesus. He’s going to do what He wants, and what He wants is to love the world through us, both inside and outside the church.

PREVIOUS POST
forest
I Don’t Worship God by Singing. I Connect With Him Elsewhere.
NEXT POST
locust-feat
How The End of Poverty Comes With The End of Violence
Donald Miller

Donald Miller

Donald Miller has been telling his story for more than a decade, now he wants to help you tell yours. He’s helped over 1,000 companies clarify their message through the StoryBrand Workshops. For an introduction to what he’s doing now, check out the 5 Minute Marketing Makeover.

←  Older Comments
 →
  • Kimberly Hanson Otero

    So, my family has been exploring life and faith outside of church. At this time, we live in a place that we did not grow up and our main relationships have been family. These family members are very pro-regular church attendance . . . which is fine, however, they rarely invite us to events any more. This is difficult for us, but understandable when they are being told in church to cut relationship with anyone outside their paradigm. Because we have no friendships from school years in this city, do you have any suggestions for building a community starting from scratch when you are in your mid 30’s with small children? Also, my husband struggles with bi-polar/anti-social symptoms which also adds to the trickiness of making friends. I can make friends at work, but I’m thinking more whole family style, that accept my husband for who he is.

  • Believewithoutreligion

    Jesus is an excuse for men to act wrongly when eager to posses power over women. And women who don’t get it are gay and work for the government even when they have children. And their kids are subject to influence and become people of mass destruction powers and politics. A bunch of communities laugh until s*** hits the fan. I don’t want to be made comfortable with a man through jesus, butt f*** Muhammed or virgin cowboy Ali or any Jewish or Pope who is too serious about his own family and people you only meet them when life hits a ruin or turmoil. I want to be independent on myself and not have to act like I lack to give room for more Jesus makers forcing independence to appear jealous or lonely and perverted.

  • Scott Roderick

    As a pastor who can relate with your feelings & thoughts… I would say that you are still in the church. I would also say that the Spirit of God, like the wind, cannot be controlled (#8).

  • Pastor Jenine Marie Howry

    As one who believes she is called to be outside of the church building, this is a real blessing to read. It seems that not many understand this and that is alright. Im not in it for other peoples understanding. Im in it because I love God and Jesus, and because of that I love others as well. It works for me because evidently its the way God works through me. God bless you. You are very brave.

  • hiswaynotmine

    Hello Donald-

    Donald, respectfully, you spent a lot of time trying to disprove why you should not follow the bible and not go to church.

    Either there is a God or not.
    Either you believe the bible is the inspired word of God or not. If you do believe in the Bible then yes God says to follow His commands, that the road is narrow that leads to heaven, and for us not to add or subtract from His word. If you do not believe in the authority of God then you base it on your own thoughts, ideas and ways.

    You spent a lot of time talking about what YOU think and want to believe. God’s ways are higher than our ways. You try to take concepts or pieces out of the bible and apply them randomly, but the bible is to be read and applied correctly. Its not what you or I want- its what He wants and the only way to see the truth of God’s Word is to have an open mind/heart. If you don’t want to see the truth-you will not see it. God’s word is clear -yet most do not know it, nor do they understand it. Ask any church member what their church believes or what their doctrine is and 99% of them will not know. Sad-but there are so many false teachers-it discourages so many-like yourself and many others. In addition to false teachers- people are selfish and want to enjoy worldly pleasures. The world tells you to find something that makes you feel good and to think of yourself first. Does the church have good music, do I enjoy the sermon, do they have activities for my kids or donuts for me? These are all things that “we” want. Is it too difficult to sacrifice an hour or two out of the week for God-the creator of this world? Are we really that selfish? Yes, we are and if we go on with our selfish logic it will lead to a great life that will end with death.

    The road to heaven is narrow and few find it. Its not a wide path in which anyone who is a good person gets a pass. Sorry Donald-Satan entices all who will listen. Keep asking questions and perhaps you will find a teacher who can help you see the truth. You have to want it and if you are happy with the world perhaps you don’t feel the need to need a God.

  • CJ

    I agree w/most of your thoughts, and thank you for them. I love my local church because it IS my (christian) community, but not my whole community. One of your statements that people need to hear is that you do need ( christian) community -and you’ve chosen to create yours. Iron sharpens iron. It takes time and effort to do so and I’ve chosen an already assembled group of like-minded people. Even though most of my “church life” happens outside of four walls: service, mentoring, giving, daily prayer, praise and worship…I find my deepest times of refreshing come within the walls, preparing me to again move outside the walls and be “the church”.

  • Lumpy Hicks

    Donald, I can sympathize with your thoughts and feelings about how Christians do ‘church.’ I don’t particularly care for current worship trends, and frankly, I feel uncomfortable at church much of the time…but (you knew it was coming, didn’t you?) I still go. Why?

    Firstly, I have children who need biblical instruction from someone other than me and my wife, and they need the interaction with other children. Secondly, I am disenchanted with a lot of what ‘church’ looks like, but unless I belong, I will have no say and no influence in that sphere. Thirdly, I reluctantly must accept that churches have mechanisms in place for ‘doing’ God’s work in the world. By supporting a local church, I get to rub elbows with other Christians (some of whom I don’t particularly like), and more importantly, I get to support local and international ministries through tithes and offerings in a connected (hey I know that person) kind of way. Fourthly, I am held accountable theologically and socially. Iron sharpens iron, so it works in reverse too. Sometimes the pastor calls me out on something, and at other times, I can evaluate what he’s teaching and know it’s not quite right. And I’m forced to get along with people whom, again, I don’t particularly like. That’s good for me and good for them.

    From what you’ve stated above, you have, in fact, not quit going to church. You simply belong to an unusual one. You are interacting with church leaders who are, in fact, your church members. But most of us don’t have that privilege/luxury. I know a few Christians who have quit church, and I have watched as they become strangely self-righteous about what they think and believe now that they’re free to think and believe as they wish. They aren’t interacting with teachers and leaders. They’re falling prey to their own egos.

    It’s a little troubling to read that influential Christian leaders are unplugging from church. Shouldn’t they be wading in neck-deep to provide guidance? The phrase “Those who can’t ‘do’…teach” is the punchline to a joke, not a proper method of operation for Christian leaders.

    To those who are unplugging (as I have so often wanted to do) I say plug in where you can serve or plant a church of your own. As scripture says “Let us not give up the practice of meeting together as some are doing…”

  • Peter Ellis

    The man wrote the truth…period.

    We are challenged because we know it and have known much of this fir some time but we do not yet know how to address some of these truths because we follow what others teach without our own per suit of God through our own direct study of the word.

    I leafy traditionally church 3 years ago and for a while felt I was in such deep sin, was going to be lost, had done something very wrong yet through it God has been so close, given me community and ministry opportunities and experiences. I have also been de-friended and ostracized, so what he says about with us or against us mentality is very true – and I was a teacher at my church.

    The man is right.

  • Emily Edmunds Miller

    Thank you for putting into words what I have been feeling yet failed to verbalize. I was raised in a baptist church, we were there every time the doors were open. As an adult I’ve struggled with going to church, struggled with guilt, but my guilt is never that “God is disappointed with me” it’s always “I’m such a bad mom, I’m failing my children by not having them in the church 24/7” or “my dad would not approve of this”. The guilt I feel is not spiritual conviction, I’ve known that, but you’ve helped me to be able to put into words “why”. Thank you. God has definitely given you the gift of writing and communicating with others, thank you for using it and sharing it.

  • Anony

    Jesus isn’t crying Himself to sleep at night because somebody wants to worship Him by planting a garden more than singing a song…..

    As I doubled over on my bed in laughter, I recognized that in every sense this blog and article was exactly what I needed for spiritual food at this time in my walk. I have made the decision to worship outside of the traditional worship services and so many have such difficulty imagining a relationship that exists outside of the four walls. The fact that their relationship seems connected to and limited by those walls is a constant sense of frustration for me. Your voice, wit and critical thought is so desperately needed today. At this point many of us have left the University and it is painful when we reach out to those who are attending and they treat us as though we never attended and doubt that anyone could indeed graduate.

    MAY HE CONTINUE TO INFUSE YOU WITH WISDOM AND HUMOR TO REACH OTHERS IN TRUTH AND SANITY!!! I personally thank Him for you indeed!!

  • Brandon McNeal

    This blog was very liberating for me and havent even read all of it. Very thorough, well -thought out and well written. Posting this on my facebook page.

  • Stephanie Allen

    I am fascinated by the postmodern understanding that feelings and opinions and consumerism mentality drives our statements of faith. Yes, you can interact with God and worship God in all aspects. Nature provides us with the prolegomena we crave to “see” Him and work helps us connect with God as co-creators. But we can’t be the body of Christ alone or even in a community where we pick the body parts. The Church with a capital “C” is promoted and upheld by Christ as His body and His spouse. The lack of churches acting like Acts churches and the first-church concept of community in no way shape or form cheapens the importance of the Church. I guess what I was hoping for in this follow-up was that you had actually talked to God about your decision to take yourself out of the Church. Is that what He wants? Is that what God is leading you to do? A quote I love about two writers writing about your original blog:

    “In our own sacred spaces and circles of friends, we can’t recreate the body of Christ. Here’s why: the only way you and I can learn to love deeply is to be loved in healthy ways and to learn to love those who are different than we are—including those who get on our nerves. Love is often inconvenient. We don’t get to be the bouncers at the traditional church service doors, turning people away and picking only our friends to be our community. And because we’re not the bouncers, there will be people near us who challenge our love skill sets. I worry that Miller’s model is too exclusive—too self-selecting. While it’s important to have like-minded friends and colleagues, we must also interact closely with those unlike us, those who may irk us, if we are ever to learn to love the way Jesus would have us love. It is imperative that we contribute to everyone’s flourishing, including the irksome and the hurtful that behave as our enemies. It’s not easily done, and may take a long time, but it is what Jesus calls us to do. While giving and receiving love is often joyous, learning to love often requires that we experience frustration. (Here I am not advocating subjecting ourselves to spiritual, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse—in that case, please flee to a safe place.) Being in a traditional service can grow our ability to love, but just as importantly, it can teach us to receive love from those who aren’t like-minded. Hopefully, as we become more hospitable to and learn to receive hospitality from those who differ from us we’ll be surprised at how and in whom Jesus Christ shows up. God forbid we accidentally bounce Jesus out at the door.” Caryn Rivadeneira and Marlena Grave

  • Sara

    I’ve read 3 of your posts this morning following finishing Scary Close this week. I can honestly say — thank you, you’ve set me free. While my choices and direction will not completely align with yours (nor should it) I was reminded what love should be, that it’s ok to be an introvert and that how I worship is between me and God. I appreciate your candid views and the courage you have to speak about them openly, that is how we grow, that is how we impact people.

  • DL Renollet

    I attend a “church”. (what is a church anyway?). Simply wanted to say THANK YOU Donald for articulating so many things i have felt, and found very little to zero support for. Cheers…

  • John

    Yeah, I have moved beyond the church model myself. I liked the Pastor at my most recent church that I attended, but I got bored with the lecture and a half an hour of worship music singing. Me and my friends have had Bible studies off and on the last year. I like those much better.

  • Jack Li

    Thank you Don, I’m glad that god brings me to this post to see it. What you wrote is what I thought. It is glad to know that I’m not alone.

    I am also being critized that I’m an unfaithful christian by church attenders. They classify me as spiritual unhealthy. In fact, I’m a teacher, every day I teach kids and see that they are upset and confused that other teachers do not do a good job in teaching them. I just cure them one by one. I am very thankful that god give me a healing hands on teaching students to be good and I am happy to see them to grow. Such meaningful life and job, I share to church but they just consider me as lame person. Not to mention, they called me unhealthy. I doubt if they serve people as many as I do.

    Besides, what I hate about is that whenever church does something meaninful such as volunteer on helping others, they just posts everything, on facebook, twitter, instagram and whatsapp. To me, it seems that people like to get LIKES rather than truly helping people in the name of Christ. I apologize if I cause and offense. this is just how I feel.

    Thank you so much

  • Sally Penfold

    Good response to personal assumptions and attacks made on you. Everyone can have their view, but to be harsh about it, doesn’t help anyone.

    For me, when I had lapses of not going to church, I did feel guilt at times, but when I thought about it, I had never lost faith. I did backslide for sure, but still prayed and later began a bible study to reconnect with God. Through that time when I prayed I did hear Him speak to me. I was in a difficult relationship, out of His will, but He remained my friend and assured me we’d get through. We did!

    My years of bible study led me to personally believe we need to have some type of Christian fellowship, as Paul (?) exhorted. To encourage each other in our faith, and fan the flames and keep that faith alive. For me I didn’t have it for a few years. But picked it up again with a bible study.

    To my thinking what is good for us and our faith, can be as simple as a prayer partner, or friend you talk to regularly on the phone. For many who don’t go to church it’s a small group who meets weekly, or Christian social group, or often a topical bible study. For me I needed some place I could go BE with fellow believers. That whole ‘iron sharpens iron’ was NEEDED by me. Or I would have fallen further away.

    I found it in different groups over the years, and those smaller groups gave more chance to get to know people and share struggles than you get by attending a Sunday/ weekly service. It’s very hard to get close to anyone in just Sunday church services. By working or studying together you get more intimate with others.

    So back to your post – it was a shock to read what some people inferred or said directly to you about ‘being lost’ for not attending church. I think we all have different journeys and needs, and lessons to learn. We will not ALL learn them in the same place or same ways. It’s annoying when Christians try and limit us by what they think is the ONLY way, with no room for grace or trust in God’s ways being greater than ours. Even if we don’t understand them.

    Legalistic thinking and perfunctory performances don’t get you into heaven. Love and salvation by grace DO. Believing in Jesus is the starting point, and following Him and loving and knowing Him come next. Then we want to obey Him. If He says or nudges you in a church’s direction after a time away, you will do it. But not because someone said you HAVE to. The Holy Spirit is our guide, teacher and helper FIRST off, then we have people around us, who can help us stay on course. God bless!!

  • Rob Pritzlaff

    I read Don’s blog about 6 months ago and agreed with almost all of it. Then last month I read “Unchurching” by Richard Jacobson. I then came back to this blog and noticed how well it dove-tailed with Richard’s book. I wonder if Don has read this book and what are his thoughts on it.

  • MKulnir

    When I saw your photo on the laptop screen graphic for your “5-Minute Marketing Makeover” ad at the top of this page, I had to do a double-take. I first thought it was Mark Driscoll!

  • Diane

    No, I get it. Being a part of the Church takes time, it involves investing in people, and it isn’t always easy. Truthfully, staying on the “outside” is easier but I have found being in the Church has refined me (painfully at times) as a believer. It’s not perfect but without it many would not find Christ and grow in faith. It is worth the time, the investment, and the bumps and bruises that come along with it.

    • Av-a-dabba-doo

      Very good comment. Perhaps the best of the bunch, IMHO.

  • Diane

    Those of us that live in economically challenged communities don’t have the luxury of “stepping out of church.” The community kitchens and Care Net Centers are supported and staffed by church folks. I am afraid it is easier to intellectualize reasons for stepping out than doing the hard work of being the hands and feet of Jesus.

  • usc1801

    The vast majority of Evangelicals WORSHIP and IDOLIZE marriage and relationships. They place their marriage above Jesus and the fact so many think you must be married to be Christian is proof of this. Why would a single person go to a church where they’re ostracized, looked at as a second-rate Christian, automatically disqualified from any leadership roles, and deal with a bunch of arrogant, pompous people who think they are superior just because they are married?

    • Douglas Barrett Wilkinson

      If I understand you correctly, then I am sorry you have been hurt. As a young Believer, I felt that remaining single (like my Lord, and Paul), was the higher calling.
      Cf my Blogs
      May God richly Bless you.

  • Ivette Ellis

    I respect your thoughtful comments and share your perspectives. My husband and I visit the building on occasion. We desire to fellowship with other believers, and that may take place over a meal, on a hiking trail, or at conference. Regardless, our spirits witness with others who love Jesus, wherever that may be.

  • Dave Oslin

    Methinks thou doth protest too much. Lighten up a little. 🙂

  • Liana

    It would be useless to attend Church and serve God only on Sundays. The joy we feel for knowing God, its in our hearts and souls, not everyone can sing with their mouths, but we can sing inside too, because the Lord will hear it. Should we not sing with joy? What about the fact that not everyone likes the same music? What if people in remote areas cannot attend a church and have only their friends and family to worship with? Do all Christians not make the body of Christ as a whole? What if a person is in disagreement with the “man made church rules”? Shouldn’t there be One Church only? How many churchgoers study the bible? How many churchgoers live the commandments of God all the time? What do churchgoers hearts look like? How does communion fit in with the modern world of internet? I send my friend in a town that’s far from me texts and motivations from the bible almost daily, because she has not received that “daily bread” from her own local church. Sometimes I listen to a christian guided meditation and I pray with that person even though it is just a recording. My point is, Just because something has been done a certain way for ages, does not mean its wrong, but it also does not mean that new ways cannot be accepted. Is it not a sin for us to judge people’s opinions? We should look at ourselves and leave the judging to God, take a personal journey studying the bible and praying, change your mentality toward all that God has taught us.

  • Rodtfactor

    I know many people that don’t come to Church and we miss them dearly when they are not there.
    As a kid i did not want to go to Church and wanted to stay home a goof off but thank God my mom would not let me. Now i’m the worship leader at my Church and I’ve learn so much about Loving one another, caring for one another, praying for one another, helping one another, showing the world God by the love we have toward one another. I really don’t get this idea about not going to Church. I see in other countries (besides USA and Other Western places) where the Gospel is growing and how the people really do look like the Church and sometimes these people take their lives in their hands to meet together. We i guess if every one stayed home from Church we wouldn’t need to pay tithes and offerings to keep the doors open and to do the work of the Lord, so I guess not going to “church” has it’s upside?

  • Tim Derrickson

    Thank you for this. I just ran into this and wanted to comment. I am surprised about some of the things I am reading out side of this, when it is such a great piece. Church is a gathering, I think that is the Greek used, and doesn’t have to be in a brick and mortar setting. I think that whatever way people see Jesus can be very personal, and sometimes if something is different people (Christians) take offense as if it is something against them because we don’t feel the need to be in Church to talk about Jesus, teach others about Jesus and spirituality. You aren’t the only one and on my walk with my Brother Jesus, I have learned that you aren’t suppose to take the wide path that everyone else is taking, you are suppose to take your path. As long it goes along with Jesus’ teachings, who is to say who is right and who is wrong. We are suppose to love and edify one another. Sometimes that may be poking wholes in theory, loving, but not criticizing and tearing down. Any way, that is my humble opinion and as a brother in Christ I love that you have found your way with Him! Peace of Christ to you!

  • JDS3105

    I might have some disagreements with, Donald but this article is spot on. I haven’t regularly attended church in the last 8 years. I spent nearly 10 years serving in ministry. Got burned out, left and then kind of black-balled. When I would try out new churches and they would find out about my ministry background, a lot of times it was assumed I left for ‘bad’ reasons. Nope. Just got burned out and tired of dealing with the politics. I’ll go very sporadically with my wife but I’m happier checking out live streams, studying Scripture on my own and worshipping. Plus being a real introvert, I have a hard time being around people. I’m always very polite and cordial but I’m in no way a social person. I’m happier not going to church. The less time I spend there, the more I can help people. Most of the times it’s the small things- holding a door open, encouraging the cashier behind the counter or giving a homeless person a bottle of water. Those are open doors to share Christ with people. I’m sure some disagree with my choice and some might question my salvation. I’m far, far from perfect but I know Christ lives in me.

  • Indu Shanmugam Guzman

    The analogy of college/university program vs real world makes sense to me. I felt like that but couldn’t describe it. The college years give a sense of security and for some people a sense of identity. But once you’re out, you put more effort and its not handed to you.

    I was a nontraditional commuter student who had an off-campus apartment, roommates, work and social life outside the university world. Some live in the dorms and super-involved and seem to live in the university world 24-7. That’s how I see church life. I don’t need to show up to every church event or volunteer at everything.

    I used to attend a church where you were presurrized and judged for that and the expectation was that your entire identity was around the church’s culture and style. For example, if you were out at Starbucks with people who looked like outsiders, others in the church would notice. Did I mention that in this particular congregation friendships with outsiders were discouraged or looked at with suspicion? And faith was measured by superficial conformity like agreeing with pastors political views.

    My views on church are similar to yours. It kills me when people assume im lonely or have no community. I do and very involved in using my talents, abilities, gifts for a purpose. I found my community outside and inside the walls of church. There are tons of ways to find it.

  • Mark Faulkner

    Don, this blog says a lot. You make some really good observations.

    I try to keep this topic as simple as possible. The “church” is who we Christians are…not a place we go. And it is 100% made up of imperfect, deeply flawed human beings, just like me.

    I think we need to focus on knowing Jesus and making Him known; to a lost and dying world. Preach the gospel and make disciples as He commanded us to. Love God and love people.

    And then leave the results up to Him. We are not responsible for people’s response. We are responsible to be faithful.

    Have grace for people and show mercy, since we all desperately need grace and mercy shown to us.

    God bless.

  • Romo Cop

    Evil Men in the Last Days

    1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

    2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

    3Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

    4Traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

    5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

    6For of this sort are they who creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with various lusts,

    7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

    8Now
    as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the
    truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

    9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

    Paul’s Example and the Purpose of Scripture

    10But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,

    11Persecutions,
    afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what
    persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

    12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

    13But evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

    14But continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them;

    15And
    that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to
    make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

    16All
    scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
    doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

    17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

    “MEN” have grown tired of the word of GOD because they don’t practice
    it. GOD has been reduced to a vending machine that people call upon when “they need something” and worse than that, they believe themselves to be pious, self-righteous! Which GOD despises! Or

  • clara Robin

    sadness and sorrow without being with the one i love, i tried all my possible best to make sure i make my lover happy but it never seems to work out well it was like am doing everything in vain but all thanks goes to Dr Osebor for coming to change all my worries and sadness to Joy. i knew the great man when i read some wonderful testimony about Dr Osebor how he has helped lots of people on their relationship problems i was reading a magazine when i saw great testimonies, as well my predicament then i decided not to waste time because i have missed my lover so much i decided to contact him and share all my problem with him which he told me not to worry that he is assuring me that within 48 hours everything would be sorted out i believed Dr Osebor so much because of how he has been helping many people, my boyfriend who left me for good suddenly replied my text and returned my calls and asked me to please forgive him i was so happy am so grateful to Dr Osebor for what he has done for me and i promise to testify his goodness all through my life. If you are there passing the same problem or any kinds of problem contact this great man on his email address:( oseborwinbacktemple@gmail.com )or you can also what sapp him on( +2349066110887 )

    1. Getting your lover or husband back
    2. Money spell/ good luck spell
    3. Prosperity spell
    4. Protection spells/supernatural power
    5. Get a job spell
    6. Promotion spells
    7. Getting your money back
    8. Freedom spells
    9. Love spell
    10. Avenging spell
    once again his email is:
    ( oseborwinbacktemple@gmail.com )you can also call or what sapp him on:( +2349066110887 )

  • La Résistance

    I don’t attend church anymore – it is a very lonely and somewhat isolating place

←  Older Comments
 →

Register for the Workshop

 

 

 
WAKE UP TO
INSPIRATION

Get Storyline blog posts
delivered to your inbox.
  • Scary Close
  • StoryBrand
  • Contact

 

 

*STORYLINE is a registered trademark of Storyline Design, Inc. This blog is not affiliated nor associated with Storyline Design, Inc.


Copyright © 2016 Donald Miller Words, LLC. All rights reserved.