Can't I be a Christian without a church?
First of all you must ask, what is a church? It is not a location built of brick, wood or stone. It is a group of human beings with needs and problems like any other group. Some have the idea that a church is a place where perfect people go to model their Christianity. There are no perfect people in the world. Look in the mirror, if you find perfection there you have a right to expect it elsewhere. The church is like a hospital where sick people go to find help, understanding and love.
Here I give you an answer with a little flavor...
Yes it's possible to be a Christian without a church...
but something like being:
A Student who will not go to school;
A Soldier who will not be in the army;
A Citizen who does not pay taxes or vote;
A Salesman with no customers;
An Explorer with no base camp;
A Seaman on a ship without a crew;
A Businessman on a deserted island;
An Author without readers;
A Tuba Player without an orchestra;
A Parent without a family;
A Football Player without a team;
A Politician who is a hermit;
A Scientist who does not share his findings;
A Bee without a hive.
By virtue of our personal faith in Christ, we are automatically part of a larger family, which is made up of believers in Jesus from all over the world. Christianity was never meant to be a "Lone Ranger" religion.
"...in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." - Romans 12:5
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:25
"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts." - Acts 2:46
It is Christ's desire that each of his individual followers belong to a local gathering ("church") of people who know and love Jesus. It is about commitment to Christ and His Body.
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