Question 70 – Can one be a Christian without being a member of a church?
In the latest census (2021), an intriguing fact emerged: almost 1,000,000 of our fellow citizens (CZECH REPUBLIC) consider themselves believers, yet they reject affiliation with any specific church. Personally, I am almost convinced that these are not believers in the truest biblical Christian sense—there are, in my opinion, indeed very few such individuals in this group. Nevertheless, this outcome reflects a certain aversion within the Czech nation towards any "binding" of personal faith into ecclesiastical templates. From previous responses, it may be apparent that I am not a proponent of complex church structures and organizations, which perhaps most people associate with the word "church." Despite this, I do not subscribe to the motto "God yes, church no." So, why the church?
1) God's Will
An absolutely fundamental argument for anyone wishing to truly follow God's will is the fact that God has decided so, and it is His will for every Christian. God did not create us as solitary beings but created us for community. This principle also applies in the spiritual realm of experiencing shared faith. Let us remind ourselves of what we mentioned in previous questions—God likens the church to a human body, composed of individual believers.
"But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." (1 Corinthians 12:18–21)
There are many biblical passages clearly illustrating the need for God's people to dwell together. Not least among these is the following commandment:
"Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:25)
2) Distorting God
People very often distort their idea of God according to how they think He should be. But is God a product of our imaginations and desires, or is He simply as He is? Because if He is as He is, then by holding the stance "my idea of Him suffices," we distort and indirectly insult Him. I believe that God is simply God. He is not the God of our imaginations, but a God who is often far removed from our conceptions. The prophet Isaiah writes:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8–9)
If you want to believe in God, where do you find the certainty that you know who He truly is? Individual Christianity is more prone to subjectivizing God. If I don't have to confront my ideas with the opinions of others, it is likely that I will arrive at very unique views and perceptions, which may often have nothing to do with the true "portrait of God."
3) Better Two Than One...
It is much better for a child to have its own family. If you place it in an orphanage or leave it on a deserted island, it may not die, but it will be a far more complex and worse option than if it lived in a loving family. So yes, a reborn Christian can survive without a church for a time. My fear (and reality confirms this) is that such Christians will eventually grow cold and often fall away from God. The Bible states:
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. " (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12)
We need others! And occasionally, others need us...
4) In Unity, There is Strength
Do you know what happens to a hot coal when you take it out of the fire? It burns for a while. Gradually, however, its flame weakens, eventually smoldering and finally going out completely. But when you gather several coals together, a fire is kindled that is not easily extinguished. The same goes for Christians. When they are together, their spiritual strength is much greater. For the Lord Jesus said:
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:20)
In short, God has established many roles and ministries within His church, through which individual Christians serve one another. Mutual fellowship is important for us to be taught in God's word, to encourage one another, to help each other, and to offer correction. If you are a born-again Christian and lack a community to attend, pray to God for assistance in this matter. I also wish to encourage you—if there is no vibrant community near you, strive to be in connection with other Christians at least online. If you have the opportunity to meet with someone in person occasionally, seize it. Lastly, many Christian events and conferences are continually held in our country, where you can establish new relationships and potentially gain contacts with other Christians in your area.
Summation
The entire message of the Bible unequivocally shows that Christianity is not an individual but a collective matter. Seeking any reasons to ignore the church community is an open rebellion against God's will.