Church?

I'm really tired of hearing the word "Christian" being synonymous with "church". I don't really know where people get these assumptions, but I get the feeling a lot of people think they know what being a Christian is all about. It's funny because I've been Christian for a while and I'm still growing and trying to figure things out as I go. So how do people who reject God know what being a Christian looks like?

There is no verse in the Bible that says in order to be Christian you have to go to a building, attend a congregation, and listen to a pastor speak. If there is such a verse, I would love for somebody to show it to me. The Bible says do not forsake meeting with each other, that's it. So what if me and two Christian buddies are meeting up talking about our faith? There is no requirement of going to what we know as the institution of church.

There are plenty of non-Christians who attend church and there are plenty of Christians who don't attend church. There are people who go to church who do the exact same things as people who reject God. There are people I see as models who don't attend church.

Instead of asking Christians if they go to church and using that as a form of judgment, why not ask the tougher questions instead? The questions that actually have implications and substance. How are you doing in your struggles against sin? Are you obeying God despite things not going your way? How have you grown since a month ago? A year ago? Do you speak and listen to God every day? Do you depend on Him?

This post is not a rant for or against church. My mentor (who coincidentally did not attend church at the time) once told me, "I'm very thankful for the church. For most people, it's the only day of the week they speak and listen to what God has to say." Amen to that.