The church of "just me and my bible"

[JustaServant]

It’s probably common among people who don’t like church. The reasons for this are myriad.

There probably are other reasons.

I’ve given that side myself as to why people refuse to go to church and just stay at home Sunday with ‘me and my Bible’. But it helps sometimes to hear what they have to say, which is often times not so easy to answer. Here are some I have heard over the years:

“I used to go to _______ church, but they have built a huge building from financial fraud”

“I knew a former insurance agent who stole thousands of dollars from his company, never paid it back, and now is a preacher”

“I couldn’t stand the fighting and arguing any more”

“They had a good preacher, but he wasn’t ‘dynamic’ enough so they fired him”

“I was physically/sexually/mentally abused in the church and that church protected the preacher and he is still preaching”

“The church spends millions of dollars on neon signs, sound equiptment, while there are people in this town who need help and get none”

And the all-time No. 1 reason:
“I couldn’t stand the hypocrisy anymore”.
Kids who watched dad beat the tar out of mom, while clinging to his Bible on Sunday morning. Kids who watched mom cheat on dad after singing a beautiful solo on Sunday. Kids who watched the preacher abuse them and others, while claiming immunity because he’s the ‘mannagod’.
And many, many more…

I’m not saying ANY of these are good reason, just that many times THESE are the reasons you will hear. Rarely will you hear ‘I know more than the preacher’.
Answering these are far more difficult than a lazy person who just doesn;t want to get dressed on Sunday morning.

 

[GaryTaylor]

I don’t know, the conflict of mind I find unacceptable. I’m of the impression its evil. Who else doesn’t want you in the Church? Where do you suppose the “don’t attend” idea originally is from? I can’t imagine this concept being from God.

 

[Stilldreamn]

And the all-time No. 1 reason:

“I couldn’t stand the hypocrisy anymore”…

Answering these are far more difficult than a lazy person who just doesn’t want to get dressed on Sunday morning.

Hypocrisy is the deterrent my husband cites when he declines to attend church with me and the kids - even though we left that denomination and congregation years ago. I returned to the Lutheran church (which he considers too Catholic) without him because I couldn’t accept the reformed doctrine, missed the Real Presence and had no incentive to compromise.

I have gently pointed out that there are those same hypocrits in every other aspect of life and yet we continue to do business with them, live next to them, etc. And most importantly, we go to church to offer praise and receive Christ through His Word and Sacrements, not to judge our neighbors hearts and motives.

That’s when excuse number two comes in: “well, maybe that’s just my excuse for not wanting to get dressed and go.”

At least he’s honest with that!

 

[JustaServant]

Hypocrisy is the deterrent my husband cites when he declines to attend church with me and the kids - even though we left that denomination and congregation years ago. I returned to the Lutheran church (which he considers too Catholic) without him because I couldn’t accept the reformed doctrine, missed the Real Presence and had no incentive to compromise.

I have gently pointed out that there are those same hypocrits in every other aspect of life and yet we continue to do business with them, live next to them, etc. And most importantly, we go to church to offer praise and receive Christ through His Word and Sacrements, not to judge our neighbors hearts and motives.

That’s when excuse number two comes in: “well, maybe that’s just my excuse for not wanting to get dressed and go.”

At least he’s honest with that!

I understand and perhaps your husband will mellow to the point where he will return to church.
But what I think what is being lost is oftentimes is a dismissal (not you, but others) of a view that many of the people we are speaking of cannot articulate themselves.
When people speak of hypocrisy, its not so much other people (which infuriates them), it’s a determination that THEY will simply who they are. No phoniness, no trying to be something they are not, being real, accepting me for who I am.
One of the reasons I returned to the Catholic Church was because I felt I could ‘be myself’ again. As a Baptist I felt like I was always ‘putting on a show’. As a Catholic, I can kneel before the Blessed Sacrament, naked before God. Just as I am (oddly enough, a favorite song for fundamentalists).
And this is something that reaches across denominational lines. I knew a Catholic who described himself as a “devout Catholic”, but whose life belied that claim. Then I heard a priest say once the phrase “devout Catholic” should be how OTHER people describe you, not yourself.
It’s a journey. After I left fundyism I could easily have stayed home with “me and my Bible”. Because God showed me the flaws of the people I THOUGHT were wonderful Christians.
But you see, I had to take that next step, and see the flaws in MYSELF. And when you see that, you realize the biggest hypocrisy is to stay at home thinking I am better than those “hypocrites”.
Many of the people who are “me and my Bible” just are stuck in neutral, and need to take that next step. But be gentle. Listen to them. Show sympathy. Otherwise they will remain in neutral.

 

[CopticChristian]

I don’t know what these people are. To claim to be a Christian but refuse to join with other believers on principle is bizarre.

The Bible says we are one body. One part of the body can’t say I have no need of you. They don’t make any sense.

Itwin,

Just askin…

 

[Adamski]

I don’t know what these people are. To claim to be a Christian but refuse to join with other believers on principle is bizarre.

The Bible says we are one body. One part of the body can’t say I have no need of you. They don’t make any sense.

They claim to be a mystical body, I Quoted eph 4:5 one lord one faith on baptism and she said “eph 1-3 talks about the invisible body”. I went home and read it intensely and couldn’t see anything invisible but many things about one visible church.
The next day she said she read it also and couldn’t find it. She looked very puzzled
I am going to see her again today and give her a holy card with 1 Tim. 3:15 written on it

 

[doormouse73]

It’s probably common among people who don’t like church. The reasons for this are myriad.

Some people don’t like church because they don’t like feeling conviction. If they are not living right and wont repent, then going to a place where people worship Jesus and proclaim His word is going to make them uncomfortable because they know they aren’t living the way they should and rather than get right with the Lord they want to avoid his Spirit and presence.

Others don’t like going to church because they have a rebellious spirit and think they know better than the preacher and the board and everyone else. They can’t get a long with anyone, so they’d rather not even bother. They can’t submit to authority.

There probably are other reasons.

Well, it’s kind of hard to “fit” somewhere when its just “me and my bible.”

I highly doubt that people who claim this really read their Bibles that much. If they did, they’d have read Hebrews 10:25, “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.”

People will find any excuse to do anything, no matter how stupid it is. I know people who don’t go to church and claim that they have church in their living room watching TV preaching. OK whatever. All you can do is just pray for them, and direct them to Hebrews 10:25.

It’s probably common among people who don’t like church. The reasons for this are myriad.

Some people don’t like church because they don’t like feeling conviction. If they are not living right and wont repent, then going to a place where people worship Jesus and proclaim His word is going to make them uncomfortable because they know they aren’t living the way they should and rather than get right with the Lord they want to avoid his Spirit and presence.

Others don’t like going to church because they have a rebellious spirit and think they know better than the preacher and the board and everyone else. They can’t get a long with anyone, so they’d rather not even bother. They can’t submit to authority.

those to me would explain nearly 100% i think of the bible only Church…

nice post btw…

 

[FireFromHeaven]

Recently I have meant 2 different Protestants that don’t go to any church because all they need is the bible and they can interprate it completely on thier own. Is this common?

After talking to both of them on different occasions I found thier theology other than recognizing the trinity didn’t fit anywhere

One went on to say Paul preaches a different salvation than the gospels and there 2 two types of salvation

In a way this is bad and good. It is bad because these will be hard to shift to the truth. However it will be good because there ideas will be much harder to spread as it is.

 

[cheezey]

In a way this is bad and good. It is bad because these will be hard to shift to the truth. However it will be good because there ideas will be much harder to spread as it is.

Could you explain that last line? It might be me; tired and packing…

 

[Publisher]

Recently I have meant 2 different Protestants that don’t go to any church because all they need is the bible and they can interprate it completely on thier own. Is this common?

After talking to both of them on different occasions I found thier theology other than recognizing the trinity didn’t fit anywhere

One went on to say Paul preaches a different salvation than the gospels and there 2 two types of salvation

I’m sure if Catholics thought hard enough…they’d find a “Catholic equal” to what is described above…those claiming to be Catholic but never darkening the door of a meeting house.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

I’m sure if Catholics thought hard enough…they’d find a “Catholic equal” to what is described above…those claiming to be Catholic but never darkening the door of a meeting house.

It has been found already! It’s called a cafeteria Catholic

 

[Publisher]

It has been found already! It’s called a cafeteria Catholic

Well there ya go…“just me and the Bible” Protestants and “cafeteria Catholics” make up sadly probably the largest groups of both traditions…at least from what I have observed of those who attend First Day meetings for worship compared to those whos names are on the rolls of the various groups…

It’s easy to find fault with traditions not our own.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Well there ya go…“just me and the Bible” Protestants and “cafeteria Catholics” make up sadly probably the largest groups of both traditions…at least from what I have observed of those who attend First Day meetings for worship compared to those whos names are on the rolls of the various groups…

It’s easy to find fault with traditions not our own.

Actually the Cafeteria type are my own

I just happen to get a glimpse when I was moving the plank on my eye

 

[JonNC]

Well there ya go**…“just me and the Bible” Protestants **and “cafeteria Catholics” make up sadly probably the largest groups of both traditions…at least from what I have observed of those who attend First Day meetings for worship compared to those whos names are on the rolls of the various groups…

It’s easy to find fault with traditions not our own.

Ok, maybe I’m unclear about the “just me and the Bible” types. It seems to me they are a small fraction, when compared to the membership in the various communions of western non-Catholics.

Jon

 

[ephesians4]

Ok, maybe I’m unclear about the “just me and the Bible” types. It seems to me they are a small fraction, when compared to the membership in the various communions of western non-Catholics.

Jon

It seems to me that there are lots of people whose Christianity is centred away from their church, whatever their denomination (if they have any at all) from those I have spoken to, and I have certainly met some who have no real association with any church and converted on their own “in private”, who you only discover at baptism time - so I wonder if there are lots of those about these days.

 

[Kal2012]

I love the title of this post because it describes me so well. Or, at least, my past.

It is very common, especially among younger people.

I’ve lived in the same area for 10 years, but I’ve also moved to different suburbs in that time and each time we’ve moved, I’ve had to find a new church. The process gets old and drains on you.

It’s just a different process than in the Catholic Community.

W/Catholicism, you already have the “label” and all you are doing is looking for a Catholic Church to worship in. All you are doing is looking for more practical things. Is the parish conservative or liberal? Do they worship using “guitars” and “screens”? Who are the type of people who attend the parish? What activities does the parish provide? The bigger questions are already answered.

Again, this is just my perspective. I didn’t get much guidance from my family regarding finding a church, so I’ve had to figure a lot of this out on my own. A lot of times, it’s so much easier when it is “you and your Bible” because how do you separate out what makes a good church or a bad one w/o having to test out different churches? And, you can go to a different church for all the 52 weeks in a year and still not like any of them. So, sometimes, it’s just a lot easier to just not deal with it.

I’m glad my days of ‘church-shopping’ are coming to an end! I never want to church-shop as a protestant again. It’s just really over-whelming.

 

[Nicea325]

I love the title of this post because it describes me so well. Or, at least, my past.

It is very common, especially among younger people.

I’ve lived in the same area for 10 years, but I’ve also moved to different suburbs in that time and each time we’ve moved, I’ve had to find a new church. The process gets old and drains on you.

It’s just a different process than in the Catholic Community.

W/Catholicism, you already have the “label” and all you are doing is looking for a Catholic Church to worship in. All you are doing is looking for more practical things. Is the parish conservative or liberal? Do they worship using “guitars” and “screens”? Who are the type of people who attend the parish? What activities does the parish provide? The bigger questions are already answered.

Again, this is just my perspective. I didn’t get much guidance from my family regarding finding a church, so I’ve had to figure a lot of this out on my own. A lot of times, it’s so much easier when it is “you and your Bible” because how do you separate out what makes a good church or a bad one w/o having to test out different churches? And, you can go to a different church for all the 52 weeks in a year and still not like any of them. So, sometimes, it’s just a lot easier to just not deal with it.

I’m glad my days of ‘church-shopping’ are coming to an end! I never want to church-shop as a protestant again. It’s just really over-whelming.

Interesting story. I personally believe some people shop around to fufill their own agendas. Not I am not saying you did,but I know people who are more concerned with “me” and what “I” want.

 

[cheezey]

I, too, have “Church Shopped” (Didn’t think of it this way, but it’s accurate.)
For reasons of many moves as well as nothing feeling right, which, in my case, was not about my agenda per se, Someone seemed to be saying, “Keep looking, eventually you will find the path to which I am leading you. You’ll get it in due time.”
He understands that I am a bit daffy. Hey, at least I make Him laugh.So now He leads me and well, it’s a bit challenging. Meanwhile, it is just me and my Bible, and looking from the outside, but that is not my preferance, so in that regard, yup, I have an agenda…

 

[mackbrislawn]

I belong to the “just me and my Bible because I cannot get into RCIA for a very long time and am baffled by that and feeling like I am on the outside looking in, not wanting my Church to be the just me and my Bible” Church.
But I attend the RCC

RCIA is offered corresponding roughly to the school year, September through May (in our parish). So is it not until next fall you will get in? In any event, if you want to go, God considers you Catholic now, and that is what counts.

 

[mackbrislawn]

Recently I have meant 2 different Protestants that don’t go to any church because all they need is the bible and they can interprate it completely on thier own. Is this common?

After talking to both of them on different occasions I found thier theology other than recognizing the trinity didn’t fit anywhere

One went on to say Paul preaches a different salvation than the gospels and there 2 two types of salvation

Think of it this way. Suppose back in Old Testament times a few Gentiles got hold of some scrolls of the Torah and of the Hebrew scriptures and decided they were going to read them and figure out on their own what they meant, and then set themselves up as the true Israel, and the other, old Israel would be considered false.

What would you think of that? Of course that is the way Catholics think of most Protestants. And that especially applies to those “me and my bible” types.

I sympathize with the me and my bible notion. It results in a sort of freedom. You can make your own theology free of churches. However, they don’t acknowledge that only through church is there any bible at all. Nor do they acknowledge that the scriptures arose within a context, and that outside of that context how can the scriptures have any proper meaning?