Why Church?

[McGluke]

My future son-in-law professes to be a Christian. He studies the bible and actively works to “bring people to Jesus.” However, he rejects the need for a church to get between him and Jesus.

Can anyone help me in explaining that Christianity is more than just “Jesus and me”, that there is a necessary community aspect to following Jesus?

 

[Tomster]

My future son-in-law professes to be a Christian. He studies the bible and actively works to “bring people to Jesus.” However, he rejects the need for a church to get between him and Jesus.

Can anyone help me in explaining that Christianity is more than just “Jesus and me”, that there is a necessary community aspect to following Jesus?

In a general sense the Church is the assembly or community of believers in the true God. The first such community was formed when God segregated Israel from all other peoples and gave this people the true religion, based on the belief in a Redeemer to come.

It is a fundamental dogma of Christianity that Christ founded a Church for the sanctification of men. Vatican Council 1 says: “That He might have perpetually available the salutary work of redemption, the eternal Shepherd and Bishop of our souls determined to build the holy Church wherein, as in the house of the living God, all the faithful might dwell united by the bond of one faith and charity.” Upon the foundations of Israel, therefore, Jesus erected a new religious society to be the perfect flowering of Israel, as the true religion and as God’s final arrangement with wayfaring man.

That Christ did not found a visible external society, either because He thought the end of the world was at hand, or because He wanted only an internal union of men with God, is asserted by rationalists and rejected by the whole Christian tradition. He gathered followers, gave them a social purpose, and set up an enduring organization endowed with all necessary means of functioning.

This new Israel is juridic, societal, and mystical, the Body of Christ.

 

[ryanoneil]

A couple of thoughts and scripture references:

Church does not get between us and Jesus, it unites us to him and each other.

**He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. (Col 1:17-18)

And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way. (Eph 1:22-23)

And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. (4:11-14)**

This is a visable unity that is being talked about, not just individuals.

**You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. (Mt 5:14)

But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. (Mt 12:25; Mk 3:25; Lk 1:17)

I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. (Jn 17:20-21)**

The unity of the Church is a sign that He was sent by God and it bears witness to Him and the reality of who He is and what He came to do for us.

Maybe you could try using some shock tactics and ask why he feels the need to be seperated, unless you don’t think a confrontational approach is appropriate.

**May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 15:5-6)

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles, in opposition to the teaching that you learned; avoid them. For such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent. (Rom 16:16-18)

For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. (2 Tim 4:3-4)

If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. (Mt 18:16-17)**

I hope that is helpful.

 

[elvisman]

My future son-in-law professes to be a Christian. He studies the bible and actively works to “bring people to Jesus.” However, he rejects the need for a church to get between him and Jesus.

Can anyone help me in explaining that Christianity is more than just “Jesus and me”, that there is a necessary community aspect to following Jesus?

Wow – where to begin?
“Lone Ranger Christianity” is not endorsed by the scriptures.

Matt. 16:17-19** says:**
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

1 Cor. 20-27** emphatically states:**
**But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. **
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.” Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary, and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety, whereas our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. **
**If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. **
**Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. **

**Matt. 18:15-18 **says in no uncertain terms:
"If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the CHURCH. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

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Hope this helps.