If we read scripture systematically, which we shouldn’t since it destroys context, we could hold up this one scripture as the command to attend church. But it doesn’t say that. It says not to forsake gathering together. We haven’t. We are in connection with Christians,quite a bit, but not on a traditional basis in a traditional church.

I guess the nature of the gathering could be debated, but I’m trying to figure out where we belong. Maybe this is too personal to hash out online. For us we fee like it’s a lot harder to not attend church out of obedience. It’s easy to attend church, not always encouraging or beneficial, but it’s easy to drive over for a few hours. But to sense something is not right, that God is calling you to something else that is beyond what you know, that’s hard.

I don’t think we are commanded explicity to attend church. I think it’s taken for granted in scripture. But have we limited the form too much? Has church become something other than it should be? I don’t know.

Once again, why do we attend church? Because we are commanded to? Probably not. Worship? Teaching? Encouragement? Missionary activity?

Beats me. Thanks everyone for participating in this discussion. It’s very challenging for me as we’re wrestling with these issues.
Blessings!

So I agree about getting out there to share the Gospel. I hope I didn’t sound too "whiney". I was trying to articulate my own struggles with our church situation. I don’t feel God leading us to start anything and every church we visit doesn’t seem right. I’m trying to be obedient. Even if that means I’m whining.

It’s not easy being on the outside of the church. I think we need to have more honest conversations about people not fitting into churches. You can’t keep shoving people into church and telling them to be content when God keeps telling them something is wrong. I’m trying not to whine about this. I’m trying to tell it like it is. I want to more towards solutions, but I don’t have any.

My struggle in this post is:
A. What should I be looking for in a group of Christians or a church?
B. What’s in my own heart regarding church? Do I have the right picture of church or are my motivations wrong?
C. Am I even asking the right questions?

Maybe I shouldn’t be airing my dirty laundy here. It’s a messy topic and it’s probably something that I just need to work out with God. I would love to plant a church, but God needs to give Julie and I the vision for that. Perhaps I need to start by asking, "Do I need to redefine Christian community, or have I just not found the right one yet?"

See here’s the thing…we are all going because we are all living life and life is headed to an end whether we like it or not. While we do that, while we are going, the imperative of Jesus is that we make disciples.

Granted, it’d be a heck of a lot easier if Jesus said, "Go to church therefore and make disciples." He didn’t. You don’t have to "go before you make" - you’re already going.

So I say, Ed, keep going. Keep living out your faith in your daily life and in the process, point people to Jesus - that’s discipleship.

On the merits of joining a community of people who strive to embody the life and ministry of Jesus, there is much to be said (another time and another place, perhaps). But as you and I both know…most American churches aren’t about embodying Jesus…that’d be too much like taking our own discipleship seriously.

Maybe you should found or work in a church. Sometimes leaders are the most discontent when they are not leading.