Rethinking Church
A personal reflection on how modern churches often stray from biblical teachings and the importance of fostering genuine community and unity in faith.
Let’s explore an important question. For over thirty years, my family has found support and connections at church, especially at Calvary Community Church, where we attended for many years until we moved to Austin in 2006. At first, I thought the way we did church was normal everywhere. But as I grew in my faith, I started to see things differently.
Two main things changed my view: my work in marketing and my deeper belief in the Bible. These experiences made me rethink what the church really should be, according to the Bible.
I wanted to understand what the Bible says about the church. To my surprise, I discovered a lively picture of believers connecting closely—sharing their lives and faith with each other. But today, many churches are led by one pastor or leader instead of including everyone’s voices. This is very different from what Hebrews 10:24-25 teaches us about coming together for support.
As I studied the Bible more, I began to ask if our modern understanding of the church is correct. I wondered: Does my pastor really understand the Bible? Do they know what the Bible says about church? These are important questions for all of us since we’re responsible for our own faith.
When I looked at different church groups, I realized the Bible doesn’t support the divisions we see today. In fact, it warns against such divisions (see Romans 12:4-21; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13). Identifying as a Baptist or Presbyterian seems to go against the Bible’s call for unity. If our leaders support these divisions, we should question their understanding of the Bible.
Also, the way our churches are set up often follows old traditions that haven’t changed much over time. Many churches still gather in ways that focus on one person’s message instead of encouraging rich conversations and connections like the early Christians did when they met in homes.
The early church described in Acts 4:32 showed strong commitment and love for one another. This makes me wonder: How far have we moved away from that model?
The Bible clearly shows what church is and what it isn’t. Looking at the difference between biblical teachings and what we do today can be hard, but understanding the Bible can help us think about how these old models can guide us now.
As I think through these ideas, I encourage you to consider some important questions: How is the money given to your church used? What roles do members have? Are they able to share their gifts and ideas? How involved is your pastor with everyone? Are people in your church just listening to one person’s view of the Bible?
These questions are important because many traditional church models do not create real community and accountability. While many pastors want to lead well, it’s essential that we hold them to the Scriptures they teach.
Another concern I have is that many modern churches have moved away from the Jewish roots of the Bible, neglecting important parts of the Old Testament. The Old Testament is important for understanding the New Testament and the story of Christ. However, in trying to be more relevant today, some churches have lost touch with these foundational elements, which can lead to misunderstandings.
This disconnection weakens our understanding of the Bible and disrupts the complete view of God’s plan that connects the Old and New Testaments. As Christians, we need to reconnect with these roots to ensure our faith is based on the full truth of the Bible. This understanding is important as we try to align our churches with real teachings.
I believe the current church model doesn’t rest firmly on biblical principles. I plan to look more into this topic in future posts, examining the differences between today’s practices and biblical teachings. I hope to inspire discussions about what the church can and should be.
As I search for a better understanding of what a true biblical church looks like today, I often wonder if such places even exist now. Are we ready to challenge the usual ways and seek a church experience that truly reflects the Bible’s teachings?
I invite you to share your thoughts on this. Your opinions matter—please comment below!
Let’s engage with our faith more intentionally, focusing on community, accountability, and the true essence of the church as shown in Scripture. Together, we can work towards a future that honors God more authentically.
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