Are you a dechurched Christian? I am. Survey’s show that there are millions of us American adults who once were active in a church, but attend no more. We are called the “dechurched.”
Yet there is a church for us. Though I don’t attend church on Sundays, every day can be a church day. Every day can be a day with God.
Jesus founded the church and then passed it onto the apostles. The apostle Paul defined the new church as follows: referring to Jesus, Paul declared, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:22-23, emphasis added)
The church is the collection of believers in which the Holy Spirit of Jesus lives… the body of Jesus Christ. As Paul also said, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? … for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
Church is not a building or manmade organization. Intimate and quiet time with the Spirit of God within you is what real church is about. As long as we look to the Spirit within us, we are not “dechurched.” We ARE the church.
His Truth Will Set You Free 
October 3, 2015 at 10:32 am
I think a huge problem is the nature of the modern worship service, especially for men. what man do you know who would voluntarily go to a lecture hall and likely receive criticism of how he’s living life. Men like 2-way conversations. that’s why they go to bars to talk, or drive, or do…something. I really love the Church, and I mean ALL of it!
I work in a factory composed of some pretty tough union guys! Guess what? Those hard-ass mothers have something to say, but no one LISTENS to them.
We need each other. We need a place to meet face-to-face. But, like you, I just trust that the “Temple” Jesus talked about is in me, therefore, portable! All the best!
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October 3, 2015 at 11:03 am
Great comments. Thanks
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October 4, 2015 at 2:01 pm
Amen!
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October 4, 2015 at 2:05 pm
Reblogged this on Ink Pastries and commented:
Great blog, C.J. Penn!
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October 6, 2015 at 5:18 pm
We have grown up being taught that the church is a building we meet in every week. We have been taught a lot of things through this church that I’m finding just isn’t the way God meant it to be. Thank you for writing an article that is clear and true as to what the Church really is…..people filled with the Spirit of God.
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October 6, 2015 at 7:00 pm
And thank you too.
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October 6, 2015 at 7:04 pm
In actuality, “going to church” is impossible, because like you said, we ARE the church. Church goes where we go! We may meet together (though I hate that it’s imposed on us in such a structured, regimented, non-organic way), but we can’t “go” to something we are! If that’s true, then I expect the phrase “go to church” will eventually die out, as Truth increases. It happens slowly, but it’s happening nonetheless.
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October 6, 2015 at 7:46 pm
I like the way you think. Thanks
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October 7, 2015 at 8:18 am
Jesus did not found “church”. “Church” is of pagan origin and is physical in nature, man made, a place, a building made for religious activities.
The Body of Christ is described as the “ekklesia” in scripture. “Ekklesia” is spiritual in nature, and means assembly of called ones. It’s an expression of God’s Kingdom.
I reject the idea that “We ARE the church.”
I am part of The Body of Christ, the ekklesia of God, the ones God will call out to assemble in His Kingdom.
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October 7, 2015 at 8:28 am
P.S.
“Assembly for the Dechurched” has a nice ring to it. ;-)
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