The "Dones"

First, I will just say I am responding to this because it strikes a chord which resonates with me, as I believe it will resonate with most believers, who at some point or other in their walk with the Lord...felt like being "done."

Most will pursue Church-Hopping, and some will just drop out.

The question I have with those who advocate, or at least are sympathetic to the premise of this article is...what impact will this kind of position have on those that have been involved in Churchianity rather than Christianity. In other words, we should understand that the average fellowship has members that are still in need of coming to Christ, and frankly, we have to admit that they stand a better chance of that occurring if they are under the preaching of the Word than if they drop out.

I think all of us at some point get discouraged about attending the, or a fellowship, but before we lay the blame on the leadership of those fellowships, let's first take into consideration the responsibility of the member. I can honestly say my own church-hopping, when I look back at it, was due in large part to my own pride, something I still contend with. I am usually bored to tears by the average message, the average lesson, but, that does not mean that God cannot speak to me through those messages and lessons. If I am expecting those in leadership to be flawless in doctrine, flawless in delivery, then in reality what I am doing is setting a standard of perfection based on my own views. In other words, if there is something I disagree with in a message or lesson...I have established myself as the one flawless in doctrine and in the midst of my judgment it is likely I am going to miss anything the Lord may seek to impress on my heart through the ministry of others.

So first let us take a look at why one might be motivated to drop out. The Body of Christ is a collective Body which is to be unified, and while we have great sectarian division in the Body today, there are primary doctrinal areas where most will be found in agreement. Now if we look at that division and we analyze the typical fellowship...

...we see the same thing.

Doesn't matter the denominational designation, among most fellowships we are going to find believers more studied, and less studied, more conservative, and less, more obedient, and less. In other words, no fellowship is free from believers who are at different stages in their walk, and their views will run according to their understanding and their obedience to that which they understand.

And where they are will determine their impact in the Body in which they fellowship in.

If you had asked me five years ago, my response to this issue would probably have been much different. But even that short period of time the Lord has impressed upon me that my attendance in the fellowship I attend has nothing to do with the issues mentioned...




Let's look at "plop:" this pictures sitting in the pew, I imagine. There is another derisive phrase, "pew warmer," which is also used to designate those with the implication that they are taking up space and contribute nothing.

Now how many of us would like to see more unbelievers "plop" down in a Bible teaching fellowship and hear the Word of God? And if one is viewing that man or woman next to them as simply taking up space, is that how we express the love of Christ? Does that one who is "done" consider himself to be simply...taking up space? If they can use such a derisive designation for others, how guilty are they of this very thing? Or is it a matter that their view of themselves restrains themselves from analyzing their own participation?

"Pray:" I would assume, again, there is a derision that implies ritualistic observance and participation in corporate prayer. Is there a value in corporate prayer?

Who would deny that?

Shall we assume that everyone, except the ones who are "done," are pew warmers that are...faking it?

"Pay:" This is a tougher issue, because my own position is that tithing is a First Covenant (Covenant of Law) practice, however, we do see that the writer of Hebrews says to go on unto perfection in regards to the foundational principles of the Law...but he does not say abandon them. What I mean by that is that the principle of support for those doing the God ordained ministry they have been appointed to did not stop when the Law was abrogated by the New Covenant. Paul exhorts the Corinthians, for example, that those ministering the Word of God to them were worthy of their "carnal," or worldly possession for the purpose of support. Simply stated, "Take care of those ministering the Word of God to you." While Paul set the example of self support, which is still the method of some ministers of the Word of God, in our culture the standard today is that we meet in a building for the purpose of corporate worship, and there are needs that must be met. When I was young my Grandfather was a member of a faith which met in a home. They sent out missionaries two by two, and those missionaries survived by the members' support. In a perfect world, all ministers would be like Paul, and to be honest, when I talk to those who graduate from the seminaries and colleges...I think we need to seriously examine the leadership which is being produced by them (and not all of them, by the way, there are still good schools out there).

But, to despise something such as support for the way most attend a Christian fellowship today, in my opinion, may indicate other aspects which pertain to the objecting individual. If you are a member of a fellowship that commands a "tithe" then simply find one that holds to an orthodox Christian view where the leadership teaches that one should give according to their heart. If you are giving because you feel it contributes to your salvation, or if it is taught that your walk with Christ can be gauged by your contribution monetarily, then there is a departure from New Testament giving. This is just one area of confusion that arises from the failure to properly distinguish between the New Covenant and the Law (Covenant of Law).

But, those who, at any given stage in their walk, feel they should give, regardless of whether the leadership teaches it badly or not, and violate their conscience in that matter, then there is no question that problems will arise. The fact remains, though, Paul instructed the Corinthians to support those ministering the Word to them, and if we disagree with the practice that has become traditional in our own culture, then we can disassociate with that group.

There is always the option of opening your home up to people yourself and footing the bill for the heating and cooling, cleaning the carpets, washing up the dishes, et cetera. And when you do that, and feel you have performed a New Testament and Early Church service, try not to have too much disdain for those who were saved in a building and have only known that particular method of fellowship.

To sum up this part of my response to the OP, I will suggest that in the case of many of the "dones," it is very likely that they are people who think they can do it better than those they have fellowshipped with. Better service, better doctrine, better leadership.

Go for it. Nothing stopping you. But my guess is that after you begin this endeavor you are likely going to run into some of the issues which may have led to the building of a structure where believers can meet. It is unlikely you will ever face what the Early Church faced, and have to meet in secret. How many believers in countries where they would be killed if it was made known they were worshipping Christ would feel grateful to be able to publicly meet. And can I ask this...what impact does a visible Church have on the world? How many unbelievers have walked into a local Church and been saved?

Most of the people I have spoken with on the forums, who speak derisively about "The Church" are usually those with heretical doctrines who became discouraged with "going to church" because they could not find a church fellowship that would...

...submit to their superiority.

They are superior in Doctrine, they feel, and they feel the Lord has sent them to "straighten out the errors of the modern Church."

Christ is the One building the Church, and while we do not assume everyone that goes to a Church, or fellowship, is saved, neither do we ignore that the Lord can save despite the faults and errors of the leadership of any given fellowship. As a believer matures, where they fellowship is their choice. Do I think all who are "done" are wrong to stop going to a traditional fellowship? No. In fact, that is sometimes the best thing that can happen...for the fellowship itself. And sometimes, it may be the best thing that can happen for the one who is "done."

In the years I have been walking with the Lord, I have never found a fellowship that I was completely satisfied with, and have done my share of Church-Hopping. But what I have learned is that my attendance creates an accountability in my life which is not present when I am a lone ranger. Since I have been married I also have the responsibility of spiritual leadership as a husband, and while I might not need the ministry of our fellowship in my own mind, it is not right to deprive my wife of the ministry that God may perform for her in that fellowship. And I have learned that if I humble myself, I can seek to hear what God would teach me in that service.

I view the local fellowship as a visible center of the Body which is for the most part, the place where people receive the sincere milk of God's Word. We can have disdain for those that sit in a fellowship for years and seem to be very ignorant, but, we have to keep in mind we are all individual in our walks and not everyone is going to learn at the same rate. If one seeks to elevate the rate of their growth...they're going to do that anyway. Some are going to be content to be "regular folk," lol, and since we know that our abilities bring about greater accountability, responsibility, and judgment, perhaps we can say that for some "ignorance is bliss."

But I have to question having disdain when I know for a fact that there are many sincere Pastors and Preachers out there ministering to the best of their ability, and to hold them, and their congregations in contempt wanders into an area that I cannot find a Biblical justification for. Again, usually those who advocate leaving the modern approach to fellowship usually do so because they themselves have left, and they are in fact seeking justification for their self removal. The New Testament establishes authority in the Body, usually to those gifted in the Word and able to teach based upon sound doctrine. If we find we cannot submit to the authority of the local Body, then we have the option to find another where the leadership can be held in honor, start our own fellowship (which will likely result in understanding why things are done the way they typically are these days), or drop out.

Small group meetings are great, but, I would caution anyone to be discerning as to the leadership of that group, and the doctrine taught. Because that group is going to have leadership as well...whether you know it or not. And if that small group undermines the ministry of a parent group, that too has to be questioned. You cannot be a member of a group you seek to undermine. There are no secret agent missionaries...everything we teach and do is open for the world to examine.

The last thing I would mention is that the use of Hebrews 10:25 to teach Church attendance is an abuse of the text and context of that chapter. In view is not an exhortation to be regular in Church attendance, but to embrace Christ. The forsaking of the assembling of the brethren is not being lax in Church attendance...it is a rejection of Christ. And we have to consider that some, at least, of those who proudly proclaim themselves as "done" are in fact those that have rejected that which Scripture presents as Christian, including Christian Doctrine and the pattern for worship which is seen in Scripture. We all know Christianity is individual and personal, but at the same time, we also know that Christianity is a Body united by Christ. How we choose to worship is up to us, but, where we are in knowledge, understanding, and practice is going to impact our decisions. As we learn of God, we are better equipped to choose the fellowship we attend, from a doctrinal as well as practical view. So I have to say I am against a public advocacy of withdrawing from the Church in corporate worship. While this article tries very hard to appear that it is not doing that, I see that it is. I am not an advocate of Religion, but, at the same time there is a benefit to many believers and unbelievers in corporate worship, even with the faults that may be found in it. This type of advocacy may on the surface sound reasonable, but, consider to those who have been involved in Churchianity who will also see this as justification for being "done."


Continued...