You will never truly appreciate or benefit from fellowship until you have learned how to live without it.
There already is a fellowship of saints. It is a spiritual fellowship, and it is based on Christ having the preeminence – not the fellowship having preeminence. All this yearning for fellowship and being with others is the result of being hung-over from the religious system. You’re trying to fill a void that religion used to fill.
The purpose of solitude in the spiritual desert is to get you to see that Jesus is Enough. You’re not going to die from lack of fellowship, but if you don’t learn that Jesus is Enough then spiritually speaking you’re dead already. He’s the One you need to be focused on – not starting a fellowship, not finding a home group, not making something happen with other people.
And already I can hear the “yeah buts”. “Yeah, but God made us to be social beings. Yeah, but God knows we need encouragement from other believers. Yeah, but the Bible says forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is. Yeah, but we’re all supposed to be part of the Body of Christ. Yeah, but there’s just something about gathering together with like-minded believers. Yeah, but you just don’t understand what it’s like.” Yeah, but I do understand – I’ve been through that part of the desert before, and what I’m trying to tell you is God wishes to know if you love Him or if you love fellowship with others. God wishes to know if you are in love with Him or if you are in love with things about Him. God wishes to know if you seek Him or seek a meeting about Him.
There are times and seasons where He calls you to be alone and apart with Him. I’m not saying it will always be like that, but what if it is? What if He calls you to walk alone with Him for the rest of your life? Is Jesus enough for you?
I asked that question of a group of Christians once: is Jesus enough for you? Because most Christians do not believe this. They want Jesus, but they also want fellowship with others. Really, do you know what Christians want? Not fellowship with others. That sounds so spiritual. Really what they want is acceptance from other Christians. You go deep down and that’s what they want. They want to feel accepted by other Christians. Well, all I can tell you is that you’re setting yourself up for a huge disappointment. Eventually there will come a time when you will have to decide between the truth that God has revealed to you and the acceptance of other Christians. Now it hurts when you are not accepted by other Christians. It hurts when other Christians misunderstand you and speak all manner of evil against you falsely when you have spoken the truth to them in love.
But the bottom line is your spiritual life and walk with God does not depend upon the acceptance of other Christians. You might think it does, and it sure makes things easier, but it is not a condition of following Christ – making sure other Christians understand and accept you. The deeper you go into God the more unacceptable you will be to other Christians. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is Himself, “Despised and rejected, a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” Jesus would not be, and is not, accepted by most Christians, and do you know that does not change Him and His relationship with His Father? He is Lord whether you accept Him or not, my friend. And if you are His disciple then He accepts you whether the rest of the Christian population accepts you or not.
What I have found is that whenever I ignore the season God has me in, and I try to create fellowship, or seek fellowship, outside of the time and place appointed by My Father, it always ends in disaster. It creates problems, it becomes a disappointment, or it turns into a distraction from what He wants for my life.
And that is never more true than the period of time when you are fresh out of the religious system. You’ve been under a religious spirit for so many years, and don’t think you can just wake up one day, stop going to church, and be set free from that religious mindset. You think you need fellowship, you think you need meetings, you think you need other people in your life, you think you need all these things, and you are in error. That’s the religious habit talking. It’s just like a drug.
“Oh brother Chip, I’m so lonely, I’ve been going to church every Sunday for twenty years and now we just sit home on Sunday and we feel so empty inside!” Well praise God, if that’s where God has you right now then thank God for it. Stop looking for other people to fill a void that only Christ can fill. You’ve been covering up that void with a lot of religious junk and He’s stripping all that away. He’s trying to build something in you, so let Him do it according to the times and seasons that He has appointed. Don’t rush through that process. Get comfortable with just you and God. My goodness, you don’t even know what it’s like to walk with God and just be hidden in Him because your whole life you’ve been following Him in a crowd, worshipping Him in a crowd, praying to Him in a crowd, learning about Him in a crowd.
Enoch walked with God, and he didn’t have anyone else to fellowship with.
Noah walked with God and he didn’t anyone but his family.
Abraham walked with God and he didn’t have a house church to go to.
Moses spent forty years in the desert and it didn’t hurt him a bit, he came out better than he went in.
Jesus walked with God and every single one of His friends and disciples denied Him and fled when He needed them the most.
You give people too much credit for your spiritual well-being and don’t give God enough credit. I’d rather be alone with God than have a crowd of people without Him.
Now that doesn’t diminish anything the Bible says about the Body of Christ. But you’ve got to learn how to get connected to the Head before you try to get connected to the Body. Body Life is only as good as the Body’s relationship to the Head. The Body has no life in itself apart from the Head. If you read what the Bible says about the Body of Christ, you notice it doesn’t say that we are supposed to seek out our place in the Body or try to insert ourselves into place. It says He sets us in the Body of Christ according to His will. His will, not ours. You try to set yourself in place and you’ll get it wrong.
The Bible does not say “hold fast to the Body” or “hold fast to the members of the Body”, it says “hold fast to the Head.” The Bible does not say, “Seek ye first the fellowship of others”, but “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things – including fellowship – will be added to you.” You learn to do that and the rest will take care of itself, in the time and manner that God sees fit.
Take your hands off that whole issue of fellowship and cast that concern onto the Lord. Go to Him and say, “Lord, here I am in a desert place, it’s dry, and it’s lonely, and it looks like there’s no fellowship. But You are My Rock, My Fortress, My Hiding Place, You lead me and direct my steps. You be My Fellowship. If you see fit to bring me into relationship and fellowship with others, fine; but if not, then I trust that You are more than Enough to meet my spiritual, emotional, and social needs. I can live without fellowship Lord, but I cannot live without You!”
Now folks, I have been in that place so many times I don’t even have to pray about it anymore. I’ve just learned to trust God in this area, and I know He is sufficient. It’s settled in me. It’s not even a thing I pray about anymore. I want it to become settled in your heart as well. Let the desert do its work.
The preceeding article is based on an audio series titled
“The Spiritual Desert:
How God’s Purposes Are Fulfilled In Your Wilderness Experiences.”
Sonja
11 months ago
Thank you so much for writing this article. A few years ago, I felt God told me to leave the organized Church.However, after leaving I have struggled in all the way you have mentioned and feeling like maybe I didn’t hear God. Yet knowing in my heart that every church I have tried since I left my home church, I didn’t belong there. The devil had tried and tried to make me feel like I wasn’t even saved anymore because I am not part of a Local church. The desert has been a very hard and lonely place to be. You are so right, other Christian’s make you feel like you are such a sinner, you couldn’t possible have heard from God. But I know, after reading your letter that I am where God wants me to be, and I am doing what he wants me to do. I have been seeking God for conformation and I wish to thank you for your obedience in writing this article. You will never know how much it has blessed me and ministered to my heart. May God bless you for your faithfulness. Thank you again.
Cy
4 months ago
I disagree with this post. The word Christian is indeed a biblical term used to describe followers of Jesus Christ, and it was first used in Antioch by New Testament believers.
mary-ann weiby
11 months ago
wonderful article, and SO TRUE!! THANK YOU!
Doyle
11 months ago
I live in Southlake near DFW. I find your comments about fellowship interesting and something i needed to hear. I am distraught with ‘church’ and want to be the Church. I facilitate a men’s bible study of 25 to 40 men each week and have lots of ministery opportunity from that.
I thank God you are saying what you are.
Mid
11 months ago
absolutely what I needed and just when I needed it most…isn’t that like our God?!!
Millie Spock
11 months ago
This morning for the first time in many months I met with a couple that I used to regularly fellowship with and when I got home and read todays journal, ” No fellowship ? No problem ” It amazed me that we shared so many of the same thoughts that you expressed ! We spoke almost the same exact words about why many have such a strong need to meet with other Christians , “because they want to feel ” excepted ” and how the Lord desires to be our ” all and all ” with no other ” idols of fellowship or self gratification before us.. It is so true that the deeper we go into God the more unacceptable we will be to other Christians and I believe this is where we really begin to learn to love others as he has loved us .I wanted to share this little note to bring comfort and joy to your heart dear brother that you are not alone in what the Holy Spirit is revealing to His people. May the Lord continue to Bless the words He gives you to the hearts of the readers and all those who you share Christ with
Eunice Ann Carr
11 months ago
Spot on!..how I wish I’d read that years ago!..it would have saved a lot of heart and soul searching, doubt and self-recrimination. As a new Christian, I was a wet-ex, soaking up and IN all the scriptures as given from the denomination’s interpretation..which included all those scriptures which ‘hold us fast” to that particular denomination and church gathering. When God drew me out, the bewilderment that followed, along with all the above mentioned trauma, which included the dread of being ‘rebellious” and self-deceived,or “falling away” not to mention, “they went out from us,but they were not of us:for if they had been of us, they no doubt would have continued with us:but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” 1John 2.19! All would go round and round in my mind,condemning me. As one does not meet others in similar situations whilst in the desert, the battle wages solo inside one, with the enemy knowing full well, which scriptures will conflict and confuse most, to hinder the Holy Spirit’s work of leading us “out from” and “into” His Fellowship.
Trenet
11 months ago
Thanks for the encouragement. This article reaffirms how I know God to be leading me, at least in this present season (which has lasted seven years now.) But the things God has been working in me to do could never have been accomplished in the “organized” church structure. Approached properly, the time of being home when others are congregated in a building is a time of introspection – self-examination that we would have truth in the inward parts – and meditating on the word of God unfiltered by the agendas and special interests of men.
I would also submit that as we approach the end of the age and the persecution foretold by Jesus for his followers, we can benefit by looking at the examples of the great heroes of faith – specifically in Hebrews 11:36-38. These saints were definitely in a place of being alone, yet we are told “…these all…obtained a good report through faith.”
Robert
11 months ago
What you have said here is so true. Many years ago the Lord took my family out of church. We left organized church and then fell into what seemed like disorientation—what was happening and what do we do now? Daily and I do mean daily, as we questioned and even argued somewhat with the Lord, He answered all our questions. Then he opened our eyes to “his” perspective on what is happening in the church system today. During the season when we were whining and complaining about being “out of church”, the Lord said to me one day, “What are you going to do when I send you out and you are the church?!” Today I can say so thankfully that these years ALONE with the Lord have been such a special blessing and NO “church” system and all the friendship/fellowship of thousands of people could ever compete. YES, the Lord is enough and all that matters. Getting “man” out of the way opened up the opportunity for the Lord to set us apart and teach us directly. I could never go back to that system, even the most evangelical of it–unless the Lord directly sent me in for His purposes and anointed me for it. We feel very grateful to know that YES, Jesus is indeed enough and the Holy Spirit is an awesome teacher!!
jeff
11 months ago
Exactly what I’m going through right now. Thankyou for your insight and help.
Alan Jacobson
11 months ago
Hi Chip, Do you have t-shirts with The School of Christ or your insignia on them? It would be a great idea. Thanks for the articles. God Bless, Alan
Stephanie
11 months ago
Thank you so much for your article chip. As always I am encouraged. As Jesus told “Simon Barjona” only the Father in Heaven can reveal that he is the Son of God..once you have the keys to the Kingdom and you know that this revelation that he is who is is.. is ALL you will ever need…the cheap imitation will not do. May we all in whatever place we find ourselves in..be content. I have been out of anything organized for over 20 years and am watching with great interest this “mass” Exodus happening lately..I pray that as Jesus said these words fall on “good ground.” Thanks again..
Stephanie
Tammy
11 months ago
I would like to give another view of being without fellowship for a season: coming back. I too have gone through a season of leaving organized church. It was definitely a desert experience, but one that I know produced fruit in my life. But it was just that-a season. If we are not careful, we can get too settled in this lone life and miss the joy of fellowship, the obedience to the command of fellowship, and the ministry and sharing of our gifts with one another. As Chip has said, when Jesus called his disciples, first they were with Him, then they went out. Even though they were “together” with Him (fellowship) He was able to minister to them individually. I guess what I want to say is that I believe it is God’s will for us to be a part of one another’s lives to share our common faith and to encourage each other in this sometimes difficult walk we have here in this life. Let’s not miss this truth in our attempt to bystep whatever may be wrong in our church. Make sure you are led by Him in staying or leaving.
ps. We are now part of a wonderful local church, worshiping God in spirit and truth, hearing the Word of God preached, studying His Word together, and bearing one another’s burdens. It is a joy! God bless.
Jesse Harris
11 months ago
Thanks Chip for sharing this because this is were I am right now. It is very encouraging to me.
Gloria
11 months ago
I have been out of church culture for a long while and this is what God sent me by the hand of my cousin before He released me from the bondage of church life, to confirm His call.I hope it speaks to many out there .This poem has become a reality in my life, I went through everything God said in this poem to me. Thanks Chip
ISAIAH 52:12 “You shall not go out with haste.”
I do not believe that we have begun to understand the marvelous power there is in stillness. We are in such a hurry we must be doing so that we are in danger of not giving God a chance to work. You may depend upon it, God never says to us, “Stand still,” or ” Sit still,” or “Be still” unless He is going to do something. This is our trouble in regards to our Christian Life; we want to do something to be Christians when we need to let Him work in us. Do you know how still you have to be when your likeness is being taken? Now God has one eternal purpose concerning us, and that is that we should be like His Son; and in order that this may be so , we must be passive. We hear so much about activity, maybe we need to know what it is to be quiet.
Sit still my daughter, Just sit clamly still!
Nor deem these days-these waiting days-as ill!
The one who loves thee best, who plans thy way,
Hath not forgotten thy great need today!
And, if He waits, tis sure He waits to prove
To thee, His tender child, His hearts deep love,
Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Thy longest much to know thy dear Lord’s will!
While anxious thoughts would almost steal their way
Corroding within, because of His delay-
Persuade thyself in simple faith to rest
That He, who knows and loves, will do the best.
Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Nor move one step, not even one, until
His way hath opened, then, oh then, how sweet!
How glad thy heart, and then how swift thy feet
Thy inner being then, oh then, how strong!
And waiting days not counted then too long.
Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
What higher service could you for Him fill?
It’s hard! oh yes! But choicest things must cost!
For lack of losing all how much is lost!
It’s hard, it’s true! But then—He gives you grace
To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.
J.Danson Smith
wanda
11 months ago
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I asked God this morning to articulate what I’m feeling. Then I read your email. There it is! Thank you!
Terri Hutto
11 months ago
I just fininshed reading your article from your journal for this week.
I have been out of “going to church” life for quite some time now. Just want to know it’s been wonferful for me. Jesus has revealed himself to me like you wouldn’t believe. Thank you for letting me know that I am not alone.
Peg
10 months ago
Why do you call these people “Christians” and they do not accept Christ?
I much prefer to call them apostate, harlot, broadway, conterfeit, the great fallen away, those under a great delusion, ignorant, or anything else that says they aren’t “His”. I don’t know anyone as a “Christian” that doesn’t accept Christ. I won’t call them brothers and sisters. Jesus said His mother, brothers, and sisters do the will of God and keep His commands. If they don’t – they aren’t His. Why should we call “Christian” or “brothers and sisters” what even Christ Jesus doesn’t call His?
I think we should be careful who we call fellow believers. It says a lot about who we call God, what Jesus we accepted, and what we actually believe. I won’t call anyone my brother if Jesus has denied them to be His by the scriptures (ie. those who listen to the voice of a stranger). Let us not forget that there will be and is a great fallen away, many on a broadway, and a thing called apostasy. I think we might insult the Lord to claim people as “His” that He does not. We can actually deny Him in doing so.
He said know them by their fruits. They will do the will of God and keep His commands. Has He not taught us by now the difference between a “true believer” and a “false believer”? He spent much time teaching the difference. Paul said “I’ve been with posing believers and dangerous people”. I love the spirit of the early believers. They weren’t afraid to call a spade a spade. They knew the difference. We should too and not be afraid to say so. They called them the “oustside”.
Who we call “brother” no matter how you want to say it (ie. Christian, believer, child of God, etc.) says much about whom we call “Lord” and who He says are “His”.
I’ve learned one of Satan’s best tactics is to include everyone in the “family of God”. Satan’s servants are building a church of lawless people that don’t belong to Christ at all. They are the fallen away – doing church apart from Christ. I won’t call them brothers or christians. Paul taught in Corinth that those that didn’t repent would be considered the same sinners they always were and regarded as conterfeits – not Christians.
My mother, brothers, and sisters do the will of God and keep the commands of Jesus Christ. This, of course, takes into consideration “new beleivers” and those just coming to believe. But I consider no man a christian that doesn’t accept Christ. Only those who “accept” Christ Jesus as the Son of Man and Son of God will be made the children of God.
I’m tired of hearing that those that don’t believe and those that don’t accept Christ are christians. Jesus didn’t teach this. But, only Jesus taught me. I never trusted it to men or “church”. I never really got in the religious system. It never made sense in my ignorance and I left. It doesn’t make sense with knowledge of God either and I don’t go.
But, let us not deny Christ Jesus by whom we call brother and sister, or christians, or fellow believers. He has much to say about who His sheep are.
He warned us of the difference. We would do far better to use the terminoloy that Christ Himself used: Apostasy, fallen away, broadway, etc, – but not christian, church, brothers and sisters, etc. and call what is false – false. Bablyon wants you to keep calling them christians. That’s what they want to be accepted as. But that is not what they are. They deny Him – and we can deny Christ if we accept them as His church and refer to them as such. Jesus showed me in one “fallen away” church (as I sat in horror as they turned their hearts to a false covenent and mammon) that He was, in fact, no longer their God.
I return to your site much Chip. And God has used you very often to re-affirm what He has taught me.
Martin
10 months ago
I find your Journal e-mails very encouraging. We are involved with a Christian Healing Ministry – all about getting people’s lives back into Godly order and pointing those who come for help to Jesus, and their relationship with Him. Agreed, the stronger a person’s relationship is with Jesus the better equipped they are whether they are involved in fellowship, or not.
You say, “The deeper you go into God the more unacceptable you will be to other Christians.” Can you elaborate a bit on this? Jesus was mostly despised and rejected by such as the Pharisees and teachers of the law, the blind-guide-whitewashed-tombs-brood-of-vipers brigade. I sometimes find myself (or what I say) ‘unacceptable’ to other Christians, as I’m sure you do from your standpoint, but do not feel I need to strive for this!! Nor would I necessarily put it down to going deeper into God. Sometimes it’s just not following ‘the crowd’.
Be blessed.
Charissa
10 months ago
ABSOLUTELY TRUE! Left a small family church 9 years ago after listening to a teaching tape in which the teacher challenged: “Some of you are still going to that same church your mother and grandmother go to, just so your family won’t reject you.” I knew that’s why I still went, and at that moment knew I had to leave. Knew my family would reject me, but didn’t know how bad it would actually be. However, I wouldn’t trade it now for ANYTHING, because I learned, just as you said, that Jesus is enough, and that the only one worth pleasing is the Lord, because He is my source for everything. It was hell for 6 or 7 years, in various ways, but I never even dreamed, prior to that time, that my life with the Lord–and in this world–could be so good.
I think we have no clue what “all these things” entails, or we’d all be standing on our heads to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness! I’ve gotten a glimpse, and it’s enough to make me want a whole lot more!
Suzie
10 months ago
I smiled when I read your article because I could almost imagine God smiling too! I’ve been out of organised religion for years now and over the last year I have been saying to myself, I must get back to fellowship, I must join a house group, I must, I must. This religious drive is a difficult wheel to get off but I agree, I would rather be alone with Him, wrestle with Him, fellowship with Him, than be immersed in programmes, communities, ministries of people who don’t know Him. Thank you too for brothers and sisters out there who so openly share their struggle and stand firm. I feel like I’ve been showered with Grace
Nelson
10 months ago
Hi Chip,
Put me down for a coffee mug please, Jehovah-Java! The CD (Spiritual Desert) was very timely for me, I just need to be patient and wait on the Lord.
Grace and peace to you and yours
Shesta
10 months ago
This was so very needed in my life. I have been out of “church” for about three years now, and lately have been thinking about the “fellowship”. God is so awesome! Oh, how I love Him. Even though I was wrestling with my mind about going back, I knew deep inside to be still. For a long time God dealth with me about leaving the “building”, and I wrestled with Him. But, every time I went it was a hastle to go…I just knew that this was Satan, I thought. Every time I went, I didn’t have peace. I have been a child of God, a believer in Jesus Christ since I was little and everyone in my family went to church, saved or not. But, the Lord opened my eyes even as a child that something wasn’t right. Finally, I obeyed, regardless of what others thought of me. My family and I pulled out of the “church”. I had many phone calls…others wanting to know if had back slidden, because they hadn’t seen me in a while. I would hate to see those I use to fellowship with out somewhere, because the first thing they would ask was “have I found a church home yet? But now, I love them asking, because I am not ashamed to say what I believe and Who I believe and why. I am not ashamed to say that I am a follower of Jesus Christ and not Pastor (you fill in the blank). This message speaks volumes to me and God continues to confirm what He is doing. May God continue to pour out His Spirit upon you.
David McBride
10 months ago
Once again after I don’t know how many years or how many times, you have spoken right to where I am, as my church friends have been criticizing me for not coming to church. Thanks for another confirmation. May God continue to use you in greater ways. May God bless you and your family.
Jennifer
10 months ago
Thank you brother for this article! I asked God this week to please encourage me in the “wilderness” He has put me in for about 5years now. I was just given the “you’re forsaking the gathering” quote by a well meaning friend…I’ve heard it many times, but this time it seemed to take the “wind out of my sails”. I felt Him tell me to go to your website, imagine my joy to see this article, it was like a hug from God : ). Praise Him, He is so good to us!
Gloria
10 months ago
Hi Jennifer
Don’t be surprised if its longer. I had no idea it would be 7 years and still waiting. Its good, its good, blessings
Peg
10 months ago
Unfortunately, I can and have experienced most of “institutionalized church” or “religion” without going to church. The first to throw me out was my own husband who announced he was a spirit led man. I never knew that nor did he ever tell me that for over 23 years of being with him. He became the “church” that hated me and pursued me with hatred after my repentance. We didn’t even go to church or belong to one. That was followed by my flesh and blood mother and sister too. Then my own kids did it. Throw in an employer and just about everyone else God wills me to deal with.
I’m afraid I can only count this all as the “world” as Jesus said it was.
You can certainly get out of “organized religion” but try getting out of an
“organized world”. These people don’t just go to church. They are all over town.
Perhaps to get out of Babylon and the “organized church” we should ask God for an exportaton of the saints from the United States.
Ron
10 months ago
Hi Chip and all,
I just wanted to say how much Freedom I have felt from your article and all the great responces to it. My wife and I went through the IC system 29 years ago for 11 years trying to find approval from people and God by climbing the religous ladder and being so involved in performing as so called elders etc. etc. Than we left it and got involved in house churches in several different states. As we began to go deeper into Christ, we sensed opposition from the other folks in the group. They were more interested in fellowship than going deeper. My wife and I began feeling the wilderness and was perplexed in what to do. As always God spoke to us thru these Christology Journals and this last one was the answer to our long awaited prayers. We so desired to meet other believers our age ( 61&64)that were seasoned mature believers. We felt we finally found someone who can idenify with us and of course your not near our age, ha ha, but well seasoned in Christ. Thank You Father for sending our brother Chip.
Janeese
10 months ago
Hello Chip!
I think this article speaks to many valid points especially that we should not esteem people in place of God. We know that people are imperfect therefore can fail you but God can never to that as He is faithful. We do have to be careful not to let man dictate our spiritual walk and requirements.
I am concerned that that this may be misinterpreted that the going to church does not add value nor do the people in it. All churches are not created equal nor or all believers at the same level. I think for a person new in their walk, it is crucial to have others around them to encourage them to run the race, and press towards the mark. (I recall in the beginning of mine, I was on the fence in my commitment with God). I also think many new believer are not as good at studying the Word for themselves or discerning God’s voice. There is a lot to be said that is positive about attending good Word churches.
I absolutely agree that we need to always remember where who our source is and spend time alone with God but we should also remember that we are charged to ‘be our brother’s keep’ and that often, ‘two is better then one’…’If one falls down, his friend can help him up’. We should be careful of not denouncing ‘gathering’ as a body of Christ, whether in a Church building or a house and allow our maturity level to help us be led by the Holy Spirit to do what God wants us to do at the time He says.
God bless!
Your sister,
Janeese
Mike
10 months ago
Great article…I have often wondered if I am supposed to be in the desert, I have often prayed that God would sift me and make me more like Him. To cleanse and purify me so that I may know Him deeper. To have His will in my life to glorify Him…whatever it takes Lord I would say. So now I find myself in the desert experience and daily trusting in the Lord. We never know how God will answer our prayers, as hard as it is, I am thankful to God for it. Not that I don’t go to church, but that God is doing a work in me, cleansing me and purifying me.
Mike
Joshua
10 months ago
“Don not forsake the Gathering of the brethren.”
Fact: When Paul said that he was not referring to the sort of religious gatherings that we today would placate as church. Their gatherings were informal, mutual and real. They met regularly in homes over meals. They didn’t sit in churches to get preached at and then go their separate ways afterwards with little real involvement in each others lives. They had a real support network of brothers and sisters in Christ who were intimately involved in each other’s lives. Their gatherings were based upon corporately finding the purposes of Christ and living that out together. Our modern day church meetings cannot even remotely begin to meet the expectations that Paul had upon the “Gathering of the brethren”. If any thing, our response should be that we have left church to FIND the gathering of the brethren. We’ve given up the counterfeit in pursuit of the real thing.
Dixie
10 months ago
THANK YOU!!
Bill B.
10 months ago
Brother Chip, this article was too timely for me…Praise the Lord and thank you so very much for allowing the Lord to speak through you and to us. It’s been over 2 years since we left “organized religion” and it does get awfully hard for my wife and myself wanting to be “accepted” by other believers, even though I know to be accepted by Christ is the most important thing. For myself having been in ministry, it gets even more challenging when the negative comments about what I “should be doing” as a man of God.
Be Blessed…
Kendall Albright
9 months ago
Chip I love to re-read these articls, the Lord uses them to keep me so focused. talk about fellowship, surely we are loved when He does this. peace be unto you!
SAMUEL MRS
9 months ago
GREAT!THANKS-ENCOURAGING AND HEALING
Bill Ridley
5 months ago
Dear Chip
I am up late at night due for bed in Australia at the end of a quiet week-end on call.
Thank you, through Jesus our Friend and Saviour, that I have learnt that connecting to the Head of the Body of Christ is part of seeking the Kingdom first- and that for this point made clear in this article fellowship with others will follow. For a long time( I am now aged 58)and despite having a real heart for God( and now Jesus) I have tried to search for peace and truth through other people and been hurt time and time again with dire results over the years. However it was not till recently when doing medical locums here in Australia where I have been on my own here away from my family and friends in New Zealand –that Jesus has been able to get through to me and teach me re fellowship. My inner heart desire to keep seeking now with no distractions –Jesus has spoken to me in this desert much like Moses, and others, but also Jesus Himself connected with God- as you say in this article.I am so glad that God has taught me this – often in these quiet hours- which says about busy Bill and his job!- Anyhow I thank you for confirming this in this ” Fellowship? No Problem.” re where I am especially re going to church, which church etc – seeking fellowship- it has ,been a Word from God that for me and all Christians there is – Yes! Praise God!no problem- Keep seeking Him first.
All the best–Chip– I will keep praying for your work ( and the recent troubles)and any help I can give
lots of love and Grace through Jesus
Bill Ridley
Michelle
5 months ago
Hi Chip,
Just wanted to share that I’ve been out of IC now for 7 years and the Lord is contantly bringing me into a sweeter fellowship with Himself. I must confess though. I have moved to Uruguay this year and have gone to a english speaking church a couple times, not for fellowship or to learn but I was hoping that maybe I would find some mission work to take part in? Hoping to find someone actually sharing the gospel in the most atheistic country in South America…Oh well its just as pathetic here as in the states. Maybe worse. So I’m learning Spanish now. Jesus is MORE than enough. Pray for my language skills.
John
4 months ago
Some of the most growth times in my christian life were those when I wasn’t going to church but being delt with the lord one on one.
Sue
4 months ago
Hi Chip,
Long story short, I came to Christ almost four years ago (I am 60, so it took a long time!) – I attended a Charismatic Church until August this year when I left because of all the deception I was realizing was there. I didn’t know at the time (being such a new believer and learning to hear the still small voice) whether or not it was God leading me. That is until a Pastor of a sister Church to the one I attended told me it was Satan leading me not God. It then all became clear. It was after this when I was searching the internet for anything to do with deception in the Church that I found your site. I have been reading your articles and today read this one and the responses. All I can say is – WOW, this is exactly how I have been feeling and coupled with that doubting myself that I hear from God. I really do need to send for your Desert CD!!
Oh, this was all such a shock to me as I thought I had found a true Church as I had been deceived for years growing up by Catholocism.
THANKS!!!!!!! I shall visit your site often!
God Bless you
Sue
Chip Brogden
6 months ago
Cindy, under the circumstances, your faith sounds strong indeed. Thank you for sharing. I’m glad you were encouraged!
Frank
4 months ago
Bro. Chip; I am so glad I found this article!
I have no problem with the lack of fellowship, but my wife does. We left the institutional church last November and almost immediately, because we didn’t have consistent and timely Bible studies, my wife said she NEEDED fellowship. A few of our friends attend a small church nearby that we visited and she likes the intimacy there as well as a pastor that allows feedback and group input. I, however, am not prepared to re-enter the rabbit hole. (former associate pastor that woke up)
This has caused a big division in our household (thank God we have no kids at home anymore).
I am told that my internet ministry is not enough, that I NEED to share what God has placed in me with a physical presence, that she is going to go to that church with or without me and, generally, everything that she can place as a problem in our lives revolves around my time spent on the internet.
I want peace, but I want God more.
How are others handling this situation? I can’t be the only one going through this.
Pam
4 months ago
Brother Frank,
My husband and I went through the same thing. He saw the truth and I didn’t—I wanted to go to church and I felt he was backslidden! But my husband very wisely went with me to church to keep our marrige and family together. He realized that I had to see the truth for MYSELf! And I did! It took a few years but the scales did fall from my eyes—I had to get my own revelation! How he did it I don’t know! Let the Holy Spirit do the work in your wife and you just love her and be patient! God will give you the strength you need to get through. That was 2000, and we are still together and still learning that Jesus is ALL we need! I will pray for you
Hermit
3 months ago
As a single person, I tried to fit into the IC, serving here and there – but never finding a place. I could never find a church that operated even remotely like the churches in the bible. It seems they operate more like businesses and corporations than a supernatural community. I’ve struggled with it, thinking there was something really wrong with me – that I was not truly a believer – I was even told by another Christian that I was not worthy to serve in Christ’s Army. I find a great deal of comfort in this article because it confirms for me that I am not alone in being alone. Christ IS enough and SHOULD be the focus of my life, my devotion and my faith. Not a modern organization. If the Lord wants me involved with other people, He will bring it about. It is not my concern. He is the one building HIS church, not me building mine.
brent tamatea
2 months ago
Chip thats a great article i certainly can relate to it we are not fellowshiping at a local church mainly as we werent growing church was more a tradition i can thankfully say that i am seeing more of God in my life as we depend on him more and more.I have been helped with the preaching of Gods grace from Joseph Prince why the church doesnt preach more on that message as it is powerful.Gods grace not only brings redemption to lost sinner liek me but restoration healing provision and power and life in its fullness we exchange our old selves for his renewed life thats exciting regards brent
Mary Ann
1 month ago
Thank you, Chip! I wholeheartedly agree with this lesson! Bless you.
Annie
1 month ago
My husband and I have been wandering in the wilderness for six years now. We were trapped in a toxic church for 20 years, and our time out has included a process of healing and re-framing our faith. We have learned to see God as a father, not a tyrant after having been preached at by false shepherds for so long. Now, every weekend, we sit and share what the Holy Spirit has shown us during the week; revelations about scripture which we had never even seen before, despite having spent so many decades in church. We have become so excited about discussing Jesus and what he is doing in our lives we can hardly believe this would happen without the context of ‘church’.
We have talked recently about Jesus’ parables of the Kingdom of God; those parables which speak of mixture, the dragnet, the field of wheat with tares, the sheep and the goats, the king who called all manner of men to the wedding feast of his son but rejected those who weren’t prepared, many are called but few are chosen. Have we been too concerned that there are few in the body of Christ amongst the Sunday worshippers and perhaps negligent of the fact that there was always going to be a mixture? Perhaps our desire to join only with those of like mind has been too exclusive?
We are simply asking ourselves these questions while wanting not to be too dismissive of those in the institutionalised churches. We know only too well how much these places kill your spirit, even the ‘healthy’ churches are so focused on mindless religious practice that they forget they are worshipping a real live person. I remember the days of my youth in a very large pentecostal church, I was always looking for the abundant life, while my young friends were looking for husbands, or parties to go to. It was a social club, and so few wanted to genuinely seek God.
There is one thing that is clear…God has much more to reveal to us about this life than what we have previously learned in the last thirty years. Who would have thought?
Gil
4 weeks ago
Bro. Chip; Thank you for the timely word. The Lord led us out of the pastoral ministry in 1993 and He has become our life ever since. I remember thinking while I was preaching I wish I knew this to a greater extent than I do. We must come to know only Him. When we worship it must be to Him , not about Him. Fellowship can only happen as a result of fellowshipping with Him and then as an overflow we can fellowship with one another. I thank the Father for the school of Christ that We have been in for 17 years. He is truly our all in all. Your Bro. IN CHRIST, Gil
Dana
4 weeks ago
It has been very encouraging reading many of God’s children’s wilderness experience. I left the “box”
in about 2000. Probably all of the 90’s I sat in church very critical of how the “leadership” did business. Then one day I was reading scripture and I read to obey your leaders for they watch over your souls. (Heb. 13:17)I thought the men who ran the business can’t be my leaders because they don’t even know I exist. (It was a pretty large meeting). I felt like I was then taken to the top of the building looking down on all the people and I saw groups of people who God had placed in each others lives. I had my group of friends who loved me, prayed for me, rebuked me etc… This was my “church”. I also saw the leadership having their relationships that met their needs. It was as if God did not see our meetings at all. He just saw his children and their needs. There was so much love for everyone. No walls, no titles, just relationships with Him and people. My critical spirit was greatly disminished that day. I wish I could say totally gone, but that is a process. I then made an appointment with the head pastor and repented of my critcal spirit. (He had no clue because I had just kept it to myself). He was gracious. I then told him that there is a problem with the “one man show” and a service which is just a one-way relationship. I knew a lot about him – his birthday, where he grew up, where he went to high school, where he went to college. I even knew his blood type. What did he know about me. – Not much, but could he? Jesus had only 12 close friends, and 3 really close. How could we expect leadership to have a congregation, and to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of so many people, yet it seems that is what the system is set up for.(Even the ones who knew to lift up Jesus and to “train” the people to seek Him for their needs). No wonder the pastors get burned out. When you leave and look back it does seem very strange way of serving Jesus, but the unknown in the wilderness isn’t always clear or easy. Therefore this website and all of the posts are a great blessing to me. I just wanted to say thank you.
susanne
11 months ago
hello sonja!
You have exactly described what followed us, when left organized church!
The devil tried to kill me, i had times where i can’t eat, sleep or pray…
Condemnation abounds from spirits and christians and it was a long, hard journey to get things right and finally, God was faithful and my hubby and i have learned, what it is to BE with Jesus.
I’m healed from many wounds and expectations, church people had put on us.
So, Jesus is enough and we can go our way with Him, no matter, if it is lonely the rest of our life.
We have a few friends on the net found, who are the same condition.
Blessings to you, dear Sis
Susi and Harry from Germany
Feel free to e-mail us, if you want
Chip Brogden
11 months ago
Thanks Sonja and Suzanne! I’m glad it was encouraging.
Cindy
6 months ago
Sonja, I just read your email regarding “No Fellowship, No Problem” and I am floored!!! Chip’s article and your response are confirmation for me from the Lord that I am where He wants me. I was just praying about this very issue this morning, feeling guilty and questioning if I’m even hearing God anymore! I left my home church about 5 years ago, tried going back just recently. It felt all wrong being there…My marriage just broke up, my husband of 26 years told me in January that he is gay and has been seeing someone for about a year…Anyway, I felt the Lord pulling me, really pulling me, to Himself and telling me that “it’s just me and Him”. I guess the enemy will do whatever he can to get us off track with our Savior. Thank you, dear sister, for the encouragement I’ve received from your words, and for knowing that you are out there; I don’t feel like such an “oddball”!!
Love, Cindy
Chip Brogden
11 months ago
Good hearing from you Millie! Thank you for your encouragement.
Chip Brogden
11 months ago
It is a good idea Alan. I hadn’t thought about T-shirts but I had thought about coffee mugs since I drink so much coffee. We’ll keep it in mind!
Chip Brogden
11 months ago
Great testimony Robert. See, I don’t whine and complain about being out of church anymore, I thank God for delivering us from it. Now the question is: what has He brought us out TO? And that is a lot more interesting that mulling over where we came FROM.
Robert
11 months ago
Chip,
As a P.S. to my other reply–I wanted to say that my wife and I listened to your CD teaching called “What is Wrong With the Church?“( I may have that title not exactly right.) Anyway–how that blessed us! That was after the SHOCK of hearing you say EVERYTHING the Lord Himself had told/shown us since taking us out of organized church 7 or so years ago. My wife was driving and I was working on my laptop… … she kept poking me in the side in AMAZEMENT at nearly every sentence, because we were already living it. That was 2 hrs of being poked in the side, Chip! We had 3 more hours of driving to reach our daughter in college at UNCW–and I was glad that my wife did not have more of your CDs to poke me over, haha. Even though we know that we know that we know, that the Lord has taken us out of organized church, there is that passage and warfare of people thinking and speaking condemnation toward those leaving the system–and it was like a barrel of anointed oil was poured over us in hearing your CDs. My summation was that either you and we were spot on right or spot on wrong–because it indeed was what our experience was with being called out of the church system! THANK YOU, thank you for that teaching and it will minister to MANY!
The Word of God be with you Chip and be the delight of your family’s heart to your children’s children–and beyond.
Stephanie
10 months ago
The truth is a bitter pill sometimes..but truth is truth. When the I.C. and those in it become our enemies..as they often do…unfortunatly..I have to find it within myself to love them. Not easy..and doesn’t stop the truth. It is because of the truth we are aleniated and I too was once “lost.”
Chip Brogden
10 months ago
“‘The deeper you go into God the more unacceptable you will be to other Christians.’ Can you elaborate a bit on this?”
I think Peg did a great job explaining it, but there is still a difficulty in the sense that everyone calls themselves “Christians” just because they believe in God and go to church. In this article I’m using the term “Christian” in a strictly institutional sense, meaning religious folk. The word “Christian” has become so fused together with religion I’m not sure it’s possible to describe myself as a “Christian” without people immediately connecting it with Organized Religion – because the very next question is, “What church do you go to?”
Chip Brogden
10 months ago
Hi Tammy,
Thank you for your perspective. I think I am writing more along the lines of people who are permanently called out of Organized Religion. I don’t see spiritual fellowship as a possibility within something that is carnal. But it is difficult to ascertain that while you still “belong.” The true test of the fellowship is whether or not it continues after you no longer attend services. The majority of people find that what they thought was true, spiritual, wonderful fellowship disintegrates once they stop attending. This proves that whatever fellowship they thought they had it was not based on Christ at all; it was, in fact, based on “church.”
Chip Brogden
10 months ago
Lengthy posts tend to get edited or deleted, but there’s a lot of truth here and I thank you for sharing it.
Janvier Billong
10 months ago
Hi Peg,
You’re very wright in what you wrote the last time.Come to think of it, where did the name “christian”come from?Who invented this way of calling those who believe in Jesus christians.Did Jesus ever say “go & make the whole world my christians”? Infact christian is a name given to those who belong to the organised religion called christianity & the true believers of Jesus are called disciples just as He Himself commanded.If any one of us here continues to call him/her self christian,then it means there’s a bit of organised religion in him/her.Chip, I sujest that in your future posts, you should replace the word christian by disciple.Catholics,baptists,J.W., presbterians,pentecostals etc are all christians.Is there any difference between you & these people?Then we should bring the difference out & refute even their name. God bless you all.
Marilyn
10 months ago
It will be worth it ALL when we see Jesus! I am so encouraged by reading what you went through. Now I don’t feel so alone.
Your friend in our beloved Jesus Christ!
Gina
9 months ago
Thank you Gloria,
I was called out of the meeting house (church)a year ago and was wondering if I was hearing the Lord right. Why, when, what, how, and what are you doing Lord? I have lost friends and family. They don’t understand. It has been a wilderness journey but I would not give for the sweetness I have found with the Lord. I have had Bread from heaven. BUT there has been days that I wanted to have a megaphone and yell…is there any one out there?
Gina
Chip Brogden
4 months ago
That’s a tough one, Frank. It might be better to take this up in private by email. But yes it is common for one spouse to “see it” while the other doesn’t, and it’s going to take a lot of grace on your part. The short answer is if she wants to go to church then let her go to church. Don’t let religion destroy your marriage. As for what you should or should not be doing with “ministry” or anything else, that is between you and the Lord. But if you’re spending so much time on anything that your wife complains then you should take that complaint seriously as a cry for more time and affection from you. Whether she’s right or wrong is beside the point; the point is she needs something you aren’t providing and you better start providing it. Just take this as words of wisdom from someone who has been married 20 years now to the same patient woman.
Cy
4 months ago
So true. If you leave the church/clique then you no longer exist, all “fellowship” dies. It wreaks of denominationalism or something worse. Churchianity. The so-called “christianity” of the people stops at the church doors, if it even makes it that far. Once you leave you never hear from them again, or if you do it’s only maybe once or twice more. That is NOT what FAMILY means to me.
Martial
3 months ago
Its true. but I think the problem is that many people in organised church are not believers in heart but in appearance. but another real thing is that most are living in carnal ways but faith is spiritual.
Martial
3 months ago
AMEN he is the one building HIS church