Institutional Church System

A couple of years ago (2003) I started a poll on the Shack website asking visitors what their perspective was concerning the Institutional Church system. 315 people responded with their votes and comments. 88% (or 277 people) said that they do not believe the Institutional Church system is biblical. 7% (or 21 people) said they believe it is, and 5% (or 17 people) confessed that they weren't sure. I would like to thank all of those who took a few seconds to post your vote.

The second aspect of the poll allowed voters to also voice some of their personal convictions as to why they believe what they do. I wanted to share some of these with everyone and keep at least a few of them available for review here, since that particular poll has been concluded. I loved reading everyone's insights and enjoyed the humorus comments, the heart-wrenching serious ones, and the prayers offered for God to open His people's eyes. It's very encouraging to me to see how God is dealing with so many of you out there and that, despite the evil that is often spoken about us who have left the organized church system, there is a consistent passion I am hearing voiced of God's people; they are not walking away from the Lord but rather RUNNING FULL SPEED to Him! So many, myself included, are just sick of the stale religious routine and all the games and manipulation associated with it - but we long to follow our Great Shepherd together and discover what it means to really function, in day to day living, as the body of Christ. So, from the bottom of my heart, I thank all of you guys - my brothers and sisters in Christ - for sharing your thoughts, concerns and prayers. It lifts me up as your bro in Christ! I hope you will be lifted up as well.

I do want to make note that some of these comments have been edited slightly for brevity sake and to correct a few spelling errors and punctuation. Not all comments have been included here because there were so many. I tried to pick a handful to show the bulk of the comments that were written in. Thank you again to everyone who took the time to share your thoughts and insights. I appreciate it very much and I hope others will be blessed and challenged by some of your perspectives.

In His grip,
David Yeubanks

"church... yeah, about that."
03/08/05 11:32:38 PM MST

"It is MAN'S plan to reach GOD."
03/06/05 8:12:52 PM MST

"Hierarchical institutions are wearing thumbprints of another spirit, yet just as in Jesus' time in Israel, I believe there are wheat and tares growing together."
03/02/05 10:01:59 AM MST

"No- I feel as though I'm in the wilderness. I am just so tired of the man-made rules and regulations. How to dress. How to sing. I never did understand choir practice. Anyhow, it's getting late. I like this site, it's on my favorites. Thanks-Dennis"
02/13/05 11:37:34 PM MST

"It is all man made."
01/19/05 10:03:45 AM MST

"It is not biblical but man made. No where in the Bible will you find that we are to erect a building to come together in. They met in homes, for as God's Word says, God dwells not in temples made by man's hands, and nor should we, but we should meet in homes, where, we the church reside daily."
01/14/05 2:07:03 PM MST

"The 'Church' has become an organization--Christian club--complete with entertainment. It is not a body of equals in Christ or maybe I should say Christ is not alowed to be equal IN all. The money thing has contamanated the 'Church'-- organized that is.
01/05/05 10:59:33 AM MST

"The modern institutional church system bears no resemblance whatsoever to the original church in the Book of Acts."
12/31/04 9:38:44 PM MST

"I believe the church today in ALL denominations has become a place of entertainment and sadly demonic forms of worship, along with self gradifacation in worship have taken hold."
10/19/04 12:14:39 PM MST

"The Church is supposed a fellowship of Christian Believers who come together to worship God following the instructions given in I Cor.14:26-33. 'When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something thatwil be useful forall: Sing a hymn, teac a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight. If prayers are offeredin tongues, 2 or 3's the limit, and then only if someone is present who can interpret what you're saying. Otherwise, keep it between God and yourself. And no moe than 2 or 3 speakers at a meeting, with the rest of you listening and taking it to heart. Take your turn, no one person taking over. Then each speaker gets a chance to say something special from God, and you all learn from each other. If you choose to speak, you're also responsible for how and when you speak. When we worship the right way, God doesn't stir us up into confusion; he brings us into harmony. This goes for all the churches--no exceptions.' quoted from The Message Bible. I believe that explains it all. Tithing is never mentioned in the New Testament, church buildings are never required. The gathering together of the believers was without a pastor, yet orderly though spontaneous. Everyone should come prepared with something which they can teach, sing, or in some manner edify the group and honor and worship God. Thankyou."
10/15/04 0:41:40 AM MS

"To my way of thinking organized religion as carried out in the majority of our churches amounts to not much more than religious entertainment. The admission price is the good old 10% tithe. But then what entertainment don't we have to pay for? :) Larry V."
08/18/04 3:13:34 PM MST

"If we do not turn back to the truth, and I mean me too before it's too late, we will die a lost people."
04/19/04 6:27:00 PM MST

"I think the modern church is biblical - just like the Pharisees!"
03/27/04 3:57:47 PM MST

The Institutional Church is man's traditions glorified that misrepresent the True Love of Christ."
03/02/04 8:26:43 PM MST

"Help us Holy Ghost."
01/21/04 9:10:02 PM MST

"Church Incorporated and Business is Good!"
12/21/03 7:28:01 PM MST

"I'll go farther and say that Jesus never intended any institutional church system for His Church! (Dan from discipleship.net)"
09/23/03 4:43:03 PM MST

"The Holy Spirit still shows up in the institutional church but has little freedom to do anything."
09/01/03 6:26:18 PM MST

"The modern-day church institution has declared itself the temple, storehouse, high priest, and mediator -- and it's done so at the expense of compromising the gospel. The church today has chosen to deny Christ and fulfill its own desires, like a bride who has chosen to continue on her own without a husband. Sincere relationships with each other and with God have been forgotten, and the Bible has been turned upside down in order that the institutional church can march alongside cults and other religions in a vain attempt to see which organization has the loudest voice. Maybe it's the soft voice of Jesus we should listen to, and not the religious beauty pageant going on around us."
07/03/03 5:43:17 PM MST

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