This statement is something that I have seen gain more and more traction over the last few years. You’ve probably heard people say it yourself, or something similar. I want to spend this article identifying why people might say that, and then look at what the Bible says about “organized religion.” Here are a few reasons I think people might say this statement:

They or someone they know has been mistreated by the church.
They have seen/heard of churches not functioning properly.
They want the benefits of being a Christian without the responsibility of being a Christian.
They think Christianity is only personal and nothing more.

Now, these are just a handful of reasons that I’ve heard people give for not wanting to be involved in some kind of organized religion. They are all valid feelings too. I don’t want to dismiss these statements. However, just because a church somewhere isn’t what it’s supposed to be doesn’t discount organized religion altogether. Jesus said that He came to build His CHURCH (Matthew 16:18). He wasn’t talking about a building, but an organization of people. In Ephesians 3:10 Paul said “through the church” the wisdom of God is seen. Organized religion is part of God’s eternal plan for mankind!

So what do we do with this thought that one can have Jesus but not organized religion? It simply is not what the Bible teaches. Following Jesus is inseparable from being a part of His church. Acts 2:41 says that those who became Christians were added to Jesus’ church! You simply cannot have Jesus without having His church also.

I know that people have been burned by churches that aren’t what God intended them to be. But if these people could find the church that embodies everything God intended it to be, I believe that they would change their minds about this statement. The church is one of the greatest blessings on this earth! Our churches need to embody what God intended them to be so that we can show the world the value of Jesus’ church.

— Kolton Ballance