Eric Davis addresses Christians who choose not to go to church for one reason or another. “Is it inconsequential for the professing believer to remain a flockless sheep?” he asks.
So, what’s to become of flockless sheep? Does the Bible give any outlook for them? Actually, it does. And according to Davis the outlook is bad. Not surprisingly, there are some consequences for those who insist on remaining churchless Christians, which he shares in his piece over at The Cripplegate. He writes:
Sadly, it’s become a norm within American Christianity. Incredibly, it’s a regular thing amid evangelicalism. Embarrassingly, it’s widely accepted among many professing Christians. “I’m a Christian, but I don’t really go to church.”
Churchless Christians. Flockless sheep. Bodyless body-parts.
First century Christians would not have had a category for such a thing. It would’ve been one of the more bizarre phenomena imaginable.
Professing Christians have many reasons for persisting in detachment from a New Testament church. “We’ve been burned.” “We’re still looking.” “We do church on our own.” “There’s no verse that says I need to go to church.” “I haven’t found a good fit.” “I’m too busy.” You could cite more. This is something that we should lament as the family of Christ. It’s no small matter. I’m not referring to Christians who would love to plug into a local church, but are prevented by trying circumstances (e.g. debilitating health, imprisonment, a persecuted country, serving in the armed forces, etc.). This is speaking of those who are able but will not.
So, is it inconsequential for the professing believer to remain a flockless sheep? What becomes of them? Does the Bible give any outlook for them? In fact, the outlook is bad. With that, here are a few consequences for those who insist on remaining churchless Christians.
Research: