Disenchantment with
Organized Religion
David's early Christian instruction was based in the churches. Yet as he became more involved in preaching the Gospel, he grew increasingly aware that many churches were not interested in fulfilling the Great Commission that Christ had given His disciples, to "go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). considered that they were a far cry from the Early Church of the New Testament.
"From childhood I had this feeling that something was wrong with the churches. We just weren't reaching the vast majority of the people"
Most of these ... worshippers in our churches didn't even faintly
resemble the Early Christians! ... Most of the church members were a bunch of old hypocrites who
weren't the slightest bit interested in getting the Gospel to the lost, but much more interested
in getting a fancier church building ... and showing off fancy clothes at fancy meetings. Church
membership had become a status symbol and a business necessity for the affluent society, a social
club for the rich and well-to-do. [1]
It was a dilemma that David would grapple with for several years. He longed to serve God, and yet the only place where it seemed he could do this was within a church system that he saw as largely complacent and disinterested in missionary and evangelistic work. As he put it: "There was no place else to serve God but 'in church.' Where else was there? What else could a young Christian do to serve the Lord but go to church or to Bible School and become a church minister, pastor, evangelist, or missionary?" [2]
Over time, David became even more convinced of the ineffectiveness of many of the organized, traditional denominations of his day—with their emphasis on ceremonialism and lavish buildings, as well as the general lack of interest in evangelical outreach. He knew that there were many sincere and dedicated Christians and missionaries in all denominations, but he felt that they were hampered by a church system that was overly bureaucratic, bound by outdated methods, and no longer gave priority to its job of reaching the lost. These convictions would markedly influence the Children of God, and later the Family International, ultimately leading to a separation from mainstream Christianity. He stated:
God never once said [in the New Testament] to build church buildings!
He never once said to establish Bible colleges and universities! He never once said to build
great and costly cathedrals! He just said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel
to every creature!” [3]
We know that our Salvation doesn't depend on our going to church on
Sunday! It depends on our trusting Jesus Christ as our Savior! We're the very temple of God
ourselves!—You and me!—His children, living day by day, our own hearts as His place
of worship, no building, no great temples built with hands of men—which cannot contain God
anyhow! He dwells within the human heart! Buildings cannot contain Him, but your heart contains
the Lord Jesus Christ if you love Him! That's the wonderful mystery and miracle of God!
[4]
The True Church are the genuine Christian believers in God who follow
Jesus—the born-again, saved, Body of Christ—not a building or a denomination or a
religion! [5]