Churchless Christianity?

The question of "true" Christianity outside church walls is ancient, echoing even in the Roman catacombs where early Christians, facing persecution, worshipped in secret.

The very word "church" comes from the Greek "ekklesia," meaning "assembly" or "called-out ones," suggesting a community, not just a building.

Jesus himself, though raised within Judaism's temple tradition, often taught outdoors, on hillsides, by the sea, emphasizing faith lived out in the world.

The parable of the Good Samaritan further challenges institutional focus: a despised outsider acts with more Christ-like compassion than the religious officials.

Yet, early Christians did gather, sharing meals, pooling resources (Acts 2:42-47), demonstrating that faith also thrives in shared experience, mutual support.

Centuries later, monastic movements arose, individuals or small groups seeking God in solitude, showing the spectrum of Christian practice has always been wide.

Today, technology adds another layer: online sermons, virtual prayer groups, digital communities offer connection outside physical church walls.

The key question may not be location, but orientation: Is one's life truly turned towards Christ's teachings, in action and spirit, wherever they are?

Ultimately, "church" can be both noun and verb: a place we go, AND a way we live, the two ideally intertwined, but not always easily so.

Perhaps the most "Christian" act is wrestling with this question authentically, seeking God with open heart, open mind, and open eyes, in all of life's spaces.