DIYCHURCH (Do-it-yourself Church)

The aim of this web page is to help you think about the Christian church from first principles.

Here in the UK, we currently have around fifty thousand places of worship which regard themselves as churches and are widely referred to as such. This gives the impression that gathering for worship is the central role of the church.

In the gospels, we find a different emphasis in what Jesus said about hischurch, namely "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18)." The central role of the church is therefore to storm the gates of hell, in other words to release people from hell. Once let out, believers are to heed what Jesus told the twelve on his departure, "Teach them (the future followers) to observe everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20).

In our churches we therefore need to pay close attention to the commands of Jesus. These do not include gathering to worship God, surprisingly. It took me many years to come to terms with the idea that worshipping God together is a distraction for the church from its real task.

"Just as the father sent me, so I send you (John 20:21)."
Read through the gospels to see what Jesus wanted his followers to do and be and to absorb the example he set, trying to set aside your preconceived ideas. That is the agenda of the church.

I wrote an account of my enquiries into this subject called The Priorities of Jesus in 2003; please click here for details. Maybe it will help you think things through for yourself.

Here is a list of Jesus' commands in the gospels that I found when writing that book. Some clearly have greater importance than others.

Here are some brief videos I made to help stimulate discussion.

I have since written Follow Jesus: Do I Have to Go to Church? Can I Trust the Bible? (2023) on ta similar theme.

More recently still, I wrote The Church; Oh Dear (2024).

Most believers think I am bonkers on this, but I'm sticking to my guns. The church needs to get out of our buildings and worship patterns and get on with saving the world in my opinion. That is our calling.

Thank you

David Pennant, Woking, UK