So you want to give up on the church?

Why do I need church?

"I can worship God on my own, on my own time, and in my own way.  I don't need a room full of hypocrites and abusive folk."

I understand where this sentiment comes, because the church is not very ideal.  Every thing that Christopher Hitchens lays against the church in "God is not Great" is true.

However, I believe that freedom is one of our highest gifts as Americans.  We are free to vote.  We are free to speak.  We are free to own property.  We are free to go across this country without too much hinderance.  We are free to worship.

But true freedom to worship is found in a community of believers.  It is when I am free to worship within a community of faith and know that I will not be harmed for expressing my personal views of God then I know true freedom.  If I say, I do not need a community, because I will worship freely outside the church, then their is not any freedom.   The church constrains people to believe narrowly.  The person has to hide their feelings about God.  It is in community where true freedom is found that people can grow through their interaction with one another and with God.

That is why you need the church and we need you.  We need to be free.