What I feel compelled to write about is the book ‘So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore’ by Jake Colsen. Let’s get something clear at the forefront, and that is Jesus Christ loves His Church despite its flaws! Please read all the flaws of the Church of Sardis and the Church of Laodicea in Revelation Chapter 3. The Epistles themselves in the New Testament are all about correcting the flaws in the different established churches of Jesus Christ. My website is all about getting to the truth of what the Word of God really says because some churches and pastors have twisted the truth. And yes the Church has become anemic in the 21st century. But to bash the organized Church by painting an undue picture with a slanted perception and to encourage others to stay away from it is a whole other ball game.
We as Christians have our list of sins that we utterly hate. But let’s see what the Lord Himself tells us He utterly hates:
“These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV)
THE LORD HATES THE SIN OF ANYONE WHO SOWS DISCORD AMONG THE BRETHREN!
Trying to correct wrongs is good, but there is a line that can be stepped over where it becomes utterly evil. Only God Himself is the final Judge, but the Holy Spirit tells me to stay clear of the philosophy the pseudonym authors who go by the name of Jake Colsen are headed.
What I do learn from Scripture is that I am the one who can make a difference. Before I go into church and into fellowship, I always make sure that I am spiritually right. That I am responsible for my spiritual well-being. Matthew 5:23 says, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 goes on to say, “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” So, the concluding lesson is that I will do my best to come into fellowship with a clean heart, forgiving and being forgiven, and have an attitude of being a giver first and a receiver second. I am to be more worried about me getting it right than those around me in church.
Here is some excerpts from reviews about ‘Jake Colsen’:
Jake Colsen is the author of ‘So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore’. Jake Colsen does not exist. Rather, he is a pseudonym for the combined work of Dave Coleman and Wayne Jacobsen. You may recognize Wayne Jacobsen as one of the founders of ‘Windblown Media’, the company that published a little book called ‘The Shack’–a little book that has gone on to sell well over a million copies. As ‘The Shack’ has found international renown, it has pulled in its wake Windblown Media’s other title, which is also written or co-written by Jacobsen. So the success of ‘So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore’ is very clearly related to that of The Shack (where it has an advertisement on the back page).
What Jacobsen does is fabricate a ridiculous parody of a church and leads us to believe it is the normal Christian church. But what if Jacobsen, instead of fabricating a ridiculous parody of a church, had looked to the New Testament church? While ‘So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore’ is theological fiction, the reader may well note that there is little reference to the Bible. Because it is fiction we might not expect to see direct references to particular passages (and, indeed, we do not) but there is little by way even of indirect references. The character ‘John’ in the book assumes a certain knowledge of Jesus and common sense spirituality and uses this as his bridge to the hearts and minds of the reader. Rather than saying, “The Bible says this…” he tends to say, “This is what the church is like… Doesn’t my version look better?” And of course, with such a dysfunctional church in mind, it really does look better. He looks to the New Testament church on occasion, but is awfully selective, taking only those elements that further his case. He eschews any kind of church hierarchy or office (such as elder and deacon) and in its place leaves only peer-to-peer relationships. If it is in any way formal or organized, it is wrong, it would seem.
Though Jacobsen does occasionally affirm that institutional churches may do some good, the theme of the book comes through loud and clear. In the appendix Jacobsen says, without any apparent trace of hyperbole, “I can tell you absolutely that my worst days outside organized religion are still better than my best days inside it.” And from cover-to-cover, the book is heartlessly negative towards the local church. Christians should, and perhaps even must, withdraw. But the case is made through emotion and through false comparison. Those who hold closely to Scripture may affirm some of what Jacobsen teaches in this book, but they must reject its overall message.
When you go to http://www.JakeColsen.com you will see this claim:
“If you’re tired of just going through the motions of Christianity and want to mine the depths of what it really means to live deeply in Christ, you’ll find Jake’s story will give you hope for your own. This book probes the difficult questions and offers some far-reaching answers. It just might turn your world upside-down as well!”
Remember the claim of Satan in the garden of Eden:
Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4 NKJV)
Annointing 
PS. I have noticed that many adherents to the God Journey and Wayne’s other writings tend to call God ‘Papa’, or ‘Father’ rather than ‘the Father’ and use other types of subtle language changes whenever they talk of their spiritual experiences.While this may in itself not be a problem, I know from experience that since alterations in language and its meaning are also one of the outward signs of cult involvement I am very very wary of them. I remember almost doing it myself when I first started reading Jacobsen’s writings. Somehow you feel as though you are part of some amazing new way of relating to God. Now I see it as proof that you are mimicking somebody else’s apparent spiritual walk rather than genuinely walking as a new creation in Christ yourself.
I used to go to a very controlling authoritarian church which devolved into a cult and whose elders now claim to be Christ! When I came out of that church Wayne Jacobsen’s God Journey Podcasts and his book about not going to church anymore seemed sound, reasonable, and above all a huge relief. Somebody who hadn’t been in an abusive church was advocating not going to church!
In the last few years after leaving this bad church I have spent time in research, bible reading and general theological study trying to break down the bad theology and get back to the good. I realise now that the answer to churches which preach and practice a false doctrine is the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the end, it is the word of God, the power of the Holy Spirit and the repentance and faith towards God of believers which will revolutionise a person’s christian walk. I look at my earlier attempts to reconnect with God and other christians via the God Journey and other sites as teetering on the edge of the abyss. You really are tempted to throw out the baby with the bathwater, but somehow I always knew instinctively that this would open the door to a scary place where nothing was certain and everything could change at a moment’s notice. After having experienced 15 years in the old church living like that, what I wanted was the sense that I was on solid ground, the rock Himself no less! Thank God he led me back to the milk of the word, and now I am champing to eat of the meat.
Interestingly, a friend who left my old church has read the Shack, and has had a personal visitation with WJ and read all of his works, participated in the God Journey is now staunchly pro-emergent as a result. It pains me to realise that while I used to be where my friend was, there is no communication. My friend sees me as being a fuddy-duddy fundamentalist while he, the enlightened convert, sees only God’s love and warm embrace. How do you tell somebody like that they are on the wrong track. I can only hope and pray that they move on eventually and find the truth.
Noah, you really described things precisely. Many throw out the baby with the dirty water.
We want to get thru to people with the truth, but just like Paul experienced, many will oppose. It saddened Paul deeply and it saddens us deeply. All we can do is keep trying and never give up in the race we are in.
We just need to recognize the age we are living in and continue working in the Holy Spirit and in power.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (II Timothy 4:3, 4 NKJV)
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (I Corinthians 2:4 NKJV)
Note that Paul was “full of the Spirit” (not talking “fleshly words” – see gal 2:20)
I am not spending time looking & searching for faults, shortcomings, errors, etc in today’s “churches”. To do so would take my focus off “The Solution” (our Lord Jesus) – as Paul tells us – Phil 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
But to repeat what I wrote in another reply previously – “It saddens me to see many, many people, going along “religiously” (following MAN-MADE rules) every Sunday & going through the “motions” of what some men set down (mostly 1500-1800 years ago) as procedures, doctrines, etc & relying on a few men (the elders, etc) to tell them what to believe in. Rarely do they read their Bible & ask the Holy Spirit to teach them, comfort them, …..
They also often still see themselves as “poor humans” struggling through this life & waiting for the Lord to take them out of this world …. they still see themselves as flesh.
The first command Jesus gave was – “You must be born again!” (see John 3:3, 5, 7 – He told us 3 times in 5 verses, so it is something we all should ask Him (& let Him) to do in our lives. Then, as a consequence of that, a “true” believer is then not of this world (You are a NEW CREATION – 2 Cor 5:17), & will be “fully armoured” (with Christ’s armour). [see Eph 6:10-18 BUT NOTE, the battle is not yours (flesh) you are to STAND in Christ’s protective armour.] … unfortunately, most in the “churches” have not been taught that there is armour to put on OR are told that it is their battle – see also 2 Cor 10:4-5 …NOTE: “lead away into HIS obedience.” (see below)**
John 17:16 They (the 12) are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world.
John 17:17 (Father) Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.
John 17:18 Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. (& the same applies to all those drawn by Father – see below John 6:44)
John 17:19 And so for their sake {and} on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth.
XXXX John 17:20 Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word {and} teaching, ##
**2 Cor 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow {and} destruction of strongholds,
2 Cor 10:5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments {and} theories {and} reasonings and every proud {and} lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought {and} purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
Unless you are a FULLY EQUIPPED soldier/servant of God, He cannot use you as He wants to.
## John 6:44 No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts {and} draws him {and} gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.
John 6:65 And He said, This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him [unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.
John 6:66 After this, many of His disciples drew back (returned to their old associations) and no longer accompanied Him. [they likely never “truly” believed, or made a commitment to what Jesus was teaching.)
Rarely (if ever) are people in the majority of “churches” told or directed to read Luke 4:18-19 & the fact that Jesus announced from the Cross, “It is finished” …. He achieved what He came to earth to achieve. (As a consequence, they live in an “imaginary” prison – they don’t realise, or accept that they ARE free, AS SOON AS THEY (truly) BELIEVE.)
Once a believer is “born again”, THEN, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they (through Gal 2:20) “I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me;” – can achieve the other 37 commands of Jesus. (sadly, most don’t even abide by the first command) – just picture Father, with a sad heart saying, “When are they truly going to believe what My Son Jesus achieved?”)
What did Father tell us in Zech 4:6 “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of Whom the oil is a symbol], says the Lord of hosts.” …..trying to do things in the flesh is a waste of time … & disobedient to God.
I attended a Presbyterian church for over 12 months (attending most Sundays I was in the area). A friend said to me, “What are you going to a “dead church for?” My reply, “Well God has not forgotten how to raise the dead!”
Over that time, as people noticed “I was different”, they asked questions, I would share simple Bible truths & parables that Jesus shared. I would regularly receive a comment like, “You make it sound so simple! ..” Even though I would usually follow it up with a printed page of what I shared, sadly, most would still ‘return to their comfort zone” … in time, hopefully the seed will sprout …. even if the vast majority of those attending were 70 years & over & had been “taught a lot of “theology”. Even the Pastor would attempt to dissuade me by supplying me with lists of “old books” to refer to (never a Bible verse). As I could see that he was “feeling edgy”, all I did was pray & follow 2 Cor 10:4-5 & “let go & let God & shake the dust off my sandals & move on”.
I experience what Jesus experienced -Mark 6:5 And He was not able to do even one work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sickly people [and] cured them.
Mark 6:6 And He marveled because of their unbelief (their lack of faith in Him). And He went about among the surrounding villages and continued teaching.
You mentioned revival.
Please read Wiggleworth’s daily Devotional (prayerfully) from July 7-19 (& likely more days follow) – noting on July 8 “The flood tide of Revival” – …. God must do it, when His children, as members of the Body of Christ, are ready & willing …. He has already made us able!
It would be nice & good for “brotherly fellowship” to know your name, rather than simply writing to an inbox.
Your fellow member of the Body of Christ.
Brian McMichan
Well back to work. I am a practicing Public Accountant, in the middle of a busy work day (our “tax ear” ended on 30 June.)
Hi Brian. My name is Dale. I am an electro-mechanical technician for the largest Bible publishing house in the world. I literally repair the equipment in order to keep producing Bibles in the world’s languages so they can be distributed throughout the earth fulfilling Mark 13:10. Please read Noah’s remarks on Jake Colsen’s book. His description of throwing the baby out with the dirty water describes it perfectly.
Jesus loves that baby even if the baby is quite dirty. He wants us to clean the water up, even if it is one drop at a time.
Who are the church? The church is the body of Christ, of which He is the head.
Eph 1:22 And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church],
Eph 1:23 Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].
How does father make you part of Christ’s body?
Rom 10:9 Because if you acknowledge {and} confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) {and} confirms [his] salvation.
John 15:1 I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. (He grafts new branches into Christ – the True Vine)
John 15:4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.
John 15:5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
Through being in Christ, you constantly receive all that He is & has – you in Him & He in you, at the same time.
Then, following the example that Jesus gave – you exhibit your commitment to Christ. (Not as a small child who does not have understanding). You take a step of faith!
Mark 16:16 He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned.
Acts 2:38 And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of {and} release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 22:16 And now, why do you delay? Rise and be baptized, and by calling upon His name, wash away your sins.
Baptised – as Jesus did, fully immersed (to leave the old man behind).
The universal church consists of all those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ – they are aware that they are in Christ.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh {and} new has come! (As Paul tells us – Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.) Jesus wants to continue His work through us – not by us. He took our place on the cross & He wants to take our place again on earth!
John 15:2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away);
What percentage of the “church goers” understand the above? How many have made an adult decision to be fully immersed (like Christ) in water baptism? (a step of faith … a bit like “rise, take up your bed & walk!”
Because the early church was not focused on the maintenance of a church building, endless programs, and technology, they were able to concentrate on the study of God’s Word, service and dedication to one another, hospitality, benevolence, and missions (Romans 1:8; 15:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Acts 13:1-26:32). While programs and technology can make some of these things easier, the early church had a pure, simplistic approach. Compared to the structured organization of the church today, the early church looked more like the informal settings of one of our Bible studies or small groups.
2 Pet 2:1 BUT ALSO [in those days – Peter’s days] there arose false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among yourselves, who will subtly {and} stealthily introduce heretical doctrines (destructive heresies), even denying {and} disowning the Master Who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Pet 2:2 And many will follow their immoral ways {and} lascivious doings; because of them the true Way will be maligned {and} defamed.
Man departed from the will of God & brought in his own interpretation of how things should be done (pride)– e.g the sprinkle baptism of infants; twisting the Scriptures; worshipping men & idols; erecting buildings to be “the church”, etc, etc.
The original church met in small groups, shared, encouraged, etc (not like today where many are “lost in the crowd’.
I highly recommend you read “Call to discipleship” by Juan Carlos Ortiz, who was (I think) a Methodist minister in South America & took over a small church (less than 100 people). He (pridefully) went about to show God how he could increase the number to over 200. After about 2 years of intense effort he achieved that. As he sat admiring his achievement & asking for acknowledgement from God, he was told to close the church. “What!” “After all my effort?” God told him to select a few devoted believers & form groups of less than 12 people (no husband & wife together) & meet in houses & get away from the church “rituals”. The keep forming new groups with a “leader” from the groups. Within 2 years the “church” had grown to 20,000. (House churches, as Father had wanted achieved Father’s will … He knows best) See Ps 118:8 It is better to trust {and} take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
Behind most “churches” today is the cause of Adam & Eve’s sin (separation from God & death (immediate death …not physical). That cause was PRIDE (the basis of all sin) … have a think about it … what motivates man … most time it is the flesh!
Brian McMichan
All of the scripture you used is so true. But there is something much deeper than the points you have listed. This is the heart of the matter and why I have written against two books at the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to church authority. Both books are extremely unhealthy spiritually for a Christian and both books twist the Scriptures with an unbiblical view of church authority. The first book by John Bevere ‘Under Cover’ promotes a dangerous authority that can cripple and kill. The second book of which you comment by Jake Colsen ‘So You Don’t Want To Go To Church Anymore’ which eschews church authority (elders and so on) as laid out in Scripture. It promotes only Peer-to-Peer authority which is valid only to a small degree.
Whenever I hear of a book or philosophy that talks about how wrong the modern organized church has become, I begin looking deep to see if there is a spirit of rebellion laying at the heart of it. That is what the book by Jake Colsen is about and it really doesn’t take much digging to see that. The intentions may be good, but the heart of the matter can at the same time be evil.
Some of the most successful organized churches combine both a centralized traditional institution along with the house churches so its members can also have an extremely close knit relationship that can truly promote growth and fellowship.
Now to go way beyond that. What I am praying for is another outpouring of the Holy Spirit before the man of sin is revealed. It will be way beyond house churches or traditional churches. What I am praying for is that we will be able to take it to the streets and see people saved and healed with a radical movement of the Holy Spirit. One last revival that breaks down all walls of what anyone believes the Church should be. People being saved on street corners and in shopping lines becoming common place that even no government will be able to stop or do anything about.
We can debate for the rest of our lives of how the Church should be, but Paul summed it up quite well:
“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (I Corinthians 2:4, 5 NKJV)