The Myth of Christianity as a Solo Religion

This is Father Jared Cramer from St. John’s Episcopal Church in Grand Haven, Michigan, here with today’s edition of Christian Mythbusters, a regular segment I offer to counter some common misconceptions about the Christian faith. You’ve probably heard someone say, “My faith is personal. I don’t need organized religion.” I know I’ve heard it—and sometimes even wanted to say it myself. But the idea that the life of faith can be a solo journey is, in the end, a myth for most people. It just doesn’t line up with how spiritual growth usually happens. So, let’s break it. Let’s be clear, I completely understand the impulse. Many people have had painful experiences in the church—communities that judged instead of welcomed, leaders who failed to live what they preached, or systems that seemed more interested in maintaining control than nurturing souls. After enough disappointment, it’s no wonder some decide to walk away and focus on their “own” relationship with God. But that phrase at the beginning—“personal relationship with Jesus”—is part of the problem. For decades, much of American Christianity has emphasized the individual side of faith: Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Savior? Do you know where you’ll go when you die? Those questions assume an individualized faith and have overshadowed something essential: Christianity was never meant to be a solo act. Of course, a personal relationship with God matters deeply. Your prayer life, your moments of grace and doubt—all of that is sacred. But faith was always meant to be lived in community. From the very beginning, followers of Jesus gathered together—breaking bread, praying, serving, and learning as one body. The New Testament doesn’t tell the story of isolated believers; it tells the story of the Church. Many of my friends who describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious” haven’t actually abandoned community. They’ve built circles of connection—friends who support one another and live out compassion and justice. And that’s beautiful. If that’s you, maybe don’t say you’ve given up on church, but be intentional about claiming the alternative church you’ve built—the people who walk with you in love and accountability. That’s still community. But it’s also worth asking what might be missing. Because a robust church community offers something deeper. In church, you gather with people who are different—different ages, backgrounds, and perspectives. You pray, eat, and wrestle with Scripture together. That kind of community—rooted in worship and shaped by a tradition older and wiser than any one of us—stretches your soul and keeps your faith honest. Church, at its best, offers more than friendship. It offers formation. You get to draw on two thousand years of people figuring out how to follow Jesus—through the wisdom of Scripture, the rhythm of prayer, and the grace found in sacraments, where God meets us in bread and wine, in water and oil, in the ordinary stuff of life. Now, I’m not saying you have to go to church to get into heaven. That whole “go to church or go to hell” framing misses the heart of the gospel entirely. Heaven isn’t a prize for good attendance—it’s the fullness of God’s love that will, in the end, I believe heal and restore all things… and all people. But if you want to grow closer to God—to become more loving, courageous, and Christlike—a healthy, authentic Christian community can take you farther than a solo faith ever will. And if you’re thinking, “That doesn’t sound like my church,” maybe that’s the Holy Spirit nudging you. Because if your current community isn’t helping you love God and your neighbor more deeply, it might be time to find one that does. None of us can do this alone. We need people—and the wisdom of faith—to help us grow into the person God created us to be. Thanks for being with me. To find out more about my parish, you can go to sjegh.com. Until next time, remember: protest like Jesus, love recklessly, and live your faith out in a community that accepts you but also challenges you to be better tomorrow than you are today.