Can A Christian Really Grow Spiritually WITHOUT The Church?

I checked my email on Monday only to be hit with the article "5 out of 6 Americans Agree: I Can Grow Spiritually without the Church". That was a real blessing -- NOT! I am certainly aware that there are all kinds of studies on all kinds of issues, and many end up contradicting each other. But having waited a few days in order to be able to go back and read it with a little more emotional energy (Monday is not the day for those kinds of things!), I thought it might be at least informative to hear what is being said. Apparently the original survey was done by George Barna (whatever you may think of his analysis), here is part of his statement:

And while 72 percent of Americans claim they have personally committed themselves to Jesus Christ, less than 50 percent attend religious services on a weekly basis.

“These figures emphasize how soft people’s commitment to God is,” evangelical researcher George Barna said in the report. “Americans are willing to expend some energy in religious activities such as attending church and reading the Bible, and they are willing to throw some money in the offering basket, but when it comes time to truly establishing their priorities and making a tangible commitment to knowing and loving God, most people stop short." (link to article)

Todd Rhoades made two deductions (link to article) from the survey:

1. The world, even when they are searching and longing for spiritual growth, isn't even looking to the church as a possibility for that growth. Four out of five (according to this survey) don't view the church as a valuable source for spiritual growth. The church has lost it's salt. Quite frankly, 80% just don't believe the church (as they know it) to be valuable to them in any way other than weddings and funerals.

2. The church (those who attend church as a whole) has a diminished view of what being a part of the church can/will do for them. A growing percentage of those still involved in the church disagree that being a part of the church can help them reach their full spiritual potential. This matches other studies that show an increasing percentage of Christians who feel they are spiritually fit while not involved in any local church.

Having had a chance to have emotional energy (and maybe also spiritual energy) renewed, I am convinced that the Church of Jesus Christ is the only answer to people's deepest needs, and so we keep on "preaching and teaching Christ in order that we may present every man complete in Christ"