Why churches? Well, if you track back, you'll find 'religious meeting places' pretty much everywhere, no matter the religion! From that, you can probably conclude that either (1) the religious people like to be together periodically or (2) the religious leaders want the people to 'show up' periodically (or both!).

Either way, the 'church' provides something the people want, or they wouldn't come, right?

In the early Christian times, they met in each other's homes. 'At the time', they weren't exactly appreciated by their local citizenry (Jerusalem and later synogogues) or for that matter the current government (Rome). Indeed, by the time the last book of the Bible was written, as far as we know, the Christians were still meeting in their homes. The greek word at the time 'ecclesia' was an 'assembly'.

However, by the time official acceptance occurred about 200 year later (Constantine), there were bishops and churches and excited discussions about the 'right' belief.

Is there a difference between meeting in 'homes' (which some still do today), and 'churches'? Well, for one thing, when you meet in someone's home, they're probably going to make sure everyone's in general agreement. Else a lot of argument! But in churches, especially as they grow, they introduce a 'belief police' (belief shepherd?!). Almost always the pastor or priest. Who are in-turn 'policed' either by the denomination hierarchy or the congregation itself.

And as the church grows further, buildings require money, and organizations demand 'financial feeding'. Over time, it all settles down to a process that repeats itself week after week, month after month, and eventually generation after generation.

Soooo .... you come along! Is your belief the original solution Jesus offered, or the solution this 'church' offers? Therein lies the issue! Maybe you should 'shop' the churches?! Try them on for size! Or worse, begin to question 'your' belief. Not good!

The interesting thing about early Christianity was that each person had a responsibility for their own belief. Jesus didn't have a 'tribe' or 'village' or 'national' religion to keep things going ... just him and you. And 2,000 years later, it's really still just him and you. Churches? Only if they believe as you do. And as Jesus taught.

Your life. Your call.