Is not going to church a sin?

[linssue55]

I know the word says to stay in fellowship (not forsake), but what if you are in between churches. Do you feel it's a sin if you don't go to the building, but continue to fellowship with other believers say on the phone or by computer...or listen to sermons on the radio rather than in person?

I would love to hear from you all on this matter...thanks!

My church building is 1,000 miles away. So God has provided the internet so I can hear the lessons from my pastor along WITH the congregation. WE the believers, ARE the church. Paul taught through his letter writing. Do not feel guilty, guilt is a terrible sin and will keep you out of fellowship.

 

[- DRA -]

I know the word says to stay in fellowship (not forsake), but what if you are in between churches. Do you feel it's a sin if you don't go to the building, but continue to fellowship with other believers say on the phone or by computer...or listen to sermons on the radio rather than in person?

I would love to hear from you all on this matter...thanks!

Hebrews 10:23-31 (ESV) says,

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him who said, Vengeance is mine; I will repay. And again, The Lord will judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 

[- DRA -]

Hebrews 10:23-31 (ESV) says,

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him who said, Vengeance is mine; I will repay. And again, The Lord will judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

I've read some of the previous posts where some try to undermine this text. It is really pretty self-explanatory. Christians are expected to be faithful to God -- as He is to them. Specifically, they are to consider each other by encouraging love and good works. How can they do this? Neglecting to meet together with the church is not the right answer. To do so is to sin willfully. And, it seems the Lord takes this downright personal. I suggest that those respectful of the Lord will be at every service they can be. And, I also suspect the Lord knows the difference between the reasons why people can't attend the worship services and the excuses they offer.

 

[rosiecotton]

I suggest that those respectful of the Lord will be at every service they can be.

EVERY service? So if someone's church has a Saturday night service, 2 or 3 sunday services and a Wednesday service, they have to be at every one???

 

[- DRA -]

EVERY service? So if someone's church has a Saturday night service, 2 or 3 sunday services and a Wednesday service, they have to be at every one???

Food for Thought:

Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)says, "Not forsaking [egkataleipo] the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

And, Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) says, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave [egkataleipo] thee, nor forsake [egkataleipo] thee."

Now, how often do you expect God to be there for you? Every time you need Him, or just when He feels like it?
That is the same approach you should use when it comes to the services of the Lord's church. It's the same Koine Greek word. Think about it.

 

[Koey]

Food for Thought:

Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)says, "Not forsaking [egkataleipo] the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

And, Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) says, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave [egkataleipo] thee, nor forsake [egkataleipo] thee."

Now, how often do you expect God to be there for you? Every time you need Him, or just when He feels like it?
That is the same approach you should use when it comes to the services of the Lord's church. It's the same Koine Greek word. Think about it.

Now if I go once a month, or once a week only, I have forsaken nothing. Those who quit have forsaken the assembling. Is God only at church assemblies? Is he not there for me whenever I need him, and am I not capable of talking with him anytime? Was Abraham therefore faithless and not the father of the faithful, because he attended no church, but rather spent private time with God and had family worship time for the most part? Those who speak of "this house" etc. seem to be missing Jesus' own words when he said that people would no longer worship in "this house" but in spirit and truth.

Granted, it is good to be with Christians, at least spiritually healthy ones, but Christians can be a stumbling block to true faith, because they too often put their empires, "houses of worship" and traditions before the teachings of Jesus and his kingdom.

 

[- DRA -]

Originally Posted by - DRA -

Food for Thought:

Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)says, "Not forsaking [egkataleipo] the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

And, Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) says, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave [egkataleipo] thee, nor forsake [egkataleipo] thee."

Now, how often do you expect God to be there for you? Every time you need Him, or just when He feels like it?
That is the same approach you should use when it comes to the services of the Lord's church. It's the same Koine Greek word. Think about it.

Now if I go once a month, or once a week only, I have forsaken nothing. Those who quit have forsaken the assembling.

Then, the same is true of God. If He is there for us only once a week or month, then He has not forsaken us. Who really believes that is what God promised?

Is God only at church assemblies? Is he not there for me whenever I need him, and am I not capable of talking with him anytime?

No one said God is only at church assemblies. I suggest you read Hebrews 10:24-25 again. It's about the influence for good that Christians have for each other. God says that Christians do this by being at the assemblies.

Was Abraham therefore faithless and not the father of the faithful, because he attended no church, but rather spent private time with God and had family worship time for the most part? Those who speak of "this house" etc. seem to be missing Jesus' own words when he said that people would no longer worship in "this house" but in spirit and truth.

This is a red herring. Abraham was not in the church that Jesus established, nor under the law of Christ.

However, Abraham was obedient to God (James 2:21-24). He demonstrates the faith that we should have. We also should be obedient to God. Those who do not obey God simply do not have the faith of Abraham!

Granted, it is good to be with Christians, at least spiritually healthy ones, but Christians can be a stumbling block to true faith, because they too often put their empires, "houses of worship" and traditions before the teachings of Jesus and his kingdom.

What passage(s) would you use to show that it is good to be with Christians? And, what passage(s) would you use to show that unfaithful Christians are a legitimate reason not to attend worship services?

 

[Nadiine]

I have more of a problem with the framing of the question...
I'd like to ask, WHY WE DON'T WANT TO GO TO CHURCH as Christians?
Most answers I read here are selfish ones... what they see that they dislike, that they're hypocrites, they don't FEEL loved, they don't like pastors, they don't like how services are run, they don't like that offerings are taken or that a pastor is on salary.. etc.

Ya, there's some BAD churches out there- definitely! But there are tons of BAD doctors, lawyers, dentists & contractors too - do we NOT use them becuz there's bad ones around? No, we find good ones.

But church isn't about US, it's about us going to worship GOD & be with other believers in a community. Serving God & serving others. We're supposed to be FAMILY members under Christ.
Yet instead, I see others attacking other Christians as if they have it all wrong, & here's what i don't like about them... yadda yadda, therefore, I refuse to go.
(never once thinking that THEY may actually be one of the bad people... or wrong, or hypocritical!)

IT'S ABOUT GOD not us. The issue isn't, is it sin not to go, it's WHY DON'T PEOPLE WANT TO GO where God is & where His people are gathering to worship, to give offerings, sing praises, pray together, learn, share burdens & blessings?

If we hate church, maybe we'd hate heaven - after all, all it is up there is nonstop praise & worship to God & hanging out with all the other Christians we find faults & have issues against?

 

[Harlan Norris]

I know the word says to stay in fellowship (not forsake), but what if you are in between churches. Do you feel it's a sin if you don't go to the building, but continue to fellowship with other believers say on the phone or by computer...or listen to sermons on the radio rather than in person?

I would love to hear from you all on this matter...thanks!

I've gotta say that in my experience,church has been a great dissapointment.I continue to attend in order to tithe and take communion. However, I'm no good at chuch speak, and it's obvious to me that the doctrins preached are not necessasaily scriptural. It's the marriage of the church to the state that is causing this time period to be extremely dangerous for christians. So, an opt out of the standardised denominational church is probably a good idea.

 

[Nadiine]

I've gotta say that in my experience,church has been a great dissapointment.I continue to attend in order to tithe and take communion. However, I'm no good at chuch speak, and it's obvious to me that the doctrins preached are not necessasaily scriptural. It's the marriage of the church to the state that is causing this time period to be extremely dangerous for christians. So, an opt out of the standardised denominational church is probably a good idea.

Yep, there's some bad churches out there (but that's all individual preference; there are SO many people that believe different things doctrinally, that any one church won't suit everyone).

I can promise that someone of a more liberal theology would HATE the types of churches I personally love and promote as good (and vice versa).
So.... i think that's the issue w/ people's complaints about churches.

But I'm glad you're going & taking communion & giving your offerings. I think that's great & it's important to us as believers. To me, that shows humility and obedience.
I'd just suggest finding a new church that you're comfortable in eventually.

 

[Col]

Of course its not a sin. If you are going to Church (bricks and mortar) simply because you think you have to, then you are going for the wrong reason. Besides which, when all these much quoted cut and pasted passages were written, a church was simply two or more gathered. Christians invariably gather or meet in some form or another be it work or play every day and in so doing have ample opportunity to encourage and strengthen each other.
My allegience is to God and my encouragement and strengthening of resolve comes from gathering with other Christians wherever we may be. You don't need a building to do this.
God is not found in church. He is found in our lives.

 

[Nadiine]

Of course its not a sin. If you are going to Church (bricks and mortar) simply because you think you have to, then you are going for the wrong reason. Besides which, when all these much quoted cut and pasted passages were written, a church was simply two or more gathered. Christians invariably gather or meet in some form or another be it work or play every day and in so doing have ample opportunity to encourage and strengthen each other.
My allegience is to God and my encouragement and strengthening of resolve comes from gathering with other Christians wherever we may be. You don't need a building to do this.
God is not found in church. He is found in our lives.

Playing together on a ball field as Christians, isn't the concept of "church worship" as the early NT. churches gathered corporately for spiritual edification.
Playtime is playtime.

We are the church, but the examples given in the NT aren't playing hacky sack in a coloseum.
I'm not shunning our gathering together in other places other than a church, but where are we taking communion at regularly like Christ commanded?
Where are people getting baptized?
Where are we learning & giving offerings? etc. etc.

We're given NT examples for a reason. So I disagree with things in this post as if it's no big deal or any importance to go to a regular church to worship God, give offerings, pray together, take communion, baptize and be taught His word. etc.

 

[Harlan Norris]

Yep, there's some bad churches out there (but that's all individual preference; there are SO many people that believe different things doctrinally, that any one church won't suit everyone).

I can promise that someone of a more liberal theology would HATE the types of churches I personally love and promote as good (and vice versa).
So.... i think that's the issue w/ people's complaints about churches.

But I'm glad you're going & taking communion & giving your offerings. I think that's great & it's important to us as believers. To me, that shows humility and obedience.
I'd just suggest finding a new church that you're comfortable in eventually.

Well, the church I now attend is ok. It's bland and fairly uninspired,but no politics to speak of,no items for sale.So, it's an improvement. Still though, there is an undercurrent of politics. It's not about prepareing for the end time.That's what it should be at this point. We need to get ready both spiritually and psycologically to face what we are about to go through. Frankly,I've never yet attended a church where that was the subject of serious discussion.

 

[Col]

Playing together on a ball field as Christians, isn't the concept of "church worship" as the early NT. churches gathered corporately for spiritual edification.
Playtime is playtime.

We are the church, but the examples given in the NT aren't playing hacky sack in a coloseum.
I'm not shunning our gathering together in other places other than a church, but where are we taking communion at regularly like Christ commanded?
Where are people getting baptized?
Where are we learning & giving offerings? etc. etc.

We're given NT examples for a reason. So I disagree with things in this post as if it's no big deal or any importance to go to a regular church to worship God, give offerings, pray together, take communion, baptize and be taught His word. etc.

The phrase at "work and at play" does not mean play as in ball games. It simply means not at work.
I think its a bit of a stretch and using a little too much poetic licence to twist my post into saying playing sport is akin to church. I simply said you don't need a building and free hour once a week to encourage each other in ones chrisitan life. You can do this all day every day if the opportunity presents itself.
I am also not against church, I simply pointed out that I believe that a building is not the only place you can worship God.
And finally, I have worshipped God, given offerings, prayed together, taken communion, been taught from His word, attended baptisms and even funerals, in all sorts of venues, including, houses, backyards, open fields, flight decks on warships, small compartments, , carparks, beaches and in most of the worlds oceans days from land. Again, uncomfortable seats, and personnel in fancy dress do not necessarily make a church nor are they always fruitful.
Not everyone grows up leaves home, gets a job, buys a house around the corner lives there 70 years, goes the the same church all their life and then dies.
Many of us have quite a disrupted existence, where travel and uncertainty is all part of life. And for people like us, we learn to meet God where we are everyday in everyway. And if we are lucky enough to be able to attend a Church we will invariably do so, but simply to be with other Christians, however we have learnt that makeshift services can be conducted anywhere at anytime and the feeling of rejuvination and exhillaration after one is really something special that has to be experienced to understand.

 

[Nadiine]

The phrase at "work and at play" does not mean play as in ball games. It simply means not at work.
I think its a bit of a stretch and using a little too much poetic licence to twist my post into saying playing sport is akin to church. I simply said you don't need a building and free hour once a week to encourage each other in ones chrisitan life. You can do this all day every day if the opportunity presents itself.
I am also not against church, I simply pointed out that I believe that a building is not the only place you can worship God.
And finally, I have worshipped God, given offerings, prayed together, taken communion, been taught from His word, attended baptisms and even funerals, in all sorts of venues, including, houses, backyards, open fields, flight decks on warships, small compartments, , carparks, beaches and in most of the worlds oceans days from land. Again, uncomfortable seats, and personnel in fancy dress do not necessarily make a church nor are they always fruitful.
Not everyone grows up leaves home, gets a job, buys a house around the corner lives there 70 years, goes the the same church all their life and then dies.
Many of us have quite a disrupted existence, where travel and uncertainty is all part of life. And for people like us, we learn to meet God where we are everyday in everyway. And if we are lucky enough to be able to attend a Church we will invariably do so, but simply to be with other Christians, however we have learnt that makeshift services can be conducted anywhere at anytime and the feeling of rejuvination and exhillaration after one is really something special that has to be experienced to understand.

I wasn't stretching your statement - in my opinion,:

Christians invariably gather or meet in some form or another be it work or play every day and in so doing have ample opportunity to encourage and strengthen each other.

In its context, you made it sound like wherever 2 are gathered, no matter what the venue or situation (work, play, shopping, whatever), it's "church" & ample to supply a Christian's needs & that it's not important that it's any 'formal' church gathering.

I didn't at all go into your particular practices that I knew nothing of, I just replied to your general (casual) statement of church assembly.

I also basically specified that I agreed church was anywhere WE gather - but we still need to follow the NT examples for proper edification.
I don't mean it as any attack tho.

 

[LittleladyinChrist]

Recently, I have left a church because of the lack of fellowship I was receiving there. People were talking behind each others backs and there were alot of cliques. I had tried to make it work for 1 1/2 year but I realized that the entire time I was there I cannot remember 1 time that I have had true fellowship of the spirit. A man I knew started talking about all the needs he saw from alot of different people we knew for true fellowship of believers all things came into place and there are about 8 - 10 of us and we meet at my house on Sunday evenings now and Tuesday night for prayer night. I enjoy this because there is no rigirous time schedule for worship, or even how long the preacher preaches, he is not watching the clock. I dont think I am forsaking the assembley of ourselfs together, Im just sick and tired of fakeness on Sunday morning and people who dont care about you putting on a mask and shaking your hand and it seems alot of people feel this way.

 

[Nadiine]

Recently, I have left a church because of the lack of fellowship I was receiving there. People were talking behind each others backs and there were alot of cliques. I had tried to make it work for 1 1/2 year but I realized that the entire time I was there I cannot remember 1 time that I have had true fellowship of the spirit. A man I knew started talking about all the needs he saw from alot of different people we knew for true fellowship of believers all things came into place and there are about 8 - 10 of us and we meet at my house on Sunday evenings now and Tuesday night for prayer night. I enjoy this because there is no rigirous time schedule for worship, or even how long the preacher preaches, he is not watching the clock. I dont think I am forsaking the assembley of ourselfs together, Im just sick and tired of fakeness on Sunday morning and people who dont care about you putting on a mask and shaking your hand and it seems alot of people feel this way.

There's nothing wrong with home fellowships =) We just need to be growing & learning & keeping from complete isolation from the body of Christ.
A lone sheep isn't healthy or safe.

I've always been able to find good churches to go to, so I guess I don't have this struggle with bad ones. (thank God).
Enjoy your fellowship

 

[holo]

It depends on what church is. I don't lack fellowhip just because I don't happen to fit into the organizations known as "churches". Church is family, and all of us here are members of that family whether we like it or not. "Churches" are more like clubs where like-minded people like to meet.

I like to check churches out though, and last sunday I had the privilege of hearing a great sermon. But I'll never be a member there. I'm too unlike the other members, and i can't stand the music and style of it all.

But I've had fellowship and communion with a freak high on meth and a tipsy gipsy (hey, that rhymed) in the forest in the middle of the night. I've never felt so loved and at home and edified in my life. Still, whenever I'm in a church building, people will urge me to join them, talking about the importance of "having a spiritual family..."

 

[New_Wineskin]

It depends on what church is. I don't lack fellowhip just because I don't happen to fit into the organizations known as "churches". Church is family, and all of us here are members of that family whether we like it or not. "Churches" are more like clubs where like-minded people like to meet.

I like to check churches out though, and last sunday I had the privilege of hearing a great sermon. But I'll never be a member there. I'm too unlike the other members, and i can't stand the music and style of it all.

But I've had fellowship and communion with a freak high on meth and a tipsy gipsy (hey, that rhymed) in the forest in the middle of the night. I've never felt so loved and at home and edified in my life. Still, whenever I'm in a church building, people will urge me to join them, talking about the importance of "having a spiritual family..."

That's right ... they want you to join them . That means that they want you to forsake the assembling with other believers . They want you to isolate yourself to only hear what they have to say and do things that they want to do *when* they want to do them .

Of course they want you to join them and *say* that it is important to have a "spiritual family" . What they really want is you to pay for their clubhouse and the salary of the club's long-winded Grand Poobah .

Remember , "going to church" is the only means of salvation . Stop going and you are damned .

 

[flyingsum0]

Not going to Church is not a sin....God is everywhere you dont need to be in a chirch to give him praise