Do Christians need to belong to a church?

[SamanthaAnastasia]

I have always been concerned with this. I sometimes don’t wake up early because I have insomnia. Sometimes my anxiety is terrible and I am scared to go. I am though trying to make efforts to go at least every Sunday starting last Sunday because while I can pray on my own, I can’t worship by myself.

 

[Daniel C]

Does God say we need to take communion/go to church? Serious question.

 

[rockytopva]

If you are going to follow somebody... Follow Jesus! And let him move you on as he sees fit!

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:2

 

[rockytopva]

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[Anthony2019]

As a nurse who works permanent nights, getting to Sunday services is always a bit of a challenge. Last time I went, I fell asleep during the sermon and I got woken up and encouraged go home to bed! So now I only manage to attend regular services every fortnight when I'm off duty. But I still need regular fellowship with others on a weekly basis. I keep in contact with Christian friends on social media and by phone. I have a house group on alternate weeks. That seems to suit me quite well at the moment!

I pray the daily office at home, but the night time prayer has to become my morning prayer and the lunchtime prayer has to become my midnight prayer. I'm in a bit of a muddle!

 

[lsume]

Watch sermons online and fellowship right here in this forum and you'll be alright. And if you really want to be blessed and be a watchman, observe the moedim, of which Pesach is tomorrow evening!

Exodus 12

And

"Passover (Leviticus 23:5) – Pointed to the Messiah as our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) whose blood would be shed for our sins. Jesus was crucified during the time that the Passover was observed (Mark 14:12). Christ is a “lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19) because His life was completely free from sin (Hebrews 4:15). As the first Passover marked the Hebrews’ release from Egyptian slavery, so the death of Christ marks our release from the slavery of sin (Romans 8:2).

2) Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6) – Pointed to the Messiah's sinless life (as leaven is a picture of sin in the Bible), making Him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus' body was in the grave during the first days of this feast, like a kernel of wheat planted and waiting to burst forth as the bread of life."
How did Jesus fulfill the meanings of the Jewish feasts?

Ideally,

1John.2

1. [27] But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

any church leader would want his congregants to be anointed by God The Father.

Heb.8

1. [11] And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Some have been awakened some have not. All in God The Father’s Time and Will.

 

[Gregory95]

I've heard different views from, "Yes, there is no exception or excuse", to, "No, you are the church". Are there verses in the bible that dictate we must go? If we're Spirit filled and pray on our own, is that considered ok?

I'm not attempting to get out of going to a church. I currently attend one twice a week and two others now and then, but my lifestyle changes and so does my job. Also, sometimes I go through stages where I just don't want to be on a hectic schedule. What say you?

i ask you my friend how do you call the original followers of the book of acts and forward the church as they met in secret in homes not million or hundreds of thousands of dollar buildings

The church is every true believer our leader is Christ

Church buildinga are IMO a waste of money that could be used for the poor or missionary work

Why can't people meet in anothers home or in a park where non believers may hear and seeds can be planted why do we lock up and hide the Gospel in a building

Well IMO 501c is why

Church buildings with enough followers make bank and tax free

If you trace the idea a physical building is the church you see it started with the same organization with more money then some if not all nations whos leader sits on a golden thrown in his own nation and tells you to give to the poor

The wolves have been out since Paul's death

You will know who the wolves are by the actions they have done since the beginning to now the same thing convincing people to follow them and not the Bible

 

[lsume]

i ask you my friend how do you call the original followers of the book of acts and forward the church as they met in secret in homes not million or hundreds of thousands of dollar buildings

The church is every true believer our leader is Christ

Church buildinga are IMO a waste of money that could be used for the poor or missionary work

Why can't people meet in anothers home or in a park where non believers may hear and seeds can be planted why do we lock up and hide the Gospel in a building

Well IMO 501c is why

Church buildings with enough followers make bank and tax free

If you trace the idea a physical building is the church you see it started with the same organization with more money then some if not all nations whos leader sits on a golden thrown in his own nation and tells you to give to the poor

The wolves have been out since Paul's death

You will know who the wolves are by the actions they have done since the beginning to now the same thing convincing people to follow them and not the Bible

This is certain,

Matt.7

1. [21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
2. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

and God The Father is The Final Judge. Often churches have been said to me erected for The Glory of God The Father and The Holy Trinity. However, as you have pointed out, often this is not the True reason for the ornate building. Rather than make the obvious observations in the negative, perhaps consider the True Church. When I sit in a church, I read The Word. If something is said that Christ wants me to hear, my ears are immediately turned on. Unfortunately, this rarely happens and I currently rarely go to church. To me, every day is church. Communion is representative of communing with God The Father and God The Son in The Holy Spirit.

Rev.3

1. 
   [20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

no one escapes God The Father’s Judgement with the exception of Jesus The Christ who always does that which pleases God The Father. Choir robes don’t make a True Church obviously.

 

[Gregory95]

Happy i am to see someone speak the truth!

This is certain,

Matt.7

1. [21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
2. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

and God The Father is The Final Judge. Often churches have been said to me erected for The Glory of God The Father and The Holy Trinity. However, as you have pointed out, often this is not the True reason for the ornate building. Rather than make the obvious observations in the negative, perhaps consider the True Church. When I sit in a church, I read The Word. If something is said that Christ wants me to hear, my ears are immediately turned on. Unfortunately, this rarely happens and I currently rarely go to church. To me, every day is church. Communion is representative of communing with God The Father and God The Son in The Holy Spirit.

Rev.3

1. 
   [20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

no one escapes God The Father’s Judgement with the exception of Jesus The Christ who always does that which pleases God The Father. Choir robes don’t make a True Church obviously.

 

[ICONO'CLAST]

I'm not a monk or living a solitary life. I'm just looking for some insight here

It does not seem as if you understand the nature and function of a biblical church, a local assembly.1tim3:15

 

[Chris V++]

In my opinion, you are better off not being in an apostate church unless you're strong enough to enter the church so as to infiltrate it with the truth.....which would be pretty awesome!

How do we know which churches are apostate, or more specifically, heretical? Is a church being heretical a denominational issue, like many will argue (e.g. our sacraments are superior to your sacraments, your sacraments are satanic mockery of our true sacraments) or is it the attitude of the local congregation regardless of denomination?

 

[Albion]

The question is regarding the the brick and mortar, not body of Christ which we all belong to regardless.

There are a few questions in there but I don't think it's that difficult to understand.

I'm sorry, but when people ask if they must "go to church" or "belong to a church," they are not asking if it is necessary to worship in a brick and mortal building rather than somewhere else.

They are asking if gathering together for worship or religious instruction or fellowship with other believers is good or necessary...which is why the question of this thread elicited the answers it did.

 

[Albion]

How do we know which churches are apostate? Is a church being apostate a denominational issue, like many will argue (e.g. our sacraments are superior to your sacraments, your sacraments are satanic mockery of our true sacraments) or is it the attitude of the local congregation regardless of denomination?

An apostate is one who renounces the Christian faith altogether. Many people use the word carelessly, meaning instead something close to heretic.

It is fairly clear-cut who is or is not an apostate, but who is a heretic is tougher to nail down.

 

[Tony Ramirez]

All I know and can tell you is that when you miss one day it can become very easy to miss another day.

So true then like me you miss 15 years.

 

[Chris V++]

An apostate is one who renounces the Christian faith altogether. Many people use the word carelessly, meaning instead something close to heretic.

It is fairly clear-cut who is or is not an apostate, but who is a heretic is tougher to nail down.

That's a great point. The question then becomes "How do we know which churches are heretical, or maybe lukewarm or ice cold with no indication of the presence of the Spirit working within? Is a church being heretical a denominational issue, like many will argue (e.g. our sacraments are superior to your sacraments, your sacraments are satanic mockery of our true sacraments) or is it the attitude of the local congregation regardless of denomination?

 

[Chris V++]

So true then like me you miss 15 years

To paraphrase a priest who posts on this forum, Jesus accepts us even in the eleventh hour. It's from the parable about the worker who showed up late and received the same wages as the workers who toiled all day.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

That's a great point. The question then becomes "How do we know which churches are heretical, or maybe lukewarm or ice cold with no indication of the presence of the Spirit working within? Is a church being heretical a denominational issue, like many will argue (e.g. our sacraments are superior to your sacraments, your sacraments are satanic mockery of our true sacraments) or is it the attitude of the local congregation regardless of denomination?

I tend to find, if when hearing a particular denomination's or tradition's theology, I don't understand this way they commonly interpret the bible, it's not in the bible. - This means this church is in a different body part of the body of Christ than me.

 

[Chris V++]

I tend to find, if when hearing a particular denomination's or tradition's theology, I don't understand this way they commonly interpret the bible, it's not in the bible. - This means this church is in a different body part of the body of Christ than me.

That's a mature way to view it. Problem is some of the body parts want to hack off the other parts. 'If thy eye offend thee...'

 

[Albion]

By definition, a heresy is a 1) serious 2) doctrinal error. It is not merely a disagreement over anything at all which relates to the church or the faith.

When it comes to identifying a heresy, that varies with the denomination, just as you suspected.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

How many times a week? This church I go to meets 2 or 3 times a week

I don't think I can keep that up. Originally I wanted to meet more than once a week, but after a couple of months I realize that it's not practical. I'm afraid I'm going to burn out and drop out all together if I try to keep this up. I got a couple text messages from the Pastor when I skipped sessions (for mostly legitimate reasons), but I don't really want that kind of pressure.

Ah now it is more clear. You are getting pressured by the Pastor in your church to attend frequently. Maybe the Pastor is insecure? Maybe he/she needs to be less controlling? Maybe you need to remind he/she that Christ lives in you whether or not you attend "meetings". Let's be reasonable and reason with love and honesty.
Blessings