Is church mandatory or just a supplement for your relationship w/ God?

I've tried to be a Christian with and without church. I have come to the conclusion that it is mandatory for me. Nonetheless, I have known a few rare individuals who I found to be remarkable dedicated Christians who, for personal reasons, haven't been to church in decades. I can't do it.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

What are your thoughts ? What do you think about this. Do you think not going will hinder your faith in God or should you work on your faith apart from Church and use it as a supplement?

That's what's I'm really asking

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This is the only verse that talks about meeting in church, that I can think of.
Hebrews chapter 10 verse 25
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
But I don't think church is the way it was meant to be, and theirs many liars working as pastors, and thieves.
James chapter 3
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
I think your better off, studying the bible.
There's no law anymore, so it's up to you, but most pastors don't know the bible very well, just enough to know enough to get paid, if even that.
Matthew chapter 4 verse 4
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Romans chapter 1 verse 28
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

John chapter 8 verse 31,32
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, " If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
2 John
9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
Job chapter 23 verse 12
I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

Matthew 11
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Luke chapter 21
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Romans chapter 10
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Mark chapter 13
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
James chapter 1
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
James chapter 4
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Isaiah chapter 45 verse 19
I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain.' I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right.
Jeremiah chapter 9
24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.
Jeremiah chapter 5 verse 1
5 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem,
look around and consider,
search through her squares.
If you can find but one person
who deals honestly and seeks the truth,
I will forgive this city.

I think God places a lot of value in Church. My quick paraphrase from memory of a few verses that indicate this

Where 2 or 3 are together in my name I am there with them.

Do not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing.

And Leviticus says that a single bull is the sin offering but the fellowship offering had loaves and animals, far more than any other offering.

I do not believe you can live in the fullness of god if you do not go to church.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

Do you think not going will hinder your faith in God or should you work on your faith apart from Church and use it as a supplement?

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What you've asked makes church sound like it's unimportant yet scripture refers to church as the body of Christ (not a church building) and communion as important for the unity of the body. It's hard to have communion by yourself.

Today,
you can have 'communion', and live in union (daily) with ekklesia (the believers immersed in Jesus Name),
without ever stepping foot in a building called 'church'.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

What are your thoughts ? What do you think about this. Do you think not going will hinder your faith in God or should you work on your faith apart from Church and use it as a supplement?

That's what's I'm really asking

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How about what the Bible, God's word, says?:

Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

So, what is the "body of Christ"? Well, that would be all genuinely born-again disciples of Christ. Why are Christians referred to corporately as a "body"? Because just as a body is constituted of many parts working in concert, the body of Christ is also constituted of many individuals working in concert to positively affect one another spiritually ("edifying of the body") and affect the will of God in the world (sharing the Gospel and making disciples).

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Paul here explains why the body of Christ as a body is so important. In the Body, God has gifted some spiritually to be preachers, teachers, and evangelists (the offices of apostle and prophet ceased with the founding of the Early Church and the writing of the New Testament) and to benefit the rest of the body of Christ with their gifting. They disseminate God's truth and correct error within the Body and in so doing keep its members stable spiritually, and free of false doctrine, and interacting in community in a health way.

A believer, then, who stands outside the Body of Christ as an island, resisting being a part of the community of believers, risks spiritual instability, and being led into false doctrine, and is cut off from the support, encouragement and corrective influence of the Body. What's more, the spiritual gifting God has given to them is withheld from the Body to its detriment (and to the detriment of the one doing the withholding).

1 Corinthians 12:12-27
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

Too many professing Christians today have taken up this attitude. "I don't need the community of believers," they say, "I can do all my Bible study, and praying, and interacting with other believers online or on my own." While doing so is better than nothing, it is not the sort of community interaction between Christians in the Body that the Bible describes and commands. We are all of us called to love the brethren in the Body as God does. It is impossible to do this properly, though, from a keyboard and computer screen. Mere interaction is not loving another person (though, it is a part of loving a person). God wants His children to be in each others' lives in an intimate way, fellowshiping and supporting one another in a very direct and tangible manner.

22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

There is no insignificant child of God. Our Heavenly Father has gifted each of us in such a way as to benefit the Body. When we start thinking the Body doesn't need our input, our participation, we harm the Body by depriving it of the gift God has given us with which He intends we should benefit the Body. Christians are "members one of another" and cannot function apart from the Body of Believers any better than an eye or foot removed from a human body can function.

Isolation is also one of Satan's favorite tactics in leading Christians into sin and to destruction. We are much easier to pick off when we are separated from the support and stabilizing influence of the community of believers. Satan is a "roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." And he is always on the prowl for the believer who has shunned being part of a local community of Christians, who is separated from the "herd," and easy meat for his attacks.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

Oh yeah. I been on the side where church hurts..so I totally understand... But I'm proud I went back( to a different church ofc)

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this is most excellent to hear! Praise God!



to the topic:

not only do we have the scripture in Hebrews that tells us to not forsake the assembly. we have 1 Corinthians 12 telling us that the body has many members and that each one who is truly born again has a part to play as well as 1 timothy 3 on the role of elders and 1 Corinthians 11 on the administration of the sacrament of the Lord's supper which is only administered by these elders.

if we have the option of staying home and never meeting because we feel we're so spiritually awesome that we don't need to be a committed member of a congregation than having elders to shepherd your soul is pointless and there wouldn't be much of a way for us to share our gifts with the body of Christ if we never meet together. we are commanded as true believers to bring ourselves under the authority of appointed elders and to be accountable to and encourage and strengthen our brothers and sisters in Christ.

you can't say you love Jesus and despise His wife.

Tree of Life said:

What a bunch of malarkey! (The film, not your words).

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You watched all of it since I posted it?
What you call marlarkey is the book of acts.
Yup you just called the book of acts and most of the Gospels “meaningless talk” ... But then you've probably not experienced anything they describe of life in the book of acts.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

should you work on your faith apart from Church and use it as a supplement?

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Under certain hypothetical and very rarified circumstances, may..be...?

Practically speaking, the faith isn't a "solo-sport," nor dealing with others in the faith "supplemental."

The whole thing about Christ being where two or three are gathered in his name, how early Christians conducted themselves, etc.: There's something exceedingly important about community.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

What are your thoughts ? What do you think about this. Do you think not going will hinder your faith in God or should you work on your faith apart from Church and use it as a supplement?

That's what's I'm really asking

Click to expand...

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV 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.

What valid reason does the Christian have to not go before God and worship on a regular basis with fellow believers in Jesus Christ? The only exception I can think of is being a shut-in or having no transportation to church.

Going to church is not mandatory for salvation, but it is a natural result of sanctification.

I spent years studying the different churches (spirits). Lived in Utah for a few months to study Mormons, Been to Catholics, studied under D James Kennedy at Coral Ridge Presbyterian, Methodist, New Apostolic (German), Nazarene, Wesleyan, Puritan, Quaker, Jehovah Witness, on and on.

I found all to teach "Jesus Christ came in the flesh", a measurement from John. But I saw all lovers of physical fleshly things as well. Many just came out asking for what you are to render unto Caesar. After all I went through, the "church" is a self contained enterprise growing through a hierarchy of men who's intent is survival by creating memberships in their doctrines. It answers the question, which church is right. The one you feel is right.

If your asking which church is closest to the disciples and apostles teachings. I would say none of them.

Church (Ekklesia) are the congregation (sheep). When only one is teaching, is Christ there? Even the disciples and Paul went in pairs or more so Jesus could be with them.

I'm no longer one to follow the Jimmy Swaggerts, Jim Bakers, Oral Roberts, Peter Popoffs, Bishop of Blings, and so many others of the world. The Gospel is available, and the Holy Spirit teaches. And you don't even need a membership.

It is mandatory. There is no excuse for not belonging to a Church unless you think you are right and everyone else is wrong or are separated from a Church by distance you think is true but otherwise cannot attend regularly or at all.

As a Catholic it's mandatory. Missing a Sunday mass is a mortal sin.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

What are your thoughts ? What do you think about this. Do you think not going will hinder your faith in God or should you work on your faith apart from Church and use it as a supplement?

That's what's I'm really asking

Click to expand...

Well I'm not in church now myself.

I do think it is important for a new comer into God's kingdom to spirtualy grow.

I spent growing up as a child raised in church. Drop out at age 14. People starting calling the church I went to a cult so I didn't want any part of it.

When I was about 28 or 29 I was flipping thru the channels one night and saw a church show. I watched for a moment and then I felt his presence.

I asked God where should I go to church and find you? I don't know where to go? There are too many!

Well took about 4 years and a homeless situation and I found grace at a church in Kentucky. Been a wild ride so far.

Ps more then likely God's has you in the right place. He will nudge you when it's time.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

What are your thoughts ? What do you think about this. Do you think not going will hinder your faith in God or should you work on your faith apart from Church and use it as a supplement?

That's what's I'm really asking

Click to expand...

I believe that going to church is a part of our faith. It's a part of the experience of being in the faith in a few ways that I've experienced. (And my experience hasn't reached full capacity at all; so, I'm still growing in understanding within my own relationship with Christ and with the church)

--- As an individual, I have a relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. That said, because the Church is described in several New Testament passages as the Bride of Christ, I treat my Bible-believing church as the role of nurturer (which is the role of a mother under a father's leadership). Personally, this fulfills roles in my life: My Father God through Jesus Christ my Lord, the Nurturer (acting as a mother that teaches me to follow, honor, and abide by the leadership of the father), my brothers and sisters in Christ with whom I keep relationship with for various edifying reasons, and myself as an individual child of the faith. (Individually, I'm His child. With the Church as a whole, I am a part of the Bride for eternity and a part of Christ's Body for service).

--- I often think about Matthew 25 and other passages where Jesus stresses vital importance of us reaching out to the poor, downtrodden, oppressed, and other unprivileged/underprivileged. Some people are willing to open up their very homes to strangers (such as when Katrina victims came to our cities having lost their homes to hurricanes). Some people's most effective ways of providing for these underprivileged people - as Jesus commissions us to do while we distribute the gospel fully - is to do so through the church. My church provides shelter to homeless families quarterly, feeds people, and goes out as groups to reach others with the gospel. Sure, I can do that as an individual. In a group, I'm either as effective or perhaps more effective taking care of multiple homeless families at the church as opposed to being able to take care of only 2 or 3 if I were to let them into my home (with the risks imposed on my small child). I'm able to feed more teamed up with others at my church. I'm able to reach more going door to door or in street ministry when the group scatters to reach several. And this is the activity at my church.

Relying on God's grace through which I'm constantly molded/corrected for perfection, I've certainly failed as an individual in what I could have done more as I've also failed as a church member in becoming more involved in the outreach activities. But with that said, I believe I'd be less effective without the church.

So, yes there is a hindrance that I can see for not belonging to a church. It's more than a supplement. I believe it's God's provision for accomplishing His will. And simply attending to warm a seat isn't exactly His will.

The bible states to forsake not the gathering together of the saints.

That being said.....When was the last time you saw "For attendance by Saints Only" on the front of a church building. In fact, Most encourage the admission of sinners into the buildings. We changed the command from go into the world and make disciples, to, stay in one place and, when sinners come in, try to make disciples of them.

Im not sure the gathering together of the saints is exemplified in most church buildings.

tstor said:

I would disagree. Your use of "essential" leads me to believe that someone cannot be saved without church membership and attendance. Could someone not live in solitude (e.g., a hermit) and still be saved without ever having fellowship?

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The hermits I know of just a few miles from here do come together for mass. And I think they do that every day.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

What are your thoughts ? What do you think about this. Do you think not going will hinder your faith in God or should you work on your faith apart from Church and use it as a supplement?

That's what's I'm really asking

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I take a different tack. It's not about helping or hindering you but about praising God, a work of worship. If I don't get a lot out of it, that wasn't the point anyhow. the point is that God is being worshiped and I ought to be there to assist.