Do Christians need to belong to a church?

Albion said:

Ephesians is not speaking to the issue of apostasy. Erroneous teachings per se and the backsliding behavior of the members are concerns, yes, but that's not apostasy.

Click to expand...

Oh. Ok. Not sure why you're saying that, but ok. Thanks for the info.

Was it not you who wrote the following in your previous post?

Thess said:

How do we know which churches are apostate? We have to know the word of God and then make judgements on the behavior of it's members. The standard to be held is Ephesians 4:11-13.

Click to expand...

Albion said:

Was it not you who wrote the following in your previous post?

Click to expand...

You're not sure?

Romans 8 said:

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?

Click to expand...

Right now my husband and I are not attending Church regularly because we are the primary caretakers of my almost 93-year-old aunt who is still in the grief process of losing her husband. Without going into a lot of the complicated reasons, our Sundays are now spent with her and she is resisting getting back to Church. I miss going to Church--my hubby, a good Christian man, is rather happy not having to go -- but I don't have feelings of guilt about it. I think Jesus would say it is more important to get your ox out of the ditch than it is to get to church services. And that would also apply to taking care of people being more important than going to church.

Yes, you probably are right about that. But neither is it the same argument used by people who say that they don't need church or that it is unScriptural to think there is any call for us to attend corporate worship services.

Romans 8 said:

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?

Click to expand...

During the times of persecution, Christians who pretended to be pagan to save their lives were excluded from Christian worship, especially the Eucharist, for the rest of their lives.

Read Hebrews 10:24-25.

Foxfyre said:

Right now my husband and I are not attending Church regularly because we are the primary caretakers of my almost 93-year-old aunt who is still in the grief process of losing her husband. Without going into a lot of the complicated reasons, our Sundays are now spent with her and she is resisting getting back to Church. I miss going to Church--my hubby, a good Christian man, is rather happy not having to go -- but I don't have feelings of guilt about it. I think Jesus would say it is more important to get your ox out of the ditch than it is to get to church services. And that would also apply to taking care of people being more important than going to church.

Click to expand...

This is a great post! First, taking care of the 93 yo aunt is wonderful, amazing work! God is very proud of what you're doing. I am taking care of an 81yo that is really struggling....and he is not my DNA. It's hard and seems unfair at times, especially since he is struggling with obedience, too, and all I want to do is be a slave for Christ....yet here I am, trapped, with this guy that is not my own blood.

God sees what's happening.

Absolutely! In Orthodoxy I've heard many describe the Church as a hospital, where we go to help heal our spiritual maladies so we can draw nearer to God. You can pray anywhere, any time (and should!) but participation in Church sacraments is also important. It's like when you have a chronic illness, yes you ought to keep up your treatments at home, but still need to go to the doctor for checkups and treatment plans. And in a more worldly sense, being around other Christians in face-to-face fellowship is also important...no man is an island... our brother is our life! We need the support of others, and ought to be there to support them as well.

None of that is to say that if you have to miss services or other gatherings sometimes you'll be condemned, just that it shouldn't become entirely neglected or put way at the bottom of our list of priorities. And as others have said, if you stay away for long enough it really will make it hard to go back, because you might start feeling embarassed or not want to have to explain your absence or something.

Romans 8 said:

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?

Click to expand...

Ya... Christ said.. Believe in me, get baptized and go to church...LOL
Actually... all that is needed is to believe in Christ.


Going to church is recommended for growth, and fellowship, worship and serving.. but not to be saved.

HTacianas said:

Without attending a Church one cannot participate in the sacraments. That begins with baptism. For a person to be "Spirit filled and pray on [his] own" can be found nowhere in the new testament.

Click to expand...

This. The Lone Ranger Christian is a myth every Christian that can needs to go to Church to receive Grace and the Sacraments.

LovebirdsFlying said:

My belief is that the church consists of the believers. The church is not the building they go to. We can, and should, worship anywhere at any time.

The analogy I think of is coals in a fire. Huddled together, each coal warms the others, and the fire keeps burning. Separated, the spark will die out and the coals will go cold. This is why we do need to meet periodically with other believers to pray, study His word, take communion, and other acts of worship. When/where we do so isn't the most important thing, as long as we don't lose our heat.

The argument has also been made that it is never necessary to meet with other Christians in order to be a Christian. Well, granted, you're still a Christian as long as you're washed in the blood, even if you never in your life have fellowship or worship as a part of a congregation. However, the counterargument is this: Jesus is the head of the church, and the church is His body. How can one be a part of the head, without also being part of the body?

Click to expand...

Happy Pesach!!! I agree with the above!

-Sasha- said:

And in a more worldly sense, being around other Christians in face-to-face fellowship is also important...no man is an island... our brother is our life! We need the support of others, and ought to be there to support them as well.

Click to expand...

But, really, I believe that the "worldy" or physical meal shared is pointing to the higher truth of sharing the spiritual meal, who is the Word Himself...and this we can (and do) here on this forum. But, yeah, when we do meet physically, it is important to do the basic human family thing of sharing food and conversation with each other.

John 6:63
“The Spirit is The Life Giver; the body does not benefit anything. The words that I speak with you are spirit and life.”

Albion said:

Yes, to choose. But when the church began using the word--well into the Middle Ages--it carried with it the idea of choosing a doctrine that was seriously erroneous.

It would not mean to choose to think that the water in baptism ought to be blessed, or not blessed, before it was administered, for example. It has to be about something really significant and, usually, associated also with some school of thought, not just one persons musings.

As I said earlier, I agree that what constitutes a heresy varies by denomination, but that doesn't also mean that the definition itself changes.

Click to expand...

Okay, it still means the same thing, (historically) but it carries less weight (today) since there isn't one set of teachings that applies to all.

Michael Collum said:

Okay, it still means the same thing, (historically) but it carries less weight (today) since there isn't one set of teachings that applies to all.

Click to expand...

It means what it means, Michael. It means a departure from a significant doctrine. However, it is true that what one denomination might consider a heresy the next one would not.

Romans 8 said:

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?

Click to expand...

Yes. The Bible basically calls us to be members of a local church and to attend worship every Sunday. There can be life situations that make this difficult such as travelling for work, but we should strive as best we can to obey God in these things.

In my experience, if i don't attend reunions there is something that dries inside me after some time and i don't like that at all, also i met God in a church when i didn't knew he could manifest to people, i'm guilty of stopping attending because neglect or circumstances and i think is important to attend and is something i should be more obedient about and i'm trying to work on that.

Romans 8 said:

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?

Click to expand...

I will recommend another Canadian who is a Christian on these forums to help.
He wrote two really great threads that were helpful for me.

God's Order in the Church vs Man's Order
The Pastor King (New)

I also believe we are living in the last days as per 2 Timothy 3:1-9 where men are lovers more of pleasures than they are of God. For I have attended many churches, seeking the right one, and they have failed to help me to spread the gospel, help the poor, to live holy. These are the basics. They were just about putting on a show or reading the Bible. I can study on my own time. Yes, iron sharpens iron, but we as believers fellowship together to build each other up to love God and others. I just do not see many churches today truly helping the brethren in following Jesus. Many times they do not even know who you are if you are shy and do not say hello.

Note: While we should want to be around other believers and have contact with them, they should be the kind of believers who truly want to follow Jesus and not the ones who just want to teach us things always with the Bible and they do not help us to love God and others.

Why I go to church.
1). I consider it part of the 4th Commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. We've been given 7 days...God is asking we reserve one for resting. Hebrews 4:9 tells us the Sabbath remains for believers.
2). You can (and should) pray and worship at home. You can (and should) study the Word at home. It's a two-way street. You are part of a body to provide support for others. And hopefully you receive likewise. It's not just about going to church and hearing a sermon. You've been given a gift of some sort to help locally.
3). It keeps me in the Word. I became a Christian somewhat late (42..am 59 now). You never know when it's your turn to help someone just starting their journey.

I can see where a break might be needed...especially if church duties aren't shared and spread out. It's supposed to be a day of rest....

Bern (1st post)

Matthew 7:7 said:

Why I go to church.
1). I consider it part of the 4th Commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. We've been given 7 days...God is asking we reserve one for resting. Hebrews 4:9 tells us the Sabbath remains for believers.
2). You can (and should) pray and worship at home. You can (and should) study the Word at home. It's a two-way street. You are part of a body to provide support for others. And hopefully you receive likewise. It's not just about going to church and hearing a sermon. You've been given a gift of some sort to help locally.
3). It keeps me in the Word. I became a Christian somewhat late (42..am 59 now). You never know when it's your turn to help someone just starting their journey.

I can see where a break might be needed...especially if church duties aren't shared and spread out. It's supposed to be a day of rest....

Bern (1st post)

Click to expand...

Welcome to CF!
I love your reasons but really love the 3rd one. We don’t know who we will be called to help, to encourage or in what way God will use us.