Do Christians need to belong to a church?

Szerge · Nov 9, 2019

Attending church is one thing. Worshipping God is another. Think of it this way. There are those who cannot attend church because of limitations such as being handicapped, a job that requires working on Sunday, what ever the case may be.

If those people who cannot go to church but love God worship Him through reading the Bible and praying to Him then that is what counts. It is what is in your heart that counts not the physical attendance at a place of worship.

HatGuy · Nov 9, 2019

Szerge said:
Attending church is one thing. Worshipping God is another. Think of it this way. There are those who cannot attend church because of limitations such as being handicapped, a job that requires working on Sunday, what ever the case may be.

If those people who cannot go to church but love God worship Him through reading the Bible and praying to Him then that is what counts. It is what is in your heart that counts not the physical attendance at a place of worship.

This would be true if "attending" a church was the thing. But it isn't. It's about being part of a church, not attending one.

yeshuaslavejeff · Nov 9, 2019

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?

No matter how busy,
the Promises of God are YEA and AMEN in CHRIST JESUS.
WHOEVER rests his mind on Christ, the same is guarded/ kept/ IN PERFECT PEACE.

yeshuaslavejeff · Nov 9, 2019

Romans 8 said:
Sorry, if the Christian has already been baptized, and Spirit filled at a church, can he relax a little on the attendance?

That might depend more on the written rules of the church, or that church's decisions/practices.

What does Jesus mean when He Says the Father is Seeking those who worship (serve) Him in spirit and in truth ?

Szerge · Nov 9, 2019

HatGuy said:
This would be true if "attending" a church was the thing. But it isn't. It's about being part of a church, not attending one.

The person submitting the post said they "attend" church 2-3 times a week and that is what I responded to. By the way my position still stands in regards to what you posted ""being part of a church". What does that have to do with worshipping God?

Albion · Nov 9, 2019

Szerge said:
Attending church is one thing. Worshipping God is another. Think of it this way. There are those who cannot attend church because of limitations such as being handicapped, a job that requires working on Sunday, what ever the case may be.

If those people who cannot go to church but love God worship Him through reading the Bible and praying to Him then that is what counts. It is what is in your heart that counts not the physical attendance at a place of worship.

This misses the point IMHO. If a person is somehow unable to attend worship services, then of course his situation is not the same as the next person who is able but simply refuses to go.

lismore · Nov 25, 2019

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
place near your altar, Lord Almighty. (Psalm 84)

Robert6671 · Nov 29, 2019

HatGuy said:
This would be true if "attending" a church was the thing. But it isn't. It's about being part of a church, not attending one.

You do not need to go to church or be part of one, Jesus said whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.

HatGuy · Nov 29, 2019

Robert6671 said:
You do not need to go to church or be part of one, Jesus said whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.

Jesus regularly attended synagogue, and also regularly preached and ministered to crowds, and had a close group of 12 disciples in addition to 500 others that the Bible speaks of.

His actions simply show that it seems you may be missing the point about what he meant when he spoke of two or three being gathered. Maybe you also ought to challenge your understanding of church. Is two or three gathered not a church? Are they not believers who are being part of one another? Or is it simply if two or three random people bump into the street then Jesus is there?

I have no problem with house church or small churches gathering in coffee shops or whatever, but they are nevertheless believers gathering to worship. However, can those believers also do things together to minister to the world, as Jesus did? Or are they just wanting to be some holy club?

No matter how you cut it, the call in the Bible to gather with fellow believers and go into the world together and preach the gospel and minister is clear.

Albion · Nov 29, 2019

Robert6671 said:
You do not need to go to church or be part of one, Jesus said whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.

Maybe you are thinking of playing golf in a foursome on Sunday morning, then. I've heard people say that's as good as church.

He is with you when gathered with two or three others--in one sense--but you still are not accepting of what the church he founded can offer you.

So how much sense is there in saying that you are a true believer, therefore, you won't participate in anything else that Our Lord gave us for our own good and/or commanded us to do??

Robert6671 · Nov 29, 2019

Albion said:
Maybe you are thinking of playing golf in a foursome on Sunday morning, then. I've heard people say that's as good as church.

He is with you when gathered with two or three others--in one sense--but you still are not accepting of what the church he founded can offer you.

So how much sense is there in saying that you are a true believer, therefore, you won't participate in anything else that Our Lord gave us for our own good and/or commanded us to do??

Okay you are entitled to your oppinion, I do not go to church I have found most churchs to have bit bigotry in them. Some of my best friends are gay sorry you look my friend in the face and say he is godless heathen and is going to burn in hell...I will punch you in the face...(said thing actually happened with me a former pastor and a gay friend I had actually talked into going to church.) He was struggling and the pastor tells him him that. I spent two nights in jail and probation and I am not sorry for what I did. You see Christianity is losing followers because of stuff like that. I do not attend church..I do worship god...I talk with him..he responds. I have had long conversations with my gay friend about god. Never once have I tried to judge or codemn him. I am secure in my relationship in with god so no you do not need need a church.

Albion · Nov 29, 2019

Robert6671 said:
Okay you are entitled to your oppinion, I do not go to church I have found most churchs to have bit bigotry in them.

In the knowledge that none of us has visited even a tiny percentage of the available Christian churches, the recommendation would be to locate one of the good ones.

Robert6671 · Nov 29, 2019

Albion said:
In the knowledge that none of us has visited even a tiny percentage of the available Christian churches, the recommendation would be to locate one of the good ones.

Well when your disabled and have trouble getting along thats easier said than done. There are some people who simply can not get to a church. For many reasons...disabled and bed ridden...work. There are alot of reasons. You get saved and your saved...should you go to church if you can find a good one yes...is a it a requirement to get into heave no i do not believe so. Alright my my nom spent 35 years working 70 or more hours a week as a nurse to take cake care of her blind husband and 8 kids. She did not have time for church...we might have gone once a month maybe once every two months. But she did take time to make sure all her kids new the bible. It gets really old hearin people like you going on about you have to go to church or you have to be baptised to get into heaven. There were two criminals on the cross with Jesus...one of them did not ask jesus to forgive him or show mercy to him he asked only that jesus remember him...he was repentent of what he had done. He did not go to church or was baptized or anything from what little we know of the man but he got salvation. Is going to church important...is mandatory..well if you look at the criminal on the cross all that was required was belief and being repentant.

Albion · Nov 29, 2019

Robert6671 said:
Well when your disabled and have trouble getting along thats easier said than done. There are some people who simply can not get to a church. For many reasons...disabled and bed ridden...work. There are alot of reasons.

But this is not what you were telling us before.

THEN it was argued that there is no particular reason for going to worship services or that there aren't any good ones...NOT that doing so would be impossible or even very difficult for some people.

HatGuy · Nov 30, 2019

Robert6671 said:
Well when your disabled and have trouble getting along thats easier said than done. There are some people who simply can not get to a church. For many reasons...disabled and bed ridden...work. There are alot of reasons. You get saved and your saved...should you go to church if you can find a good one yes...is a it a requirement to get into heave no i do not believe so. Alright my my nom spent 35 years working 70 or more hours a week as a nurse to take cake care of her blind husband and 8 kids. She did not have time for church...we might have gone once a month maybe once every two months. But she did take time to make sure all her kids new the bible. It gets really old hearin people like you going on about you have to go to church or you have to be baptised to get into heaven. There were two criminals on the cross with Jesus...one of them did not ask jesus to forgive him or show mercy to him he asked only that jesus remember him...he was repentent of what he had done. He did not go to church or was baptized or anything from what little we know of the man but he got salvation. Is going to church important...is mandatory..well if you look at the criminal on the cross all that was required was belief and being repentant.

Who said you have to go to church to get to heaven? That's not the point.

ChicanaRose · Dec 22, 2019

I think the bottom line is that Christians should not be isolated but have fellowship with other Christians. I am not sure if that needs to take place in a formal, institutionalized church, although that seems to be the norm for most people.

Sir Robbins · Dec 31, 2019

I haven't stepped into a church in a few years.... I got tired of the way I was treated, ignored or even laughed at.... I cannot be myself in that environment and they don't look at me as the "ideal" Christian image with my long hair, tattoos and so on. I've chosen not to be apart of churches anymore and it really doesn't bother me. I grew up in them, have ministers in the family and they haven't had any issues with it and it's likely because they know my faith.

If you choose not to go to church, people will claim you are missing out on some great benefits such as: community with others, relationship development and being in a generally positive environment full of like minded people.

If you don't go: you miss coming to a place of judgement, criticism, confusion, a variety of viewpoints on the religion itself and how people should be....

I understand this isn't what churches were meant for but it became that for me and others.

jimmyjimmy · Jan 1, 2020

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?

It's not an option. Find just one account in the NT of a Christian who isn't.

Being "added to the Church" is another way of saying that one is indeed a Christian.

Sir Robbins · Jan 2, 2020

ChicanaRose said:
I think the bottom line is that Christians should not be isolated but have fellowship with other Christians. I am not sure if that needs to take place in a formal, institutionalized church, although that seems to be the norm for most people.

Many I know who do go to church have ZERO interaction with other members. They walk in alone, sit alone and leave alone maybe saying hi to the door greeter. Simply being there really is no different from watching a service at home online and many churches are catching on to the fact that attendance is down and online viewing is up. Willing to bet it's us singles who are watching from home...

ChicanaRose · Jan 4, 2020

Sir Robbins said:
Many I know who do go to church have ZERO interaction with other members. They walk in alone, sit alone and leave alone maybe saying hi to the door greeter. Simply being there really is no different from watching a service at home online and many churches are catching on to the fact that attendance is down and online viewing is up. Willing to bet it's us singles who are watching from home...

That is so true that even when one physically attend church, he or she can still lack fellowship. Thank you for this insight.

Do Christians need to belong to a church?

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