Church attendance necessary?

Yes.

Yes, some. But not as a constant habit.

Look for a church in which you do feel comfortable; if you can't find one, move. If you still can't find one, it might be that your heart is in rebellion.

God is happy with everyone who is in fellowship with him through Christ.

The Bible says: Do not fail to gather yourselves together as some are in the habit of doing.

It's hard for a Christian to go it alone over an extended period of time, because the world is full of distractions and contradictions. When I "couldn't find" a church, I discovered that my rebellious heart was more the problem than the churches. I didn't want to submit to God. When I finally submitted, I found myself being very happy in church. I thought everything was okay between me and God, but it wasn't. Look at your own heart first.

In my experience, most churches are not set up to deal with very specific personal issues. It is good for Christian growth in general but if a person falls into an area that is the exception, that person can struggle a lot to fit in.
Many churches have tried to make programs taylored to specific situations. Like singles ministry, teens, etc.
However, if a person just goes for the general ministry and doesnt find a "real" personal connection then it can be very difficult.
It is worth it to find that connection. But it is important to not let the church just gloss over your specific needs so that you can fit into a "catagory" that is in their program. It will not be very rewarding if you don't make that more personal connection.
I will pray for you. Don't be under stress about it. G-d is very patient and not looking for the first opportunity to punish us.
The bible calls the ministries in the church gifts to the body of Christ.It gives us an opportunity to receive as well as an opportunity to serve others.
Church is a good thing. It is a worthwhile goal to pray and work towards. But as far as saying you have to. That is just not in the scripture.
Many times though, when a person won't go to church who is saved ,it is because they are severely struggling with personal issues so it will be bound to generate some concern among other christians for you.
I have often times been pleasantly surprised at how good of an experience I had when I went to visit a new church.Reading about and takking about a church is not the same as actually attending. So I hope you will actually attend and see how it feels in person at least once before you check a church off your list.
Also churches change(and hopefully grow) over time. So allow for that too. A bad experience several years ago may not mean that church is still that way.

Originally posted by soulsisterclaire
Okay here goes.

Do you think it is necessary to go to church in order to have a meaningful, lasting relationship with God(we are assuming a Saved person)?

Do you feel that God is not happy with such a person not going to church?

Can any of you give me Bible verses that say we must go to church?

Click to expand...

1) nope, afterall, it's just your personal relationship with God, by trusting fully in Him, He'll work miracles in your life. I've read an autobio where this Taiwanese lady doesn't go to church at all coz it's too far away, yet she experiences God daily through her work and interactions with people around her (she's got the disease in which all joints're swollen and all - wops, i don't remember the tech name for it).

2) nope, but then that also looks into your motive at why you avoid going to church. (i'm bumping along here)...
God wouldn't force us to go to church, but He would like us to support each other, and that's done through fellowship (going to church's one way).

3) last question: no.

What answer are you looking for?

Very few questions asked by mature adults have yes or no answers. This question of "having" to go to church is one of them. Adult's decision-making processes have to consider many webbed and interlinked conditions.

Could you word the question in a way that would make "yes" or "no" an adequate response?

I'm not trying to be a smart-aleck, I'm trying to help you in your quest. It's not like you are asking if you should have lunch or not. It's more complex than that.

>>Do you think it is necessary to go to church in order to have a meaningful, lasting relationship with God

It may not do you any good to go to a dead, harlot, apostate church. But the atonement is twofold. When our relationship with the Father is restored, our relationship with each other is restored also. We become a part of the true church, by becoming saved.

John 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Dead: NO Holy Spirit
Harlot: In bed with the world, not consecrated, dedicated and set apart onto God.
Apostate: To fall away from the truth, to follow the lies and the false doctorine of the serpent.

First we must realize that Church is not some building but it is the body of believers in Jesus Christ.

Second, we are exhorted to meet or assemble with other Christians in order to help one another grow. Basically come together in fellowship and worship.

Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking 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.


Hope this helps


Jesaiah

Heb 10:25
25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(NIV)
I believe this is the verse that Lamb's love was refering to above. I think you ask a very important question. First of all we need each other, and second "the church" is the bride of Christ; and He gave His life for the church. The apostle Paul gives us a very good description of the church in Rom.12,ICorin.12,and Eph.4. We are told in these scriptures that we all connect each other together in the body of Christ; the church; and that we "need" each other. Each of our personal needs can be a little different; but we as Christians all need one another, and GOD has not called any of us to go it alone. Jn.15 tells us that Jesus is the"True Vine", and we are the branches; the church has branched out in many areas, such as right here on these forums; but it is still the church. This can very well be a place you can get your needs "partially" met; but you still need the fellowship of other Christians. We all will be praying for you.

With the love of Jesus Christ.

I just want to add something, maybe it's worthwhile; maybe it's not. When you believe in God, you become a part of the body of Christ. But, churches are also a part of body of Christ(sorry, I don't remember the verses). You can believe in God and keep yourself separate by not going to church. But it would be much easier for God to work with you and through you when you join yourself with the body of Christ.

Whether someone is a loner or a team player, God save them all. But I think God would rather us to work together as a team.

Just what I think.

Well, supposing that you want to worship God the way He wants to be worshipped, going to Church is necessary, because that is where the Eucharistic Sacrifice is offered.

Lee

Well, how can you be in communion with no communion?

Does the Episcopal church have apostolic succession and a valid priesthood? If not, perhaps you do not have a very good idea of what communion is all about.

As for bible verses, "Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day, For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and i in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me..."

Surely, now that you belong to a Bible church, you believe this passage from John...

LMG

John 6:48-58

48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." 52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" 53 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever."

Now, compare that passage with Matt 4:4

But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' "

What does this tell you?

John

>>Does the Episcopal church have apostolic succession and a valid priesthood? If not, perhaps you do not have a very good idea of what communion is all about.

Your on very thin ice my friend if you think a man has to be involved in the equation for me to have fellowship and communion with God. It is the Holy Spirit of God and not man that administers the precious Blood of Jesus to us.

Peter said we are ALL called to be a part of the priesthood.

1 Peter 2:5
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

The Bible says:
God is spirit and those that worship Him must worship Him is spirit and in truth.
and:
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;(for he is faithful that promised) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Hot forsakeing the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see he day approaching."
Hebrews 10 : 23 - 25