Can you be a christian without church?

[stevenfrancis]

Good points, I see that you use your brain. Maybe the problem here isn't going to church but going to the people in the church. Sure you can't break bread alone but why go to break bread if the people of the church are hypocrites.

Well, people get chewed out for that, (see pretty much all of 1 Corinthians 11), but never are they told to NOT go to Church. Just to fix the Church they're in. The Church isn't the problem. The people going and conducting themselves with hipocrasy is the problem. They should be corrected INDIVIDUALLY by someone they will respect, but if we intentionally keep ourselves away from the hospital because it is full of sick people, that's on us!! Not the hospital. That's what it's there for. It's doing it's job.

 

[estadalamoo]

Well, people get chewed out for that, (see pretty much all of 1 Corinthians 11), but never are they told to NOT go to Church. Just to fix the Church they're in. The Church isn't the problem. The people going and conducting themselves with hipocrasy is the problem. They should be corrected INDIVIDUALLY by someone they will respect, but if we intentionally keep ourselves away from the hospital because it is full of sick people, that's on us!! Not the hospital. That's what it's there for. It's doing it's job.

I think I'd be quite afraid if the hospital I was rushed to had to many incompetent workers.

 

[Albion]

Good points, I see that you use your brain. Maybe the problem here isn't going to church but going to the people in the church. Sure you can't break bread alone but why go to break bread if the people of the church are hypocrites.

Because you don't commune or hear the word preached, etc. because the man in the next pew is--or is not--a hypocrite. The church is more than that and provides more that is important to our lives as Christians than fellowship.

 

[grasping the after wind]

Where two or more are gathered in His name, He is in their presence.

Doesn't say anything about a building, or a congregation of hundreds or thousands of people. Just two believers in spirit fellowship.

So, yes.

That is the exact opposite conclusion I come to reading the same verse. You need two or more but if you got two or more., no matter where or when, you got Church. I think you need to be part of the Church to be a Christian but you do not need to be part of any organization that is a denomination but calls itself a church.

 

[Albion]

That is the exact opposite conclusion I come to reading the same verse. You need two or more but if you got two or more., no matter where or when, you got Church. I think you need to be part of the Church to be a Christian but you do not need to be part of any organization that is a denomination but calls itself a church.

The verse isn't actually saying anything about "church." It simply reassures us of God's presence whenever any believers are together. That has nothing to do with all the places in the NT which describe the functions and benefits of the assemblies we call "church."

 

[grasping the after wind]

The verse isn't actually saying anything about "church." It simply reassures us of God's presence whenever any believers are together. That has nothing to do with all the places in the NT which describe the functions and benefits of the assemblies we call "church."

The Church is made up of the totality of all believers. When two or more of them gather together you have a meeting of members of the Church. Any activity those two or more engage in are acts engaged in by a part of the Church. No need of buildings or any forms of hierarchy but no need to exclude them either. The Lutheran Church and any other denominational structure is not the whole Church any more than two believers at a dining room table are but both are an arm of the Church and one is no more entitled to be considered the Church than the other.

 

[estadalamoo]

Because you don't commune or hear the word preached, etc. because the man in the next pew is--or is not--a hypocrite. The church is more than that and provides more that is important to our lives as Christians than fellowship.

Than fellowship, you're joking right. That's like saying that the essentials in life are more important than the people we have relationships with.

 

[grasping the after wind]

Than fellowship, you're joking right. That's like saying that the essentials in life are more important than the people we have relationships with.

Do you expect all the people you have relationships with to be flawless? Why should the fact that Christians have flaws keep another Christian from having a relationship with them? Jesus has a relationship with all of them, even the hypocrites( which are probably, to some extent every one of us as well as everyone outside the Church.) To paraphrase Steve Brown, if you are a Christian and have a relationship with Christ, then you, by extension, have a relationship with everyone else that has a relationship with Christ. The Church is like a family you don't get to choose who is part of it and you are expected to accept all of the members of it.

 

[estadalamoo]

Do you expect all the people you have relationships with to be flawless? Why should the fact that Christians have flaws keep another Christian from having a relationship with them? Jesus has a relationship with all of them, even the hypocrites( which are probably, to some extent every one of us as well as everyone outside the Church.) To paraphrase Steve Brown, if you are a Christian and have a relationship with Christ, then you, by extension, have a relationship with everyone else that has a relationship with Christ. The Church is like a family you don't get to choose who is part of it and you are expected to accept all of the members of it.

That is true that you can have relationships with people who have flaws so long as one core fact exists, all parties have to be open to know each other. If that's not a constant then flaws or not you have no relationship.

 

[Albion]

Than fellowship, you're joking right.

No, I'm not. Church attendance is not merely for the sake of fellowship, although fellowship is important and I've said so to many "lone wolf" Christians in the past.

That's like saying that the essentials in life are more important than the people we have relationships with.

It might be. Breathing probably is more important to sustaining life than fellowship, if that's what you're asking.

 

[estadalamoo]

No, I'm not. Church attendance is not merely for the sake of fellowship, although fellowship is important and I've said so to many "lone wolf" Christians in the past.


It might be. Breathing probably is more important to sustaining life than fellowship, if that's what you're asking.

Ahh no it's not because air is in fact made up of chemicals that fellowships with your lung's.

 

[Winepress777]

(Jer 3:14) Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

(Rom 7:4) Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,


Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,


Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant

This is the Church, to me. Where ever they are

 

[Albion]

The Church is made up of the totality of all believers. When two or more of them gather together you have a meeting of members of the Church. Any activity those two or more engage in are acts engaged in by a part of the Church.

Not really. The verse only assures them of God's presence. It doesn't require the gathering (is 2 a 'gathering?') to be doing anything in particular. But whatever they do could, I suppose, be described as being "engaged in by a part" of the church (themselves), if you phrase it exactly that way. Fishing, cooking, whatever.

 

[ConfuseddotCom]

Why don't you try it and then find out if you can.

I have and you can

 

[DimEyesOpenHeart]

Can you be a christian without going to church..... Ever?

Your thoughts please guys!

I have been out of a church group setting for several years now and I've only really started to miss it, the friendship, the singing especially. I've tried going to different denominations and I get put off by various things. I do feel closer to God when it's just Him the bible and me.

I don't think that's it necessarily true that by not being in a church group that you won't help build up the kingdom in some way, you're building it up by strengthening yourself - who are we to judge? I think when you're on your own you have even more responsibility to follow his Laws and be more accountable because you're the only one doing it, you can't say oh I can't help out this week but so and so will do it.

I think community helps sustain a living faith, but I don't think it's mandatory. We are all different, one mould does not fit everyone. If you find a church that is great, if you don't, keep searching and learn to just be, maybe that's where He wants you right now, to build you up, to give you something that will later benefit a church group setting. Let us know how things go!

 

[DimEyesOpenHeart]

How about if the person doesn't know any other christians :-/

In the early days of the church, people must have had a similar experience. Not being affiliated to a specific denomination isn't a new issue. I think there is a clear difference between wanting to be on your own and going your own way, almost to the extreme of being pagan like and gleaning from other sources but there is also a time for everything, a time for not being necessarily in a church group setting, just time for Him and you without an obvious time limit. Only He knows. I think you can still be a Christian without a church group or without friends who follow Christ. Being a Christian isn't just a label. It's a life choice. A choice that you put Christ first. Anyone can do that at any time in any place.

 

[KimT]

The more mature you are in your Christianity, the more you will realize that God is at work all around you and He will use you to further His Kingdom. He doesn't NEED you but He will use you and that will bless you. One of the ways He uses mature Christians is to teach new Christians, to encourage them, to help them in their walks with the Lord. Another way he uses mature Christians is to spread the Gospel. Having fellowship with other Christians is beneficial. Having a pastor who has had formal training in the Word and is a good shepherd also helps all Christians with their walk. Some Christians might be called to go out alone and do God's work but, I believe, most function better connected to other Christians.

 

[puppii]

I am sorry that you had to experience this. Some people believe they have been called for leadership and God has done nothing of that sort. Marsha I am going to pray and ask God to give you a church family. I am also going to ask him that he gives you an open heart to love those who you run into.

Sorry for the late reply!

I can't believe how much my mind changed about church. I have absolutely no desire to go to church at all!!

I'd love to change and be excited about going to church.

Please do pray for me because I don't even want to bother with a church. I've been to a few and the one church is terrible. They treated me like I was an alien or something. In felt completely out of place. They all had their own clicks and I wasn't part of them. The last straw was when some woman stood up and said how important it is to be hospitable toward new people.

I don't feel comfortable in any of them. I don't even care what denomination it is.

Anyway thank you for your prayers.

 

[Maybug32]

In my opinion yes you can be a Christian with out going to church. But its also about fellowship with other members and hearing the word. Because sometimes there's a message for you that can hit close to home. Who doesn't want to hear from God?? I do not go to church every Sunday. We still pray and read the bible as a family or before bedtime with my kids. But sometimes its refreshing to meet up with the members of the church and to listen to some good music and feel the Holy Spirit working. Its a great feeling. But I would certainly never judge someone for not going to church. Only The Lord knows their hearts. ♡

 

[Maybug32]

Don't give up. I have been to a couple of churches, it almost seemed like high school all over again. Was not feeling it til I went to my church. Where members got up from their seats to greet me and my husband. Welcomed all new comers and a little gift for just coming to see the sermon. Was a great experience with that church and when I moved 5200 miles away and went to the same Assembly of God, they gave us hugs and introduced themselves and was happy to have us. Now they are like family. Dont give up . I will pray you find the right church and if not, you can always start a bible study among Christians that share in same likes and want the same thing.