Do I have to attend church?

[Bevlina]

I don't go to church. My simple belief is that if we fellowship under a gumtree and share, love, support and give to those within the fellowship group who are poor, we are just as close to God as if we went to a man made structure.

 

[nb_christseeker]

I don't go to church. My simple belief is that if we fellowship under a gumtree and share, love, support and give to those within the fellowship group who are poor, we are just as close to God as if we went to a man made structure.

that's good, but do you eat the body and drink the blood of Christ regularly?
[bible]John 6:53-57[/bible] its good for you! =)

not trying to be a pest, forgive me.

 

[Bevlina]

You are certainly not being a pest!!

Yes, now and then I do take communion. Thankyou for bringing that to my attention nb!

 

[rocklife]

Bevlina, praise God He's given you eyes to see. My family is so disgusted with the lukewarmness of so much of the church, we have to worship at home on Sunday mornings with each other. We pray, sing worship songs along with the stereo, and watch the Jesus movie, read the Bible, or watch the Visual Bible Book of Acts. We really haven't met many in San Antonio who wholeheartedly love God, so many don't care to read their bibles daily or get to know Jesus and obey Him very much at all. I do attend a church maybe twice a month on Wednesdays. I don't attend more than that because I don't want the lukewarmness rubbed off on me.Church people are the ones satan has used more than once to tell me "obedience to the bible is optional" and "we don't have to do everything the Bible says- like follow Jesus." Then there are others who think going to church is all one has to do to go to heaven, being loving the other days of the week is not included. This is not Christianity, and it may not be coming from the pulpit, but the pewwarmers are all around and teaching the kids this laziness in Sunday schools. The unloving and hypocrisy is disgusting and being ignored purposely by many leaders (or satan is blinding them, either way, it's bad enough that I will only attend minimally and I pray for the Holy Spirit the whole time I do go to church). God seems to fellowship with me all the time, whether I'm alone or with others, so going to an institutional church all the time doesn't worry me. Do what your conscience allows, follow where you believe God's Holy Spirit is leading you, God gives us much more freedom than man does. If others condemn you, don't hang out with them. Read the Bible or listen to it on tape (the bible, not preaching) more and more, and stick close to Jesus. I pray God blesses you and keeps you.

 

[ukok]

Christ founded the Catholic Church. There was an Early Church and it has existed for 2000 years. If you do a little research you will see that from the earliest times Christians congregated together and 'gave thanks'. The Catholic Mass of today is not disimilar to the Mass of the Early Church...there are many, many similarities and much has been retained.

I love that the Liturgy of the Mass is almost identical to the Mass that was said all those years ago.

If you want to know more about the Catholic Church, feel free to come along to OBOB and ask questions

http://www.christianforums.com/f26

 

[Bevlina]

No thanks uk. I left the catholic church and have different beliefs which line up completely with the Bible. Praying to Mary does not.
Thank you for the invitation. And, Jesus did not found the catholic church.
He appointed Paul as the apostle to the gentiles! And Peter as the apostle to the Jews.

 

[Bevlina]

Bevlina, praise God He's given you eyes to see. My family is so disgusted with the lukewarmness of so much of the church, we have to worship at home on Sunday mornings with each other. We pray, sing worship songs along with the stereo, and watch the Jesus movie, read the Bible, or watch the Visual Bible Book of Acts. We really haven't met many in San Antonio who wholeheartedly love God, so many don't care to read their bibles daily or get to know Jesus and obey Him very much at all. I do attend a church maybe twice a month on Wednesdays. I don't attend more than that because I don't want the lukewarmness rubbed off on me.Church people are the ones satan has used more than once to tell me "obedience to the bible is optional" and "we don't have to do everything the Bible says- like follow Jesus." Then there are others who think going to church is all one has to do to go to heaven, being loving the other days of the week is not included. This is not Christianity, and it may not be coming from the pulpit, but the pewwarmers are all around and teaching the kids this laziness in Sunday schools. The unloving and hypocrisy is disgusting and being ignored purposely by many leaders (or satan is blinding them, either way, it's bad enough that I will only attend minimally and I pray for the Holy Spirit the whole time I do go to church). God seems to fellowship with me all the time, whether I'm alone or with others, so going to an institutional church all the time doesn't worry me. Do what your conscience allows, follow where you believe God's Holy Spirit is leading you, God gives us much more freedom than man does. If others condemn you, don't hang out with them. Read the Bible or listen to it on tape (the bible, not preaching) more and more, and stick close to Jesus. I pray God blesses you and keeps you.

Thakyou Rocklife!!
Yes, I have seen all you explain and you have put this so well! I have seen things in churches which have utterly disgusted me. And I want no part of a lukewarm church. I've seen posts here at CF which have utterly disgusted me too! I follow my heart now. And, my heart is with God.
I admire the way you worship at home! Sadly, I am alone. I did ask for a msn little service to God on a specified day, but that seems to have fallen flat. Nevertheless, I shall plod along! And, I refuse now to turn back and join people who are Sunday 'christians'. And actually, that is why may of the churches are not getting the congregations in Australia!
I have alot if videos, and gentle praise music. God has show me the way of the churches, the cliques, the backbiting, the hypocrisy, the false show.
No...I want no part of that. I prefer God to a church.

 

[TheMainException]

No...you don't HAVE to attend church...but let me tell you why you SHOULD attend church. Church is for fellowship and worship with other believers. It is good to attend church and be with other believers so that you can lift each other up.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Indeed. It is absolutely amazing the difference simple things can make. I tried not going to church one Sunday just to test things out, and that caused me to feel really bad. This caused me to stop reading the Bible and praying as much as I should have. Of course, it is not required of anyone to go to church, but it helps very much. God wants the best for us, and I think anyone who is in a lukewarm church (or no church) is missing out!

 

[Faith In God]

Indeed. It is absolutely amazing the difference simple things can make. I tried not going to church one Sunday just to test things out, and that caused me to feel really bad. This caused me to stop reading the Bible and praying as much as I should have. Of course, it is not required of anyone to go to church, but it helps very much. God wants the best for us, and I think anyone who is in a lukewarm church (or no church) is missing out!

but around here, you can't find anything but lukewarm churches . so we homechurch .

bizzlebin, your post reminds me of when I forget to pray. my life just kind of goes *blows a raspberry* the next day, because i forgot to ask for my daily bread. I try to at the very least pray the Lord's prayer everyday.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

but around here, you can't find anything but lukewarm churches . so we homechurch .

bizzlebin, your post reminds me of when I forget to pray. my life just kind of goes *blows a raspberry* the next day, because i forgot to ask for my daily bread. I try to at the very least pray the Lord's prayer everyday.

The churches in Acts met in homes. It is actually a very good way to do things in some cases. May God bless your group!

 

[MsShinobu]

Sorry to barge in here, but what if a person wants to go to Church, but it is too hard for them to do so? If someone has an anxiety problem that makes them fearful of public places, is there any other way they can worship? As silly as this sounds are there any online Christian worship meetings? It would be really cool if you could visit a website and have an online Church that could have like the normal Sunday Church meeting, except all done online.

 

[Faith In God]

Sorry to barge in here, but what if a person wants to go to Church, but it is too hard for them to do so? If someone has an anxiety problem that makes them fearful of public places, is there any other way they can worship? As silly as this sounds are there any online Christian worship meetings? It would be really cool if you could visit a website and have an online Church that could have like the normal Sunday Church meeting, except all done online.

try homechurching.

 

[Memory's Flame]

I spent several years not attending church, I couldn't find a church in my town where I felt I fit in...

I read my bible daily, prayed many times a day, and shared discussions with my family and friends... I feel that I grew in my faith more during that time! Although I doubt it would be the same for everyone.

 

[MsShinobu]

Thank you butxifxnot!! Sadly thought, it seems the site is down at the moment ;_;

 

[deafarchangel]

Sometime my church are basically same way... some church members acting like they are top of the world (but my minister is doing ok) but since I go to deaf church, it is extremely difficult to find another deaf church. So I usually ignore them and give them my love (God commanded us to love one other, right?) and the real reason I go to my church is to worship our Heavenly Father and learn about Him. Act 2:42 explained that we must have fellowship, sharing, pray and meet with others. If you find another church, then that is good. Just go to church for worship and not for "social activities". God bless you and will guide you to right direction!

 

[Jynx3dx1]

God wants to have people worship him as a whole. Although you can give God true worship at home, worshiping as a body of christ is what's really cool

 

[just_dance]

I know what you are going through I don't go to church because alot of churchs in my town have the I go to church so I am a better christian so if you feel uncutiable there you shouldn't go a church shouldn't be a place were people talk behind your back and think that they are better chritians because we are all equal under God

 

[HoosierCanuck]

I know what you're going through. I haven't been to 'my' church hardly at all this year. I've been disillusioned by it because when I first started going 2 years ago I felt it was God's direction for me to go there. I learned a lot and met some new people but as time has gone by I feel that I'm no closer to anyone there than I was in November 2001. Am I wrong for thinking this? Maybe. I don't feel that HUMAN STUPIDITY should prevent me from doing as God commanded but I'm having a hard time finding a place in this town/county where I fit in. Singles in their 30's are an anomaly in churches so I'm either looked down upon or pitied or simply ignored. I don't like to willingly put myself in those positions. Most churches here consist of people old enough to be my grandparents (and out of touch with reality!) or young kids who think they know everything.

 

[Richard]

You need a good fellowship ...... Christ calls us to be with other believers to encourage one another !!!