Is it really necessary to go to Church?

[Celtic D]

You said

You yourself said "The only "person" we need is God!"

I never said the church was a building....however I want to make sure the gospel is properly preached and sacraments rightly administered so I fellowship with the church at a church.

So I ask again which church is the correct one?

 

[Aibrean]

I'm not going to answer your question in here. This is for New Christians. They need to see fellowship, not disagreements.

 

[Celtic D]

You opened the can of worms not me. As is, I am a new Christian (2 years) who doesn't go to church as you are more than aware - you are advocating Christians should go to church and yet you won't answer the question that you yourself raised

 

[Aibrean]

I'll PM you.

 

[LilLamb219]

So which denomination does the sacraments etc correctly then???

There aren't too many denominations that believe in the sacraments...so to answer your question, I'm most positive that every denomination that believes in the sacraments believes that they hold to them correctly.

 

[His Sheep]

I wouldn't say it's necessary, per se, in terms of salvation or anything like that, but it's highly encouraged. Going to church builds your faith, helps you network with fellow Christians, and gives you a nice big house in which to worship Jesus. In that sense, this forum could be considered a church.

God bless you.

 

[Aibrean]

Except there is no breaking of bread here and depending where you are on here, you might get a false gospel. In addition, it's not as though "2 or 3" are actually gathering together.

 

[Peripatetic]

Except there is no breaking of bread here

True. Jesus said, "do this in remembrance of me."

depending where you are on here, you might get a false gospel.

You may be taught a false gospel in a church too. That's why I like having both church and online fellowship. If something is not right at my local church, the Holy Spirit may lead me to learn a more accurate perspective here.

In addition, it's not as though "2 or 3" are actually gathering together.

I'm not sure I agree with this one. I think it is possible to virtually gather in faith. If a group of Christians is praying for a sick friend in a chat room or praising God on Skype, I believe that Jesus is with them.

I haven't read most of this thread, but my thought is this: going to church may not be necessary, but it is extremely beneficial. It is certainly understandable for the bedridden or people who live 100 miles from the nearest church to seek alternatives. But for those of us who are blessed enough to live in populated areas with different choices, we need to check our reasoning if we choose not to attend any of them.

 

[Aibrean]

I mean, the CF is full of unorthodox groups too, as well as Buddhists, atheists, etc.

Of course, Satan doesn't want you to go to church. He wants you to fall away and wither. I find it interesting that this (along with the verses I've been posting) was the subject of today's sermon. A plant needs watering.

 

[Doubting Tomas]

＞Is it really necessary to go to Church?

No, not for me, but anyone feel that the Bible drives them to go church, churches are nice place from my experience.
Especially for young generations, they can learn a lot from attending church.

However, if you ask me the necessity of going church depends on the reason what you like to go for.

If you like to give offerings to(at) your church, or show your good will to the community and show of your new clothes (please don't get mad at me, I know you don't not but I did), you are better off not going church.
I didn't mean to say you are committing sin or nothing like that, I don't think God cares about it to rank your faith if his system works like that which I strongly doubt.

Whatever they do in church, as long as that is a place to worship Jesus and to show the faith from bottom of heart to touch God's, the rest is not a matter.
The most important thing of going church is reassuring your faith with others who have same christian values, since we don't know how God judges our faiths.
And that is a very enjoyable thing, if you can find 'em in your church.

 

[Doubting Tomas]

>Also baptism, do you believe you have to be physically baptized to go to heaven?

Why not?
Jesus did it.
I didn't do that yet, because I couldn't find a John.

Seriously, I've been asking the same question, and no one said the Bible says the baptism is a must to get in Heaven.
However, everyone said the baptism was a wonderful thing spiritually.
In that case, they may need to do that every now and then, more often.
If anyone get offended with this, think that one or two baptism would guarantee your life time faith by God?

I know Jesus did that and we need to follow his steps, however, also He did the Crucifixtion and the Resurrection.
Would you follow that?
He did that for us.

The above might make many Christians offended, however, If I said something wrong about Jesus, I believe that Jesus corrects me, instead of cursing and punishing me, to guide me to His heart.
And I want you to believe that, if you are a Christian.

 

[Aibrean]

One Lord, one faith, ONE baptism.

You can't guarantee your faith by works. Christ guarantees faith in his promises found in the Bible.

I don't believe that what you want Christians to believe, can be found in the Bible.

 

[LilLamb219]

>Also baptism, do you believe you have to be physically baptized to go to heaven?

Why not?
Jesus did it.
I didn't do that yet, because I couldn't find a John.

Seriously, I've been asking the same question, and no one said the Bible says the baptism is a must to get in Heaven.
However, everyone said the baptism was a wonderful thing spiritually.
In that case, they may need to do that every now and then, more often.
If anyone get offended with this, think that one or two baptism would guarantee your life time faith by God?

I know Jesus did that and we need to follow his steps, however, also He did the Crucifixtion and the Resurrection.
Would you follow that?
He did that for us.

The above might make many Christians offended, however, If I said something wrong about Jesus, I believe that Jesus corrects me, instead of cursing and punishing me, to guide me to His heart.
And I want you to believe that, if you are a Christian.

Baptism is God's work in you...why don't you want that? And God never mandated that we be crucified, but He does promise a resurrection when He comes again!

 

[GQ Chris]

Yes it is. There aren't any lone rangers in the Christian life. We're to be connected to God's people through fellowship and church is part of that.

 

[Doubting Tomas]

Baptism is God's work in you...why don't you want that? And God never mandated that we be crucified, but He does promise a resurrection when He comes again!

>Baptism is God's work in you...

Did Jesus said that in the Bible?
Many said no.
If that is Jesus's voice, I respect what you wrote.

>why don't you want that?

If I wrote "I don't want", please show me, I apologize.
I wrote, " I did not do that yet."

>And God never mandated that we be crucified,

Of course not, because He did for us, right?

> but He does promise a resurrection when He comes again!

Many believe that, some even say the day.

 

[Doubting Tomas]

One Lord, one faith, ONE baptism.

You can't guarantee your faith by works. Christ guarantees faith in his promises found in the Bible.

I don't believe that what you want Christians to believe, can be found in the Bible.

>You can't guarantee your faith by works. Christ guarantees faith in his promises found in the Bible.

Exactly.
That's my point, if you commented to me.

>I don't believe that what you want Christians to believe, can be found in the Bible.

Anywhere else?
I want to know what you mean.

 

[briareos]

I am bit late in this but Paul told us to not forsake the assembling of the brethren together and Paul also told us in Hebrews 13.17 that we are to submit to and obey those with spiritual authority over us, because they shepherd our souls.

We do need to be connected with the rest of the body of Christ, fingers, toes, arms, they don't work over there by themselves, we do need to be a part of some assembling together of the body of Christ and we should have spiritual mentors and counselors, leaders in our lives, people with spiritual authority over us and we are to obey them as we obey the Lord.

 

[If Not For Grace]

necessary?

No, but is there some reason you would not want to?

 

[briareos]

What most people don't understand is that there is a spiritual authority in the church of Christ under Jesus Christ, it's existence means that we need to be connected to it by being a part of it. We need pastors, shepherds, mentors, accountability, people... in our lives. Paul asked the churches to pray for him, he needed help and we do too, you can't make it on your own.

 

[visionary]

Is there scripture that specifically talks about the need to go to church?

My point is that why should we go to church to listen to someone reading the bible to us, when we can stay at home, just you and god alone and read it there in a more intimate environment.

Why do we need to have a pastor tell us what the bible says, he is not God, they are just sinners like the rest of us.

I can see the point in going to join others and hopefully grow your faith etc, but again, why should we rely on other people for us to grow in faith? Shouldn't God alone be enough?

Also baptism, do you believe you have to be physically baptized to go to heaven?

If so, what about people who commit to Christ minutes or even seconds before they die on their deathbed and don't have time to be baptized?

Thanks Graham. God bless.

where two or three are in my name, there God is.. You never know what you may learn with a gathering of believers.. especially a growing in faith people who are willing to be converted, transformed, have their minds renewed, and are looking to help lift up their brethren in faith in prayer.