Can participation in a local church be contrary to th Christian faith?

[GoldenEagle]

Can particioation in a local church be contrary to the Christian faith?
 

If we are the Body of Christ how can a thumb survive on his own? How does the kidney function without the liver, heart, lungs, etc?

Can a Believer be an island and effectively serve God?

What does Scripture say?
 

This is something that came up

God bless,

GE

[ncn]

No man is an island in the Kingdom of God.   

You need other believers to build you up and sharpen you.

[GoldenEagle]

No man is an island in the Kingdom of God.   

You need other believers to build you up and sharpen you.

 

Amen brother!

 

Song: to listen)

 

NO MAN IS AN ISLAND

 

I won’t run, I will stay

I’m not leaving you

I know there’s friction here

The struggle makes us new

 

I wish you never thought you had to go

Wish you never thought you had to leave

Together we can lift each other up

We can build a shelter for the weak

 

No man is an island, we can be found

No man is an island, let your guard down

You don’t have to fight me, I am for you

We’re not meant to live this life alone

 

I see fear in your eyes

There’s no safety here

Oh, my friend, let me in

I will share your tears

 

I wish you never thought you had to go

I wish you never thought you had to leave

We can always lift each other up

We can build a shelter for the weak, come on

 

No man is an island, we can be found

No man is an island, let your guard down

Please don’t try to fight me, I am for you

We’re not meant to live this life alone

 

Through trouble, rain, or fire

Let’s reach out to something higher

Ain’t no life outside each other

We are not alone

Through trouble, rain, or fire

Let’s reach out to something higher

Eyes open to one another

We are not alone

 

No man is alone

Why you try to fight me

We don’t have to do it alone

We don’t have to do it alone

We don’t have to do it alone

 

[hmbld]

If I can't have my way I'm leaving.

Or

If I feel offended I'm leaving.

Or

I wouldn't pick these worship songs so I'm leaving.

Is it part of American culture to leave, or do all cultures find this many reasons to give up on each other?

[other one]

 

Phil 2:9-12

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

KJV

no I do not believe it is necessary to belong to a Church Group, however I also do not believe that it is contrary to the Faith if one does so.

[Qnts2]

 

 

Phil 2:9-12

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

KJV

no I do not believe it is necessary to belong to a Church Group, however I also do not believe that it is contrary to the Faith if one does so.

 

 

I would tend to agree.

 

For some reason, along the way, assembling together came to be viewed as a formal Sunday service with an ordained pastor etc. Assembling together does not mean church as we know it today. That did not exist when Philipians 2 was written. At the same time, todays churches can be a way to assemble. Maybe not as effective as a group of Christians gathering together to eat together, and automatically, Christian, and scriptural topics are discussed, but church services are still a time of a form of gathering/assembling.   

[Wildstar]

Can particioation in a local church be contrary to the Christian faith?

 

If we are the Body of Christ how can a thumb survive on his own? How does the kidney function without the liver, heart, lungs, etc?

Can a Believer be an island and effectively serve God?

What does Scripture say?

 

This is something that came up

God bless,

GE

I simply dont go to church because my beliefs are different.  Its like you can believe what you believe, but me and you have completely different views about Jesus.  So I reject them and I expect them to reject me.  Now on the other hand I dont mind gathering with like minded people who believe in God.  I am against gathering with people of a different faith.  Not that they don't believe in Jesus, but Catholics, Mormons and JWs believe in Jesus too but its obvious they believe in a different version.  

 

I haven't been to church since I was 'born again' on my 21st birthday.  I have spiritually improved a great deal since then.  

Edited August 5, 2014 by Wildstar

[Fez]

I guess I have a different perception to many as to what church is. Sunday services are a part of church, but they are not all of church.

 

We meet on a regular basis, just as friends might, some planned, many not. It's like family, centered around a love of Jesus.

 

For instance this week: today a spontaneous get together of some of the women for my wife's birthday, tonight a prayer meeting, tomorrow night a leaders meeting and a meal, Thursday night a barbecue that we arranged at church last Sunday, just because we want to hang out together.  Saturday, someone may phone and say let's have coffee.

 

Like I said, church is so much more than a Sunday service.

[GoldenEagle]

If I can't have my way I'm leaving.

Or

If I feel offended I'm leaving.

Or

I wouldn't pick these worship songs so I'm leaving.

Is it part of American culture to leave, or do all cultures find this many reasons to give up on each other?

 

Perhaps it is beceause of the focus of the American culture on "indivualism" ( A) the belief that the needs of each person are more important than the needs of the whole society or group or B) the actions or attitudes of a person who does things without being concerned about what other people will think) instead of "collectivism" (emphasis on collective rather than individual action or identity) which has been the norm in many cultures and still is in many cultures today.

Think about it. People farm out the care of their children and parents in order to have dual income families.

This boils over into "Jesus came to die for me" mentality instead of "Jesus came to die for us". There's a song Above All which basically states that Jesus thought of "me" above all at the cross. What about God's glory? What about all other sinners out there? Food for thought.

God bless,

GE

[GoldenEagle]

 

I simply dont go to church because my beliefs are different.  Its like you can believe what you believe, but me and you have completely different views about Jesus.  So I reject them and I expect them to reject me.  Now on the other hand I dont mind gathering with like minded people who believe in God.  I am against gathering with people of a different faith.  Not that they don't believe in Jesus, but Catholics, Mormons and JWs believe in Jesus too but its obvious they believe in a different version.  

 

I haven't been to church since I was 'born again' on my 21st birthday.  I have spiritually improved a great deal since then.  

How do we have different views of Jesus? Is Jesus not the Son of God? Did he not die on a cross and rise again on the 3rd day? 

Curious how do you know my views? 

What is the difference between gathering with like minded people who believe in God and going to a local church?

God bless, 

GE