Is church attendance required or even essential?

[Sam Adams]

I no longer attend a church on any regular basis. I have had former church mates tell me I am sinning and cannot be a "real" Christian if I do not belong to a local body of believers.

Needless to say I do not agree with this.

What is the view of this forum?

[Guest shiloh357]

Christianity is designed to be experienced in community.  Why would you not want to be part of a church?  

[wingnut-]

Well, I think scripture clearly encourages that we gather together.  In my opinion, that doesn't have to take place in a specific building, where two or more are gathered in His name works just as well.

[Guest Judas Machabeus]

I no longer attend a church on any regular basis. I have had former church mates tell me I am sinning and cannot be a "real" Christian if I do not belong to a local body of believers.

Needless to say I do not agree with this.

What is the view of this forum?

Why do you not agree?

[Sam Adams]

Shiloh:

It is my experience that churches in the US today are too focused inward and not enough on those outside the walls of the building. I also have found many to be extremely judgmental and unforgiving of those who do not see eye to eye.

Community means many things, this is a

community of believers. And though I don't post in a lot of topics I do read a great many of them.

Judas: because I am saved by grace, not sitting in a building 3 times a week

[Riverwalker]

Solid Biblical Teaching Is Important

Corporate Praise and Worship is Important

A Solid Support and Prayer System is Important

Fellowship is Important

 

and all these things are available in church.....and elsewhere

 

as long as you are fulfilling those needs. You are good

 

 

 

Shiloh:
It is my experience that churches in the US today are too focused inward and not enough on those outside the walls of the building. I also have found many to be extremely judgmental and unforgiving of those who do not see eye to eye.
Community means many things, this is a
community of believers. And though I don't post in a lot of topics I do read a great many of them.

Judas: because I am saved by grace, not sitting in a building 3 times a week

 

We need to be VERY careful passing judgment on churches. We must not be too impressed with our own knowledge and wisdom, as we do not know as much as we will know tomorrow

Edited January 26, 2015 by Riverwalker

[Qnts2]

 

Shiloh:

It is my experience that churches in the US today are too focused inward and not enough on those outside the walls of the building. I also have found many to be extremely judgmental and unforgiving of those who do not see eye to eye.

Community means many things, this is a

community of believers. And though I don't post in a lot of topics I do read a great many of them.

Judas: because I am saved by grace, not sitting in a building 3 times a week

I'll use the original word now translated as church, ecclessia, or assembly.

From there, I will just say, I desire to meet with people, assemble, who are born again. We view Father God, and Jesus, in the same way. We desire to honor and serve God. We do not want to sin. We like to discuss scripture. The center of our lives are around Jesus and what He did for us. The center of our lives are growing in Jesus and being conformed to Him. We enjoy discussing scripture, and Jesus, and our experiences with God as we serve.

People who are not part of the body, the assembly, have no desire to really do these things. So, while I like people who are not saved, there are many things we do not have in common. Our most important desires have nothing in common. Our primary interests have very very little in common.

So, in the end, a born again believer has a desire to get together with other born again believers.

[Sam Adams]

Qnts2:

I fully accept that at this time I am part of if not all of the problem. But I do not find myself wanting to be around Christians. The ones I know in person I find phony and they have a facade of being pious.

I had to delete my Facebook account as I could no longer take their attempts to out Holy each other. These are people who used the prayer request time at Sunday school as an opportunity to gossip about members and who used praise time as a chance to let everyone know who they hung out with last night and what they did.

The Casting Crowns song " Does anyone really know her" comes to mind.

The bible tells us there is a season for everything, this is my season to experience God on my own.

[Guest shiloh357]

So Sam, how it is that you are being any less judgmental?    You are sitting judgment on those you claim you don't want to be a part of because they are judgmental.   Lot's of hypocrisy on your part.

 

Churches are made up of flawed people.   Churches have people who are at different stages in their walk with God and who are learning something and unlearning old ways.   So you are going to find in churches, people who are made of clay who make mistakes, who don't always reveal perfect character.

 

How are you any less flawed than them???    How about we look at all of your flaws and shortcomings and decide that you are not worth being around, of fellowshipping with?   Would you like us to evaluate you in the same way and decide that if you don't meet some hypocritical standard that we should kick you off the boards?   

 

Or would like for people to take into account that you are still trying to serve God and are at a place in your walk with God and we should show you some grace?    Should you not also show the same grace to the flawed people in the church instead of assuming that you are just too spiritual and too god-like and too righteous to have anything to do with these unwashed masses?

[missmuffet]

I no longer attend a church on any regular basis. I have had former church mates tell me I am sinning and cannot be a "real" Christian if I do not belong to a local body of believers.

Needless to say I do not agree with this.

What is the view of this forum?

I do not attend a Church either.Going to Church is not a Salvation issue.There are a lot of people who do not attend a Church.It is important to read your Bible and do Bible studies so you know God's word.Churches are not what they used to be.I have found more of them are preaching false doctrine than the literal true word of God.Many go to Church out of habit or wanting a social outing and many are not a Christian.If you find a Church that meets your needs and you find it is a good Bible teaching Church then by all means attend that Church.I have not found that yet.I am very,very fussy about who teaches me the Word of God.God wants your life,heart and mind 7 days a week every second of the day.He wants a relationship with you not a "religion".I know many,many people who go to Church on Sunday and figure they are off the hook.They can do as they please the rest of the week.It does not work that way.