Is church attendance required or even essential?

[Guest shiloh357]

The American church isn't dead.  Just fat and lazy.

[Guest LadyC]

So the American church is dead then?

 

the american church (as a whole) has become lukewarm, but it ain't dead. there are still a few good ones around.

[Qnts2]

So the American church is dead then?

 

I wouldn't say that the American church is dead.

 

If we view the church as the assembly, there are a lot of good, sincere Christians who have a desire for God.

 

I live in a small part of the U.S., which does have Church (organization) issues. But, I know of Church's in the state I live in, which are good solid places to gather and learn.

 

Maybe a new topic, but what I see is some have used the idea of unity among pastors, which supposedly brings about unity among churches, to gain control, and pass on certain practices and doctrines to a great many churches. Ideally, bring the pastors together in unity sounds like a good biblical goal, but it has caused a large number of issues. It takes a strong and discerning pastor to turn down the pastor unity group. I know of 2 pastors, who attend the meetings, but do not go along with some of the problems of control and speak up against some of the thing being promoted. In my state, I know a huge number of people who are no longer attending a 'Church' but gather outside of the church.

 

Another of the potential problems is that so many hurt Christians are outside of a church organization. If a new Church opened, it is likely to bring in a number of very hurt and sometimes bitter Christians. Not sure how any group could handle that situation.

 

But, the church is not dead. It is very much alive  

[Blue Moon]

In my neck of the woods, most pastors are more concerned about Christians being in church, as opposed to whose church they're in. They're happy when a Christian is serving faithfully somewhere. He/She doesn't have to be in their own congregation.

[Guest shiloh357]

That's how it ought to be Blue Moon!

[Dawn33]

After reading everyone's posts I am grateful for my church. I do not always agree with everything that goes on..My church had a church wide study of a

book by Rob Bell. I don't care for him and I do not believe he is a christian but I went along with it anyway.. I didn't have to agree but it is good to learn and participate. I think it is a matter of commitment..just like a marriage.No one is perfect and there are no perfect churches.

[Marilyn C]

The American church isn't dead.  Just fat and lazy.

Hi Shiloh,

 

Do you mean the organisation run by man, or the `called out ones,` that Christ is building into His Body by the Holy Spirit? It seems to me that people often confuse the two - man`s efforts at organising the Body of Christ & what the Holy Spirit is doing in people`s lives. Now as none of us has ever built a `Body of Christ,` then who are we to say what it looks like - according to `bottoms` in pews is the usual measurement of how Christ is going building His Body. Doesn`t that strike us as absurd.

 

Actually God does tell us how the Body of Christ looks & it is far different than what man is trying to set up. Let me ask a few questions -

 

Who said He was going to build His Body?

Who is doing the work of Building the Body?

Who is putting the members in place?

Who is fashioning each part?

Who is bringing truth to the Body?

Who says when the Body is completed?

.....etc, etc

 

It`s time we praised the Lord for what He is doing & not the feeble efforts of man. Marilyn.

[ayin jade]

After reading everyone's posts I am grateful for my church. I do not always agree with everything that goes on..My church had a church wide study of a

book by Rob Bell. I don't care for him and I do not believe he is a christian but I went along with it anyway.. I didn't have to agree but it is good to learn and participate. I think it is a matter of commitment..just like a marriage.No one is perfect and there are no perfect churches.

 

No church is perfect I agree. But if the church I attended started teaching from a book by rob bell, I would leave. We are told to avoid false teachings. 

[Dawn33]

This book was a few books back before he really went off... but yes you are so right Ayin Jade I wouldn't go to a church that followed his teachings.

It is a shame, I think he was talented but fell away from the faith.

[Sam Adams]

Very interesting discussion, thanks to everyone for your input...much to think about