Is church attendance required or even essential?

[Sam Adams]

Shiloh:

I do not claim to be any different with the exception that I refuse to wear a false mask and I understand that I am being judgmental.

That is why I feel for the time being my place is not among them. I do not want to talk about how perfect I am and I would like to drink a fine Pale Ale without condemnation.

[Guest Judas Machabeus]

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

Shiloh:

This is an unfortunate side effect of the faith alone scripture alone theology. When you ( the royal you) regect the authority of the Church that Jeaus founded you end up with each individual becoming their own authority.

Another example:

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.

Edited January 26, 2015 by Judas Machabeus

[Fez]

Jesus is coming to claim His bride.

[Sam Adams]

Judas:

Which of Jesus' churches authority should I accept?

The Baptist authority?

The Calvary Chapel authority?

The Methodist, The Popes? Church of Christ? Church of God? Assembly of God? Vineyard?

[Cyrus]

.

First one would need to find a church that correctly teaches God's Word.

This world order is filled with satanic baal temples impersonating churches.

.

[Guest Teditis]

I hardly think that it's a side effect of Grace-Alone theology because plenty

of churches are filled with people that believe in that theology.

 

It seems to me that some people are more sensitive to a hypocritical life style

that is commonly seen in modern, American churches...I can speak to churches in other countries.

But the point is that going to church is a point of Salvation, we can clearly stay away from them.

However, I also think that we harm ourselves in doing so because there's much to be gained there too.

[Guest shiloh357]

Judas, this has nothing to do with the faith alone theology.   Faith alone theology speaks to how we are saved.  We are not saved by the Church, and nowhere in the Bible is the Church given the authority to save anyone.  The Church is not a salvational body;  it is a redeemed community.

 

You are confusing issues.  Rejecting the authority of the RCC is rejecting what God never gave to the Church.   The RCC takes authority to itself that it was never given by God.   I am not beholden to a magisterium to tell me what I should believe.  

 

What we have here, in this thread, is a person who hypocritically sits in judgment on others while claiming that they are judgmental.  It is just an excuse for not being part of a Church.  It isn't a real reason.   It is nothing more than a pretext.   I see it from everyone.  He just wants to drink beer and live his own life and he justifies it by claiming that other Christians are judgmental when 90% of the time, no one really cares that he drinks beer.

[MorningGlory]

I can relate to Sam and how he feels about his former church.  I quit going to my last church because the preaching didn't appeal to me and the church body didn't either.  The entire thing just left me cold so I never went back.  It happens.  I still love and follow the Lord regardless.

[Sam Adams]

Do you care Shiloh? What is your view of beer?

[Sam Adams]

Thank you Morning Glory. The irony is the person accusing me of hypocrisy is sitting in judgement of me himself.

Seems to me he is the type of person I left church to get away from.