Church Attendence

[Guest shiloh357]

Church attendance is down nation-wide in the US.   But I'm not surprised.   Our schools and even some people in the ministry are down playing the Bible by promoting evolution, gay marriage and teaching people that the Bible isn't inerrant and isn't an infallible rule of life.  We are seeing a shift from doctrine to a more "cultural" Christianity that doesn't really emphasize the Bible at all, but emphasizes just being a good person.   We are seeing trend away from the integrity of the Bible and fewer and fewer Christians actually read their Bible and many more do not see it as  their primary source of spiritual understanding.

So...   Why go to church to study a book that you can't trust?   If the Bible got it wrong in Genesis 1, if the Bible is full of things that are no longer relevant, if the Bible is wrong about homosexuality, then what else is it wrong about?   How can we trust the Bible if it is wrong in so many places?   Those are the questions people are asking.  Since the Bible is irrelevant, church attendance, is by extension irrelevant.    So what we see in the US is that many churches are in decline.

The churches that are  not in decline focus, not on the Gospel, but on entertainment and sermons based in pop psychology rather than the Word of God.

[archaeologist55]

Is it necessary to a Christian's life to belong to a brick and mortar building and congregation? 

king david once said how glad he was when people said let's go to the house of the Lord and the NT says forsake not gathering together, so your desire to attend church needs a little work or you need to find the right church that will meet your needs while giving you an opportunity to participate.

 

you do not have to go to a church to be a Christian but you should not segregate yourself either. the problem in this world is finding the right congregation to be a part of. you need spiritual food to grow, you may need help through problems or you may need social time with others. it is wise to find a church and attend it.

[enoob57]

Those having new birth and The Holy Spirit are here began:
Matt 18:20
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
KJV
assembling of yourselves together for the purpose of growth through worship...
Love, Steven

[thereselittleflower]

You can not put God in a box.God is anywhere you want to worship.

Bopeep,

Evidently you need to dig a little deeper into Christian worship.  That is not putting God in a box but being obedient to God according to His Word.  Unfortunately Christians are generally not taught properly about worship as revealed in Scripture, and the meaning of gathering or assembling together.  Had the KJV used the word "assembly" instead of "church" for ekklesia, that concept would have been more evident (as in Hebrews 10:25):

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

 

How can we exhort one another, if we are absent from the gathering of the saints?

 

 

 

 

 

You can not put God in a box.God is anywhere you want to worship.

Bopeep,

Evidently you need to dig a little deeper into Christian worship.  That is not putting God in a box but being obedient to God according to His Word.  Unfortunately Christians are generally not taught properly about worship as revealed in Scripture, and the meaning of gathering or assembling together.  Had the KJV used the word "assembly" instead of "church" for ekklesia, that concept would have been more evident (as in Hebrews 10:25):

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

 

How can we exhort one another, if we are absent from the gathering of the saints?

 

 

 

 

 

Salvation is found in Christ.No amount of Church attendance will earn eternity in heaven.It should be a person choice if someone wants to attend a Worship service in a Church.Churches certainly are not what they used to be.I am sure there are a handful of Churches left that preach from the Bible.I have been very disappointed in several Churches I have attended.It is more the world than in the House of God.

 

So are you advocating disobedience to the command in God's word?

 

 

I am saying that attending Church is not a salvation issue.You will not go to hell if you do not attend.There are many who go to Church who are not a Christian.You can also pick up some false doctrine by attending many of the Churches in our world today.Many can not attend a Church.That is ok as long as they are studying the literal true word of God daily.

Yes it is not enough to go to a church.   One should attend a church that actually preaches the truth, and not a church that teaches salvation is based on something other than Jesus Christ.    Going to church isn't how we are saved, but there fellowship benefits that those who choose not to attend will miss out on.    There is coming a time when it will be better to stay away from churches due to the way so many are falling into false doctrine and are capitulating to the world's system.  Many churches are not even worth attending, these days.

Can we ignore God's commands?

Who is talking about ignoring God's commands??  

Those who say we can forsake the assembling together of believers contrary to the command of scripture.

[walla299]

Is it necessary to a Christian's life to belong to a brick and mortar building and congregation? 

Simple answer: Yes.

It's very important to be part of a local congregation, and you can see examples in Acts. Believers need one another because we are not of this world, and in fact this world is hostile territory. Any soldier cut off from his/her unit behind enemy lines is in a dangerous situation. We cannot practice many of the "one another" commands without being part of a community of believers (i.e. a local body, or church.) See how often you see examples of this just in the book of Acts. Its all over the epistles too. You can survive being isolated for a time, but it gets pretty miserable fast. I know this from experience. We backslide pretty quick with no one else around to hold us up! 

Something else comes to mind too: There is no such thing as a "perfect" local church. Find one where they preach the Bible as the Word of God and be a part of it. Pray and ask the Lord to lead you to the local body where He wants you, and remember that the Holy Spirit never leads us to do anything that is against God's word. 

Edited September 5, 2015 by walla299

[Guest shiloh357]

You can not put God in a box.God is anywhere you want to worship.

Bopeep,

Evidently you need to dig a little deeper into Christian worship.  That is not putting God in a box but being obedient to God according to His Word.  Unfortunately Christians are generally not taught properly about worship as revealed in Scripture, and the meaning of gathering or assembling together.  Had the KJV used the word "assembly" instead of "church" for ekklesia, that concept would have been more evident (as in Hebrews 10:25):

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

 

How can we exhort one another, if we are absent from the gathering of the saints?

 

 

 

 

 

You can not put God in a box.God is anywhere you want to worship.

Bopeep,

Evidently you need to dig a little deeper into Christian worship.  That is not putting God in a box but being obedient to God according to His Word.  Unfortunately Christians are generally not taught properly about worship as revealed in Scripture, and the meaning of gathering or assembling together.  Had the KJV used the word "assembly" instead of "church" for ekklesia, that concept would have been more evident (as in Hebrews 10:25):

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

 

How can we exhort one another, if we are absent from the gathering of the saints?

 

 

 

 

 

Salvation is found in Christ.No amount of Church attendance will earn eternity in heaven.It should be a person choice if someone wants to attend a Worship service in a Church.Churches certainly are not what they used to be.I am sure there are a handful of Churches left that preach from the Bible.I have been very disappointed in several Churches I have attended.It is more the world than in the House of God.

 

So are you advocating disobedience to the command in God's word?

 

 

I am saying that attending Church is not a salvation issue.You will not go to hell if you do not attend.There are many who go to Church who are not a Christian.You can also pick up some false doctrine by attending many of the Churches in our world today.Many can not attend a Church.That is ok as long as they are studying the literal true word of God daily.

Yes it is not enough to go to a church.   One should attend a church that actually preaches the truth, and not a church that teaches salvation is based on something other than Jesus Christ.    Going to church isn't how we are saved, but there fellowship benefits that those who choose not to attend will miss out on.    There is coming a time when it will be better to stay away from churches due to the way so many are falling into false doctrine and are capitulating to the world's system.  Many churches are not even worth attending, these days.

Can we ignore God's commands?

Who is talking about ignoring God's commands??  

Those who say we can forsake the assembling together of believers contrary to the command of scripture.

Who is saying that?   All anyone is saying is that it is not a salvation issue.   If a person   does not attend church, it is not going to send them to hell.  Some people have issues that make church attendance a nonstarter.  Trying to pin salvation to church attendance is false doctrine and a false gospel and that means such ideas should be rejected by those of us who are actually Christians.  

[Ezra]

 

 

Salvation is found in Christ.No amount of Church attendance will earn eternity in heaven.

Why are you shifting the focus from church attendance to salvation? Nothing has been said about salvation or earning salvation, but you have deliberately ignored what has been said about believers ASSEMBLING TOGETHER as commanded in Scripture. This is not a salvation issue but an OBEDIENCE ISSUE.

 

 

[thereselittleflower]

You can not put God in a box.God is anywhere you want to worship.

Bopeep,

Evidently you need to dig a little deeper into Christian worship.  That is not putting God in a box but being obedient to God according to His Word.  Unfortunately Christians are generally not taught properly about worship as revealed in Scripture, and the meaning of gathering or assembling together.  Had the KJV used the word "assembly" instead of "church" for ekklesia, that concept would have been more evident (as in Hebrews 10:25):

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

 

How can we exhort one another, if we are absent from the gathering of the saints?

 

 

 

 

 

You can not put God in a box.God is anywhere you want to worship.

Bopeep,

Evidently you need to dig a little deeper into Christian worship.  That is not putting God in a box but being obedient to God according to His Word.  Unfortunately Christians are generally not taught properly about worship as revealed in Scripture, and the meaning of gathering or assembling together.  Had the KJV used the word "assembly" instead of "church" for ekklesia, that concept would have been more evident (as in Hebrews 10:25):

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

 

How can we exhort one another, if we are absent from the gathering of the saints?

 

 

 

 

 

Salvation is found in Christ.No amount of Church attendance will earn eternity in heaven.It should be a person choice if someone wants to attend a Worship service in a Church.Churches certainly are not what they used to be.I am sure there are a handful of Churches left that preach from the Bible.I have been very disappointed in several Churches I have attended.It is more the world than in the House of God.

 

So are you advocating disobedience to the command in God's word?

 

 

I am saying that attending Church is not a salvation issue.You will not go to hell if you do not attend.There are many who go to Church who are not a Christian.You can also pick up some false doctrine by attending many of the Churches in our world today.Many can not attend a Church.That is ok as long as they are studying the literal true word of God daily.

Yes it is not enough to go to a church.   One should attend a church that actually preaches the truth, and not a church that teaches salvation is based on something other than Jesus Christ.    Going to church isn't how we are saved, but there fellowship benefits that those who choose not to attend will miss out on.    There is coming a time when it will be better to stay away from churches due to the way so many are falling into false doctrine and are capitulating to the world's system.  Many churches are not even worth attending, these days.

Can we ignore God's commands?

Who is talking about ignoring God's commands??  

Those who say we can forsake the assembling together of believers contrary to the command of scripture.

Who is saying that?   All anyone is saying is that it is not a salvation issue.   If a person   does not attend church, it is not going to send them to hell.  Some people have issues that make church attendance a nonstarter.  Trying to pin salvation to church attendance is false doctrine and a false gospel and that means such ideas should be rejected by those of us who are actually Christians.  

Attending Church is a way for people not to forsake the assembling together.

The OP presented two questions.

I understand the qualms with saying we must be tied to a brick and mortar buildiing to be where we assemble.    But to even question being tied to a "brick and mortar" building misses the point entirely.

We go to "brick and mortar" buildings because this is where we have chosen to meet.   It is not the building that makes the "church" - it is the people who meet there.  To look at the building is to have our eyes on the wrong thing.

Even in the very early times of christianity, when they met in homes, it would be the homes of wealthy believers, homes which then became set aside as the regular meeting place for believers in that area; the gathering for worship then becoming the only purpose for that building, what was once a home.

Focusing on the building misses the bigger picture of needing to assemble together.    

I know people who refuse to do so in an extreme over reaction to organized christianity, seeking to go it alone.    This is in disobedience to what we are commanded to do.

 

 

[Guest shiloh357]

You can not put God in a box.God is anywhere you want to worship.

Bopeep,

Evidently you need to dig a little deeper into Christian worship.  That is not putting God in a box but being obedient to God according to His Word.  Unfortunately Christians are generally not taught properly about worship as revealed in Scripture, and the meaning of gathering or assembling together.  Had the KJV used the word "assembly" instead of "church" for ekklesia, that concept would have been more evident (as in Hebrews 10:25):

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

 

How can we exhort one another, if we are absent from the gathering of the saints?

 

 

 

 

 

You can not put God in a box.God is anywhere you want to worship.

Bopeep,

Evidently you need to dig a little deeper into Christian worship.  That is not putting God in a box but being obedient to God according to His Word.  Unfortunately Christians are generally not taught properly about worship as revealed in Scripture, and the meaning of gathering or assembling together.  Had the KJV used the word "assembly" instead of "church" for ekklesia, that concept would have been more evident (as in Hebrews 10:25):

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

 

How can we exhort one another, if we are absent from the gathering of the saints?

 

 

 

 

 

Salvation is found in Christ.No amount of Church attendance will earn eternity in heaven.It should be a person choice if someone wants to attend a Worship service in a Church.Churches certainly are not what they used to be.I am sure there are a handful of Churches left that preach from the Bible.I have been very disappointed in several Churches I have attended.It is more the world than in the House of God.

 

So are you advocating disobedience to the command in God's word?

 

 

I am saying that attending Church is not a salvation issue.You will not go to hell if you do not attend.There are many who go to Church who are not a Christian.You can also pick up some false doctrine by attending many of the Churches in our world today.Many can not attend a Church.That is ok as long as they are studying the literal true word of God daily.

Yes it is not enough to go to a church.   One should attend a church that actually preaches the truth, and not a church that teaches salvation is based on something other than Jesus Christ.    Going to church isn't how we are saved, but there fellowship benefits that those who choose not to attend will miss out on.    There is coming a time when it will be better to stay away from churches due to the way so many are falling into false doctrine and are capitulating to the world's system.  Many churches are not even worth attending, these days.

Can we ignore God's commands?

Who is talking about ignoring God's commands??  

Those who say we can forsake the assembling together of believers contrary to the command of scripture.

Who is saying that?   All anyone is saying is that it is not a salvation issue.   If a person   does not attend church, it is not going to send them to hell.  Some people have issues that make church attendance a nonstarter.  Trying to pin salvation to church attendance is false doctrine and a false gospel and that means such ideas should be rejected by those of us who are actually Christians.  

Attending Church is a way for people not to forsake the assembling together.

The OP presented two questions.

I understand the qualms with saying we must be tied to a brick and mortar buildiing to be where we assemble.    But to even question being tied to a "brick and mortar" building misses the point entirely.

We go to "brick and mortar" buildings because this is where we have chosen to meet.   It is not the building that makes the "church" - it is the people who meet there.  To look at the building is to have our eyes on the wrong thing.

Even in the very early times of christianity, when they met in homes, it would be the homes of wealthy believers, homes which then became set aside as the regular meeting place for believers in that area; the gathering for worship then becoming the only purpose for that building, what was once a home.

Focusing on the building misses the bigger picture of needing to assemble together.    

I know people who refuse to do so in an extreme over reaction to organized christianity, seeking to go it alone.    This is in disobedience to what we are commanded to do.

 

 

None of that actually addresses the issues I raised.  All anyone is saying is that it is  not salvation issue in terms of gaining or losing salvation.  No one is going to hell for not going to church.  They are missing out on a lot of blessings and they are disobeying the Lord, and the Lord will handle that.  But no one is losing salvation over it.

[Guest shiloh357]

Don't worry Jeff, I am not  assembling with "unbelievers" but a small congregation of serious True believers in Christ Jesus that believe in the BIBLE ONLY.  Yes! they still can be found!

It's sad that Bible-believing churches are on the decline, but our culture hates the Bible and does everything it can to diminish its importance.   People will believe anyone and anything before they believe the Bible.