Do You Have to Go to Church for God to Accept You?

[kwikphilly]

On 5/13/2025 at 4:33 AM, timf said:

When a church is run as an organizational system, it can demonstrate mechanical qualities that tend to quash the relationships we need to grow in Christ. When denominational distinctives dominate, the carnality Paul wrote the Corinthians about surfaces. Sometimes churches can be hindrances. It can be useful to cultivate Christian relationships outside of church as well.

A common story used by pastors to illustrate the importance of church is cited about a pastor who visited a man who had been absent from church for a while. The two were sitting in front of a fire and the pastor used a iron to pull an ember out and the ember started to die out. The man told the pastor he got the point. I told the pastor who shared it with me, what happens when you are the ember and the fire is out.

The same thing that happens when we enter the dark...... one little ember can ignite the Fire,the Light always Overcomes the darkness.....

So many people I hear excuses from.... oh,this church is boring,there's no Fire,no Spirit...... it's not always about what you can GET..... I say it's WHO you Bring!!!!

I like your question-an Effective,Productive Church has many Functioning Members...... One Head ( start somewhere,maybe you are the one little ember that will spark a blazing fire)

Glory to God!

In His Love,Kwik

 

 

 

[timf]

The idea the one person's ember will ignite a fire may be overly optimistic. It is more like that parents that put their children in public school to be "missionaries".

Here is a like to sadly recounts how one church unraveled with a worldly orientation.

https://sapulpamessenger.com/warning-baptist-churches-learn-failure/

[Vine Abider]

On 5/12/2025 at 6:55 AM, The Messenger said:

Let me tell you something, church family—no, you don’t have to go to church for God to accept you. God isn’t just checking attendance; He’s looking at your heart. His love and grace aren’t limited to a building or a schedule. Now, don’t get me wrong—church is a beautiful place to grow, to worship, to learn, and to walk alongside others in faith. It helps us stay strong and stay focused. But when it comes to God accepting you? That comes through faith, through a humble heart, through a genuine relationship with Him.

Remember, in Scripture, some of the most powerful moments with God happened outside of any temple—on mountains, in deserts, even in prisons. God meets us right where we are. So while the church can build you up, encourage you, and help you serve others, God’s not limited by four walls. What matters most is a heart that seeks Him sincerely. So no, you don’t have to go to church to be accepted by God. But wherever you are, seek Him, grow in Him, and let His love lead your life.

Absolutely correct - we don't need to go to any place or a building to be accepted by God.  The new covenant is about the spiritual - Christ in us - rather than going to a particular physical place.  However, as our sister states below, we actually are the church (ekklesia or called-out gathering).  We are not "lone rangers" and God didn't design this for us to do on our own.

The exhortation in the New Testament is clear:  "Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as is the habit of some . . ." (Heb 10:25)  God's purpose is with the body of Christ (and again, not some structure made with human hands).

So we need both - the vertical relationship with God, and the horizontal relationship with others who share His life.

9 hours ago, kwikphilly said:

"Go to church" is an odd kind of phrase when you think about it,isn't it? Since,after all" we" are the Church- the Body of Christ!

It's true though,no one is mandated to go into a building to attend a service - however we are Encouraged to Gather,Assemble together as a Body of Believers - as @Michael37 mentioned....... we do these things because we LOVE God and not out of obligation

Wherever we go to Gather we Bring Holy Spirit,Christ Abides in us..... Praise Jesus!

The Day we were Born Again we were Accepted as Children of God Most High ,Family

Oh but for the Grace of God- the Precious Blood of Jesus!

With love in Christ,Kwik  

 

[Marilyn C]

3 hours ago, timf said:

The idea the one person's ember will ignite a fire may be overly optimistic. It is more like that parents that put their children in public school to be "missionaries".

Here is a like to sadly recounts how one church unraveled with a worldly orientation.

https://sapulpamessenger.com/warning-baptist-churches-learn-failure/

That was interesting tim. The trouble starts when we call man`s organization `the Church.` It is a public meeting organized by man. It can be helpful, but NEVER `the Church.` That title is exclusive for the Body of Christ, 

`And He (God the Father) put all things under His (Jesus`) feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the Church which is His Body the fullness of Him who fills all in all. `(Eph. 1: 22 & 23)

May we be more careful with our words and be scriptural and not continue to support and uphold an unscriptural teaching. Let us encourage each other to meet with the 2`s and 3`s and really get to know others in the Body, their needs, their gifts and praise the Lord together without always having an organization organize us.

 

[farouk]

8 hours ago, lrs68 said:

Going to Church and being among like believers Worshipping God edifies and builds your spirit.   I would encourage going to Church if it's possible.

Hi @lrs68 "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." (Hebrews 10.25)

[kwikphilly]

5 hours ago, timf said:

The idea the one person's ember will ignite a fire may be overly optimistic. It is more like that parents that put their children in public school to be "missionaries".

Here is a like to sadly recounts how one church unraveled with a worldly orientation.

https://sapulpamessenger.com/warning-baptist-churches-learn-failure/

Well I confess ,I do have GREAT EXPECTATIONS and I can only say " Thank You Lord" that I do..... I can do nothing of my own or on my own but with God nothing is impossible

Glad you warned in advance the link is a sad recount ,nothing that I'd entertain but I do pray for people that they Seek God ... themselves

I've seen Amazing things with my own eyes not to Believe God is Able to do the Extraordinary with Ordinary people like myself or anyone who is " Willing" to walk  Obediently in Faith.... imagine if the Apostle Paul thought about being overly optimistic or if David thought it be better to go back into the hills & tend to his sheep because he was just one little fellow facing a giant obstacle?

With love in Christ,Kwik

 

[farouk]

12 hours ago, lrs68 said:

Going to Church and being among like believers Worshipping God edifies and builds your spirit.   I would encourage going to Church if it's possible.

Hi @lrs68 Acts 2.41-42 principles are essential; however, the new birth is not effected by the church but by the Spirit of God.

[lrs68]

Amen!

[kwikphilly]

23 minutes ago, lrs68 said:

Amen!

Amen from me too- going to church or as we say in my own congregation of Believers" Having Church" is so beneficial..... It's hard for me to understand why it seems such a difficult thing for so many, it's typically an hour long- one little hour out of 168 in a week!

Some days I really don't " feel" like going and then I think- seriously?Our little Gathering has dwindled down to very few,I'm sure there's many reasons like the old music & it's certainly to loud,painfully loud,the Pastors always pressuring for $$$ and other things that have turned people off but still I'm going for one reason- to set aside that one hour away from everything,everyone,and all things to GO and DO with my Brothers n Sisters FOR God Alone,together in Praise & Worship simply because we Love the Lord..... can't get that in my living room or bed- it's uplifting,encouraging,edifying and rewarding

I just Receive all God Has for me and Leave all else

I'm Grateful I live in a Country that I do have a place to go to,a building with a cross outside where we can play the ridiculously loud music ,lol

With love in Christ,Kwik

[farouk]

On 5/13/2025 at 4:33 AM, timf said:

When a church is run as an organizational system, it can demonstrate mechanical qualities that tend to quash the relationships we need to grow in Christ. When denominational distinctives dominate, the carnality Paul wrote the Corinthians about surfaces. Sometimes churches can be hindrances. It can be useful to cultivate Christian relationships outside of church as well.

A common story used by pastors to illustrate the importance of church is cited about a pastor who visited a man who had been absent from church for a while. The two were sitting in front of a fire and the pastor used a iron to pull an ember out and the ember started to die out. The man told the pastor he got the point. I told the pastor who shared it with me, what happens when you are the ember and the fire is out.

@timf

2 Corinthians 4.17-18 reminds us that the inward and spiritual takes precedence over the outward and physical:

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

¹⁸ While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."