To Church or not to Church???...

[Christian]

Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ,

I come to you today on a fact finding mission that I hope I can rely upon your discretion. I am not looking to start a debate on this subject, merely looking for infomation that I may have overlooked which I can then look over and pray upon for the Lord's answer.

I am looking for specific Scriptural verses that instruct us to physically attend an "established" church.

Again, I ask you for specific verses, not "opinions" or "views" on the subject.

I know this topic can often spiral out of control which is why I'd like to approach it the way that I am and avoid any controversies over differences of opinions.

Blessings to all

in Christ

-C-

[Floatingaxe]

Simply put:

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

[st. Worm]

Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ,

I come to you today on a fact finding mission that I hope I can rely upon your discretion. I am not looking to start a debate on this subject, merely looking for infomation that I may have overlooked which I can then look over and pray upon for the Lord's answer.

I am looking for specific Scriptural verses that instruct us to physically attend an "established" church.

Again, I ask you for specific verses, not "opinions" or "views" on the subject.

I know this topic can often spiral out of control which is why I'd like to approach it the way that I am and avoid any controversies over differences of opinions.

Blessings to all

in Christ

-C-

Considering that the Book of Acts is the story of how the church is established, the letters or books of the New Testament are addressed to churches, the church is given specific authority by Christ himself and the Apostles through Him, the church is called the bride of Christ (and there is no indication that this is merely and only the "invisible or spiritual church", etc, etc., it seems pretty much unnecessary to seek out "specific Scriptural verses" that instruct us to attend church.

What you are asking for is what the anti-church church group always asks for. To ask for "specific verses" for something that is self evident is pretty much the usual method other nominal or heretical groups use to try and overturn true doctrine. Is there a specific verse that says Jesus is a part of the triune God? No, but its still plenty true and taught by Scripture. Your method of seeking biblical truth leaves much to be desired and should be corrected as soon as possible.

sw

[Christian]

Thank you for your input st worm but what part of this didn't you understand?

I am looking for specific Scriptural verses that instruct us to physically attend an "established" church.

Again, I ask you for specific verses, not "opinions" or "views" on the subject.

I don't appreciate your inference or your accusation brother

You know nothing about me so please refrain from your pious judgement.

[st. Worm]

Thank you for your input st worm but what part of this didn't you understand?

I am looking for specific Scriptural verses that instruct us to physically attend an "established" church.

Again, I ask you for specific verses, not "opinions" or "views" on the subject.

I don't appreciate your inference or your accusation brother

You know nothing about me so please refrain from your pious judgement.

It seems reasonable to assume from your question that this is an agenda question and this seems fairly obvious from the way you asked it. The last part of your initial post confirmed for me the agenda you appear to have. Anything that is not a specific verse that teaches the church you have tried to discount in advance. Also I made no specific accusation about you at all. I have however seen the same questions here before. The idea that specific verses are the test of true doctrine has been defeated on this and other issues. Doctrine that is taught us in Scripture that is not laid out in a single specific passage is not just "opinion or views" no matter how hard you try to argue it. As I said, if this is your method of seeking biblical truth you are going down the wrong path.

Having said that my concern is that young or new Christians will fall for the single verse argument and then get tricked by the devil from attending church. For that reason it seems worthwhile to argue against your method.

sw

[firehill]

Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ,

I come to you today on a fact finding mission that I hope I can rely upon your discretion. I am not looking to start a debate on this subject, merely looking for infomation that I may have overlooked which I can then look over and pray upon for the Lord's answer.

I am looking for specific Scriptural verses that instruct us to physically attend an "established" church.

Again, I ask you for specific verses, not "opinions" or "views" on the subject.

I know this topic can often spiral out of control which is why I'd like to approach it the way that I am and avoid any controversies over differences of opinions.

Blessings to all

in Christ

-C-

Your method of seeking biblical truth leaves much to be desired and should be corrected as soon as possible.

sw

He seeks the scriptures and this is your response!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your opinion!!!!!!!!!!

Excuse me the method he seeks is BIBLICAL.

[st. Worm]

Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ,

I come to you today on a fact finding mission that I hope I can rely upon your discretion. I am not looking to start a debate on this subject, merely looking for infomation that I may have overlooked which I can then look over and pray upon for the Lord's answer.

I am looking for specific Scriptural verses that instruct us to physically attend an "established" church.

Again, I ask you for specific verses, not "opinions" or "views" on the subject.

I know this topic can often spiral out of control which is why I'd like to approach it the way that I am and avoid any controversies over differences of opinions.

Blessings to all

in Christ

-C-

Your method of seeking biblical truth leaves much to be desired and should be corrected as soon as possible.

sw

He seeks the scriptures and this is your response!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your opinion!!!!!!!!!!

Excuse me the method he seeks is BIBLICAL.

You are absolutely wrong and setting up a strawman. He seeks "specific verses" as his method of proving or disproving doctrine. The term Trinity is not in a specific verse. Do you think the Bible teaches the Trinity?

sw

[jaisum]

I understaned where Christian is coming from

So many churches and denominations, yet Jesus prayed for us (in John ch 17) to be as One. Denominations are confusing. They exist because Christians can agree on how to interpret various parts of scripture. So a group of believers build a church (a group) on what they believe is the closest to scripture.

In light of this i left my church, and even though some of you wont like what i am about to say, i have had more opputunities to witness the gospel, to get closer to God, to help others, since i left my church. I consider this as Gods way of saying leaving the church was the right thing to do.

2Peter is a warning that the biggest threat to the church is not from the outside, but from the INSIDE. this means the churches themselves pose the biggest threat to Christianity because of false teachings false doctrine (ie OSAS is todays case in false teaching... but thats another topic). If there was a warning against the church back then, whose to say the warning still doesnt exist.

in fact, 1Peter 4.17 warns that 'Judgement shall start with the Household of God' This is, Judgement starts with the churches. This is a clear statement God will judge the churches ( for falsehood, etc). Look at Jesus warnings to the churches in Rev ch 2 & 3. Jesus warns 8 times that the churches must OVERCOME. Only the church of Philidelphia was the true church that was 100% pleasing to Jesus. God has many warnings against churches in Scripture, as well as verses that encourage church going.

The early church in Acts was a far call from the churches of today. Miracles were performed on a daily basis back then which is evidence for this. If the church today was as strong as it was back in the early church of Acts, we would have miracles on a daily basis too, much more in fact. But we dont. (NB i do believe miracles still happen to induviduals) This means to me that belonging to todays churches isnt where God wants you to be. There is no power of healing in churches today. If we were truly like the early church as described in Acts, most churches would have healing services/miracles daily for the blind, deaf, disabled... etc....

You dont have to belong to a physical building church to believe and FOLLOW what Jesus taught. In fact staying out of the churches of today will give you a clearer vision of Gods will in your life, in my own experience...

God Bless

Jai Patel

[st. Worm]

I understaned where Christian is coming from

So many churches and denominations, yet Jesus prayed for us (in John ch 17) to be as One. Denominations are confusing. They exist because Christians can agree on how to interpret various parts of scripture. So a group of believers build a church (a group) on what they believe is the closest to scripture.

In light of this i left my church, and even though some of you wont like what i am about to say, i have had more opputunities to witness the gospel, to get closer to God, to help others, since i left my church. I consider this as Gods way of saying leaving the church was the right thing to do.

2Peter is a warning that the biggest threat to the church is not from the outside, but from the INSIDE. this means the churches themselves pose the biggest threat to Christianity because of false teachings false doctrine (ie OSAS is todays case in false teaching... but thats another topic). If there was a warning against the church back then, whose to say the warning still doesnt exist.

in fact, 1Peter 4.17 warns that 'Judgement shall start with the Household of God' This is, Judgement starts with the churches. This is a clear statement God will judge the churches ( for falsehood, etc). Look at Jesus warnings to the churches in Rev ch 2 & 3. Jesus warns 8 times that the churches must OVERCOME. Only the church of Philidelphia was the true church that was 100% pleasing to Jesus. God has many warnings against churches in Scripture, as well as verses that encourage church going.

The early church in Acts was a far call from the churches of today. Miracles were performed on a daily basis back then which is evidence for this. If the church today was as strong as it was back in the early church of Acts, we would have miracles on a daily basis too, much more in fact. But we dont. (NB i do believe miracles still happen to induviduals) This means to me that belonging to todays churches isnt where God wants you to be. There is no power of healing in churches today. If we were truly like the early church as described in Acts, most churches would have healing services/miracles daily for the blind, deaf, disabled... etc....

You dont have to belong to a physical building church to believe and FOLLOW what Jesus taught. In fact staying out of the churches of today will give you a clearer vision of Gods will in your life, in my own experience...

God Bless

Jai Patel

Exhibit 2 that this thread is of the anti-church movement. Without exception, you guys ALWAYS use the physical building argument to deny that believers should attend church. The purpose of the church is not to bring healing and not to perform miracles. The purpose of the service is not to reenact the Book of Acts each Sunday morning. The purpose of the church is to preach the gospel of Jesus and to administer Christ's Sacraments. And yes, that often happens in a physical building.

sw

[apothanein kerdos]

I understaned where Christian is coming from

So many churches and denominations, yet Jesus prayed for us (in John ch 17) to be as One. Denominations are confusing. They exist because Christians can agree on how to interpret various parts of scripture. So a group of believers build a church (a group) on what they believe is the closest to scripture.

In light of this i left my church, and even though some of you wont like what i am about to say, i have had more opputunities to witness the gospel, to get closer to God, to help others, since i left my church. I consider this as Gods way of saying leaving the church was the right thing to do.

2Peter is a warning that the biggest threat to the church is not from the outside, but from the INSIDE. this means the churches themselves pose the biggest threat to Christianity because of false teachings false doctrine (ie OSAS is todays case in false teaching... but thats another topic). If there was a warning against the church back then, whose to say the warning still doesnt exist.

in fact, 1Peter 4.17 warns that 'Judgement shall start with the Household of God' This is, Judgement starts with the churches. This is a clear statement God will judge the churches ( for falsehood, etc). Look at Jesus warnings to the churches in Rev ch 2 & 3. Jesus warns 8 times that the churches must OVERCOME. Only the church of Philidelphia was the true church that was 100% pleasing to Jesus. God has many warnings against churches in Scripture, as well as verses that encourage church going.

The early church in Acts was a far call from the churches of today. Miracles were performed on a daily basis back then which is evidence for this. If the church today was as strong as it was back in the early church of Acts, we would have miracles on a daily basis too, much more in fact. But we dont. (NB i do believe miracles still happen to induviduals) This means to me that belonging to todays churches isnt where God wants you to be. There is no power of healing in churches today. If we were truly like the early church as described in Acts, most churches would have healing services/miracles daily for the blind, deaf, disabled... etc....

You dont have to belong to a physical building church to believe and FOLLOW what Jesus taught. In fact staying out of the churches of today will give you a clearer vision of Gods will in your life, in my own experience...

God Bless

Jai Patel

Exhibit 2 that this thread is of the anti-church movement. Without exception, you guys ALWAYS use the physical building argument to deny that believers should attend church. The purpose of the church is not to bring healing and not to perform miracles. The purpose of the service is not to reenact the Book of Acts each Sunday morning. The purpose of the church is to preach the gospel of Jesus and to administer Christ's Sacraments. And yes, that often happens in a physical building.

sw

I would take it further that these people are trying to teach an autonomous faith...that ultimately faith only relies on our connection with God absent of our responsibility to the body of believers.

The fact is, personal experience is bunk and means nothing when taken out of the context of the body of believers and scriptue. Scripture tells us to not forsake gathering with each other, to hold each other accountable, and to be part of the Church body. In order to do this, we must meet together in a physical function.

A person who does not attend any form of Church is a person weak in the faith.