I am not going for now either. I will again one day because ideally I ought to.
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I am not going for now either. I will again one day because ideally I ought to.
G
George0115
Guest
I think it"s good to go to church, but I think its even more important to live a Christian life at all times. Some people think by going to church once a week they think they can do whatever they want. I don't think it works that way. I would rather not go to church, and live like a Christian, instead of going to church once a week and living in sin the rest of the week. Church is great, I went to a Catholic school, so I went to church a lot. I just don't want people to think just by going to church it gets you into heaven, because it don't . Giving yourself to Christ is the only way to heaven.
I totally agree. I think church can enhance our faith, it's good to be with other Christians. Yet not essential.
Hebrews 10:25 KJV
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.
Deuteronomy 31:12 KJV
Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:
Psalm 50:5 KJV
Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
Acts 12:12 KJV
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
Revelation 3:22 KJV
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Hebrews 2:12 KJV
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Just a few…..
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.
Deuteronomy 31:12 KJV
Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:
Psalm 50:5 KJV
Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
Acts 12:12 KJV
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
Revelation 3:22 KJV
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Hebrews 2:12 KJV
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Just a few…..
I think we are obligated to attend a church. Too many scriptures tell about how the church is a body of believers.
We all have a role, or a part to play. The church is incomplete without all the members of the body.
We are to contribute to the well-being of the body, and in doing so, we are fulfilled, as we help fulfill other believers.
Any church will have issues, because churches are made up of flawed humans... if you choose to not be a part of a church, then you are like an arm that has been cut off of a body and left lying on the ground. The arm cannot survive without the support and input of the rest of the body.
If you cannot find a church that you believe is not trying to follow Jesus, then it is your duty (I believe) to find other like minded believers and start your own body of believers. It's not difficult to do...
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For [j]by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [k]any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [l]any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, [m]it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we [n]deem less honorable, [o]on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no [p]division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is [q]honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
We all have a role, or a part to play. The church is incomplete without all the members of the body.
We are to contribute to the well-being of the body, and in doing so, we are fulfilled, as we help fulfill other believers.
Any church will have issues, because churches are made up of flawed humans... if you choose to not be a part of a church, then you are like an arm that has been cut off of a body and left lying on the ground. The arm cannot survive without the support and input of the rest of the body.
If you cannot find a church that you believe is not trying to follow Jesus, then it is your duty (I believe) to find other like minded believers and start your own body of believers. It's not difficult to do...
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For [j]by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [k]any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [l]any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, [m]it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we [n]deem less honorable, [o]on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no [p]division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is [q]honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
We need to take the Jerusalem church as the model church. So what do you see in Acts chapter 2? There are several sound reasons for Christians to be assembling together on a regular basis. Scripturally it is not "going to church" but "the church gathering together as seen in Acts 2.
ACTS 2: THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IN ACTION: A MODEL FOR ALL CHURCHES
A. BELIEVING, BAPTISM, AND ASSEMBLING TOGETHER ALL LINKED
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
B. CONTINUING STEADFASTLY IN FOUR KEY ACTIVITIES
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
C. HAVING A SERIOUS IMPACT ON THE OUTSIDE WORLD
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
D. HAVING CLOSE FELLOWSHIP AND SHARING MATERIALLY WITH FELLOW BELIEVERS
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
E. PUTTING NEEDY CHRISTIANS FIRST
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
F. HAVING DAILY CONTACT WITH FELLOW BEILEVERS AND WORSHIPING TOGETHER
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
G. HAVING A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN THE WORLD AND SAVING SOULS DAILY
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
If there is "too much politics in church", then the problem must be that people have the law, but not the doctrine of the law or the ability to discern the doctrine of the law. Politics, that's the national constitution of Aristotle's Greece. But if you don't know how to interpret a social constitution, or just aren't in the right elected position to be doing so just right then and there at that specific time, it can become a real squabbling match.
Multiple constitutions in any one place at any one time are always an issue. Bagehot vs. the authors of the Irish constitution is always my own case in point.
Multiple constitutions in any one place at any one time are always an issue. Bagehot vs. the authors of the Irish constitution is always my own case in point.
Yes they are in the truth, don’t lose hope, the house of God is being built.
I shifted house, 1,356km, to be near the location where the church gathers.
It is very sad.
The Pentecostals turned me off with their false tongues.
I was a teen and actually thought that if I didn’t go to church,
how does that make me a christian.
But I had no idea, no shepherds.
So when the jehovah witnesses came to my door sometime later,
I somehow knew their doctrine is not correct,
but I listened to them for the sake of having some form of fellowship,
And they ran out of things to tell me, because I kept on listening to them.
But thank God he rescued me and brought me on to a sure foundation.
If the foundation is not correct,
The church cannot be built.
It will fall apart.
I know God still has a remnant, and the gates of hell won't prevail against his church. But also most organized churches don't seem to be where they should be, whether doctrinally or in practice or in loving each other. We all need to examine our own selves, though, and not just point fingers and blame the churches when we're at fault ourselves.
I know it must sound unbelievable to you, and I was totally shocked and amazed myself.
Ruth 2:11-12 KJV
…how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
[12] The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
I found the pearl of great price.
this church is what it should be,
“doctrinally… in practice … in loving each other”
If I hold my peace, and not share the good tidings, mischief will come upon me.
2 Kings 7:9 KJV
Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.
Well that's great you found such a great place to fellowship!
I challenge you to gather souls for the word of God. It’s almost too late.
Despise not the day of small things.
Zechariah 4:10 KJV
For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
If we don’t believe that God is able to build His church as it should be, then, we will see it, but never be a partaker in it.
2 Kings 7:1-3 KJV
Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord ; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
[2] Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
[3] And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
Despise not the day of small things.
Zechariah 4:10 KJV
For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
If we don’t believe that God is able to build His church as it should be, then, we will see it, but never be a partaker in it.
2 Kings 7:1-3 KJV
Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord ; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
[2] Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
[3] And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
You will be delighted to know that you are wrong.
God is able!
its up to you? if you want to grow in Gods word, if you feel like you want to get closer to God, if want to walk in your calling, in you want fellow ship with your brother and sisters in Christ, its all up to you, the word does say do not for sake the gathering of the Brothern,
Hebrews 10:25- "not forsaking the assembling of yourselves as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, & so much the more as you see the day approaching". God has talented many TEACHER-preachers all over the world. if you want to live the most joyful spirit-filled memorable life, attend church. it will improve your outward & inner self! you may be able to teach a few things also. your testimony will increase too. it just may be the event that maximizes your relationship with Jesus! if you can not attend, listen to the guys on the radio or tv.
I think we ought to meet with our fellow brothers and sisters even in just two or three gathering in His name, and on any day of the week.
Go when you can and encourage one another. Make appointments with your fellow brothers and sisters to meet up, you dont always have to do so on Sunday. Also I think here online is great we can meet with each other on this website...and exhort each other.
Go when you can and encourage one another. Make appointments with your fellow brothers and sisters to meet up, you dont always have to do so on Sunday. Also I think here online is great we can meet with each other on this website...and exhort each other.
Here is what I see in Scripture. We are to gather with other Believers(The Body Of Christ, Betrothed). Heres the discernment. There are "Offices" and "Gifts". The Offices are the Organization structure of the Church(it can be Denominational). The Structure(Organizational Framework) provides "Order" for the "Body" to gather and Edify one another in relationships. The Offices protect the Body and take care of Logistics freeing the Believers to Fellowship and not be distracted. The Body performs the real ministry. The Offices "See Over" and serve.
I have been in many Churches over the last 43 years. Every Church Taught me something and Contributed to my Discipleship. All I did was Follow The Holy Spirit and use wisdom. Fellowship with the "Gathering Of Believers" is Gods Plan. That is where you Learn and experience Christ. Every Christian has been made as a Member, Finger, Eye Ear, of a specific Local Church. The only exceptions are those called to reach others outside the Local Body, Missionaries, Evangelists(These are Gifts and Offices).