Church?

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Jesus Freak

Previously DanaCovert68
I know it's good to go to church, but sometimes it's not because people may not accept you. So, should a person go to church or not go?

I say yes, but it's hard to fit in. And if you don't have lots of churches to choose from, I say no. And plus if you don't have people that can take you cause you can't drive. These are just my opinions.
 
Keeping the sabbath holy is divine law. Sometimes we get sick or something unexpected happens and we might not make some Sundays -- it happens and that's OK. However, intentionally avoiding church out of laziness or arrogance is different.

Sometimes it can be hard to fit into some parishes/churches. Sometimes, I feel very out of place at my parish. However, I continue to go because of my devotion and love for Christ. I go because I love the Eucharist. I go because even when I don't feel very spiritually moved some days, I know it's the right thing to do and God wants us to devote our time to Him.

I don't know what it's like to live far away from a parish, but if one has the means to travel to the nearest one, then it is necessary. If someone doesn't have the means to travel, ie can't get a lift, then I understand...but one should do his best to try and find a way.

There are a lot of very old and sick parishioners at Sacred Heart where I attend. For these people, Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist visit them in their homes or in the hospital so that they may receive the Host.

I know I am expressing this more specifically from a Catholic perspective, but that's the best I can do. When I was a Protestant, I felt it didn't matter if you did or didn't go to church, just so long as you held onto your relationship with God. While the relationship aspect is most important, I don't think this means everything else can be put aside.
 
I don't know; our 'Church' body is full of 'misfits' that don't fit into society and they are all a bunch of dirty rotten sinners too!

(Saved by the grace of God...)

Be in the world, be an example to the world, don't be OF the world-this isn't our home as Christians.
 
Greetings:

I like fair exchanges.I desire God visiting my house to keep away poisonings and accidents,and I desire paying for the doings at (His) house.

bye
 
If a person does not go to church(me) don't make fun of them. It's their(my) choice. A lot of people don't go to church, and they worship God. So, you should never judge a person because they don't go to church. You can worship God anywhere you are at. So,

Matthew 7:1

7 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged."
 
We must go to church. Sure we can serve God at home. We should serve God all day. Scripture is crystal clear on the need to gather together. No need for opinions and assumptions!

Heb 10:25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

This is the most commonly quoted verse. Paul could not be clearer! We are in the last days, if ever there was a need to gather together it is today. We don't just gather for ourselves but for others. You are part of a family and they need you as much as you need them. We wash each other when we gather together.

Eph 4:11-12 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

We can't receive the five fold ministry at... home, alone. How are those given the gift of pastoring from God supposed to exercise it if we are all at home?

1 Pet 5:2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness.

Clearly God wanted us all to be in a flock or he would not have stressed the importance of qualified elders shepherding their flocks properly.

James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Qualified elders are to pray for the sick. Not some one month old Christian who watches televangelism.

Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

Elders are to expose and remove false teaching. If you are a qualified elder, you can stay at home longer then others. But if you are not, you may never know that you are being deceived.

Titus 1:6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.

How many of us who stay at home / have home meetings meet the qualifications of an elder according to scripture?

1 Cor 11:20-34 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep

We must gather together for communion. The repercussion of not having this, is we fail at examining ourselves 1 Cor 11:28-30.

1 Cor 14:26 How is it then, brethren? When ye come together every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

When we gather, we are each given something by the Lord for the edification of one another. This cannot happen at home alone.

Matt 18:20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

This for me is perhaps the most important reason to gather. The presence of Jesus is at church!
 
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So, you should never judge a person because they don't go to church. You can worship God anywhere you are at. So,

Matthew 7:1

7 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged."
My brother, when you got saved you became my responsibility and me, yours. It is because I love and care for you that I will judge, exhort and rebuke you (rebuke only with qualified elder's present)!

1 Cor 5:12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside.

1 Cor 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

The context of where and when the word judging is used is very important. Scripture is clear the we should discern but not condemn! The context of Matt 7:1 is that of condemning. Here is a good article that explains it well http://www.goodnewsarticles.com/May98-4.htm.
 
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Corporate worship is must. We need to be in constant fellowship with other believers. The more we engage in Church, bible studies, prayer meetings, the more we are focussed in Spiritual things. It would help in developing a better relationship & fellowship with God.
 
I think it depends on your situation. If, as you say, you live somewhere where the choices are limited and the ones you have are dysfunctional or not a good fit for you, then I believe God understands. After all, do you really think He wants you to go just for the sake of going, even if it doesn't help you in your faith, and even potentially harms your faith?

However, if your choices aren't so limited, then don't give up looking either. You just might find some place that's perfect for you!
 
IMO, church isn't a building, it's the body of believers in Christ. As long as you get together with a body of believers to focus on honoring and glorifying God, preferable on the Sabbath.

Keep in mind, I don't know everything, far from it.
 
If a person does not go to church(me) don't make fun of them. It's their(my) choice. A lot of people don't go to church, and they worship God. So, you should never judge a person because they don't go to church. You can worship God anywhere you are at. So,

Matthew 7:1

7 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged."

To whom were you addressing? I hope it wasn't me? If so, I meant no offense if you took it that way.. Also, you're taking Matthew 7 a bit out of context, you have to read the entire chapter to absorb the meaning of that verse (and then some). AND we will all be judged AND we will all go through a trial by fire. The difference is the 'saved' will be cleansed by fire while the unsaved will be cast into the fire.
 
To whom were you addressing? I hope it wasn't me? If so, I meant no offense if you took it that way.. Also, you're taking Matthew 7 a bit out of context, you have to read the entire chapter to absorb the meaning of that verse (and then some). AND we will all be judged AND we will all go through a trial by fire. The difference is the 'saved' will be cleansed by fire while the unsaved will be cast into the fire.


I am not addressing any one person here. I am just saying that I thought this forum is about being nice to people and respecting their beliefs. I am saying also, if a person doesn't go to church, you can't have them banned because of that. I was banned from another forum because of that. All I am doing is politely asking for you all to respect me, and my beliefs. And that includes my not going to church. Thanks. And God bless.
 
Well I don't think 'banning' a person for not going to 'church' is a good idea. The whole premise of 'going to Church' is about fellowship with fellow believers. NEWS FLASH: you are fellowship with believers on this forum....and we don't always agree on everything nor hold the same beliefs about certain topics; just like going to a 'church' building where they hold services. Do you think all Church members gathered together believe exactly the same thing? That would be a cult and there would be no freedom in it.

The idea of having you step out of your shell into a Church environment goes back to the example of Christ being Baptized in front of a multitude. It is our 'public service'; the 'fruit' of our labor that makes our light shine forth for the world to see.

I don't always agree 100% with my Pastor-but he is a more learned man than I and I respect his opinion and experience. He is just another sinner like me that happened to make a whole lot better life choices than I have. He is not my idol, nor is our 'church' building. But we have a common goal and desire to spread the Gospel in our community. For where 2 or more believers are gathered; there will be Christ also.

The fact is; if you are purposely isolating yourself, you are hindering God's use for you in your own life and limiting yourself in treasures beyond this earth. Your only hurting yourself (and missing out on ministry opportunities to the lost) by not participating. There is always a ministry for a believer to fill: blind, deaf, dumb, rich, poor, Jew, Muslim, Christian, mentally incapacitated, intelligent, the clean, the sick, physically handicapped, healthy, burn victims, grief counseling, etc....

What's your ministry?

I am not really good with people in person; but I have been honored for the LORD to use me in other ways: cleaning the 'church' & building maintenance, handing out tracks at parades, visiting our church members and visitors, serving people at fellowship dinners, door to door soul winning, playing 'bouncer' in Sunday School, doorman, usher, A/V tech and webmaster. I am not trying to brag-because I have nothing 'good' I can give God. But God can empower me and His light sometimes shines through me even though I am unworthy. GLORY TO GOD!
 
Guys, let's end this totally. I am done with this subject for good after this post. All the people I messaged have said they respect me and my choices. So, I ask you to do as well future posters of this thread.
 
If a person does not go to church(me) don't make fun of them. It's their(my) choice. A lot of people don't go to church, and they worship God. So, you should never judge a person because they don't go to church. You can worship God anywhere you are at. So,

Matthew 7:1

7 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged."
It really is better to worship with other believers. In Matthew 18:20 it says For where two or three are gathered together in MY name, I am there in the midst of them.
It doesn't have to be a big gathering, just 2 or more. It strengthens our faith.:)
 
Dana, I'm just a little confused because you asked. Then people gave their opinions and you seemed to get upset with them... but they were just answering your question, right?

I don't think anyone is judging you... just trying to help you.
 
Dana, I'm just a little confused because you asked. Then people gave their opinions and you seemed to get upset with them... but they were just answering your question, right?

I don't think anyone is judging you... just trying to help you.


I understand this, but this thread was started a long while ago. Then it was left to as they say,"die" but it apparently won't. Just saying that I messaged people that were getting uppity at me and they respected my decision. Sorry if I'm mad. I won't be anymore.
 
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