Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

To me, any discussion of church attendance for Christians that proceeds from an implication that such attendance is by nature an obligation or a burden is misdirected (although, as indicated in the verse cited in the question, such attitudes were apparently present even in the early church).

Even though the congregating of Christians is no longer required as a safeguard against opponents or persecutors, group worship is intended by God as an occasion for Christians to enjoy one another's company and to build one another up spiritually; to celebrate and worship Him together; and to take corporate actions for the benefit of others that they cannot accomplish individually. It is something that Christians should look forward to and anticipate as something that will benefit them, rather than participating in it because they "have to", or are expected to, or because they view it as advantageous or necessary from a social standpoint.

That is not to say that missing corporate worship is an unforgivable sin, or that such attendance would be mandatory regardless of an individual's personal circumstances. But the joy that such worship is intended to provide to Christians, as well as a desire to support each other, and to join in thanking and praising God for their salvation, should act as powerful motivators in gathering together for those purposes.

August 24 2020 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

James Kraft Supporter 74 year old retired pipeline worker

There is and old saying, sitting in church does not make you a Christian, anymore than sitting in your garage makes you a car.

Lots of unbelievers go to church. The bible says, where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I will be also. 

We can only have fellowship with believers. Saved sinners. A church building or denomination may have believers and unbelievers. 

We can not tell them apart. Only God knows who has believed on Jesus alone apart from works for the free gift of eternal life. 

When the Philippian jailor asked Paul, what shall I do to be saved? Paul said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house." Just believe. 

So, whether you attend church or not has nothing to do with your salvation, which is a free gift from God by faith alone apart from works. If you are in a bible believing church that preaches the gospel, First Corinthians 15:1-4, then they are doing the great commission and leading others to Christ apart from works by faith alone in Jesus' finished work on the cross alone. 

If they do not preach that gospel, they are not doing the will of God. John 6:40 and 29.

August 28 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Supporter Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

The church is the body of Christ on earth and every Christian is automatically a part of it. When Jesus saved us, the Holy Spirit placed us in the church. Please read carefully through 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body. In fact, God has placed the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

If we claim we don't need the church then we are rebelling against the will of God and that is sin. Without our participation in the church, we will never become spiritually mature and complete, we will never complete the good works that God prepared in advance for us to do, and we will never fulfill God's plan and purpose for our lives.

The church is the kingdom of God on earth. Jesus established the kingdom at his first coming. The Holy Spirit is building the kingdom through the church. Then Jesus will celebrate the consummation of the kingdom with the bride of Christ (the church) at the marriage feast of the Lamb. This world, controlled by our enemy Satan, is filled with evil, wickedness, corruption and decay; it is a dying world. But the church is ushering in a new world, filled with justice, righteousness, love and faithfulness; a world filled with life, a world filled with the presence of God.

The church is the family of God on earth. Other believers are our brothers and sisters. We need each other and our spiritual family relationships bring the abundantly fulfilling life that Jesus promised. You won't find a single believer mentioned in the New Testament who is not part of a local church. When we say we don't need the church, we are acting like the prodigal son, who didn't want his family, just his inheritance and then squandered it on wild living.

But our Father in heaven is waiting with open arms for every wandering Christian to come back to his family, through the local church. Ask God and the Holy Spirit will guide us to the local church that is a perfect fit for us to enjoy, grow and serve. Look for a local church with these qualities; 1) a passion for knowing the bible, the Word of God, that leads them into an intimate personal relationship with God; 2) an engagement in prayer that is as natural as breathing; 3) a worship environment of Spirit and truth that praises God for who he is and gives thanks for what he has done; 4) a serving generosity that longs to meet the needs of others in the church and in our communities to deliver the love of God; 5) a mission environment that is always sharing the gospel and inviting people to join the family of God.

August 29 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Donna Williams Supporter

In my opinion, where we gather is not important, but we are exhorted to assemble ourselves together. In the early church they went from house to house.

It's about the fellowship of the saints. I believe we put more emphasis on where we go to church rather than being the family of God, as He intended. To me, it's another divisive mechanism of the wicked one.

August 28 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report