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Is it possible to be a christian nad not go to church ?

2789847 2012/09/22 19:52:26
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  • bill.fi... Camille... 2012/09/23 03:53:55 (edited)
    bill.fife.3
    When I joined the church I was just nine.
    The literature they gave us to read made it clear a church is not a building but the people who support the belief system and teachings with their words and actions.
    Anyone can be a part of any religion they truly believe in.
    They are not all mutually exclusive.
    I think that's something more need to realize.
  • izzybean Camille... 2012/09/23 12:03:29
    izzybean
    People seem to think church is a building, it isnt it is the people who gather to worship. Destroy the building the church is still there.
  • Alicia 2012/09/23 03:00:03
    other
    Alicia
    I like to go to Church and sometimes need the comfort of the familiar rituals but I walk with God every day and I know many Christians who consider themselves above everyone else because they never miss a Church service who are less than honorable people. I pray in the car, pray in the grocery store, pray in my home so my Church is everywhere.
  • Dub 2012/09/23 02:53:06
    other
    Dub
  • James 2012/09/23 02:43:04
    other
    James
    +2
    I know plenty of christians who go to church and are the most unchristian individuals I've ever seen. I have also seen people who relate to themselves as christian who never go to church.
  • srini 2012/09/23 02:39:48
    other
    srini
    +1
    Trick question, akin to "is it possible to use a cellphone without ever recharging it?" or "is it possible to live without intaking calories?"
  • Space Invader 2012/09/23 02:36:14
    other
    Space Invader
    +3
    yes; a church is just a building..and filled with politics
  • xxelement 2012/09/23 02:31:05
    other
    xxelement
  • King of Gummy Bears 2012/09/23 02:27:55
    other
    King of Gummy Bears
    +2
    yes, you just may not find a church in your area you like, so worship on your own!
  • betty 2012/09/23 02:27:44
    other
    betty
    +1
    christians are the church! Christian gather together for fellowship and to show God praise.
  • wedge56 2012/09/23 02:25:55
    other
    wedge56
    +3
    Yes. I was raised as a Christian...Catholic to be precise. My local pastor was amazing. However the people in my church were...very flawed individuals, but since they went to church they thought they held all the moral high ground in our little community even though their actions did not warrant it.

    I still regarded myself as a Christian long after that, but I had to come to terms with the idea that I could speak to God on my own, every day and still be a good Christian without going to church. As long as I got up every day and tried to do the right things and be good...I just hoped God would be okay with that.

    As I grew older, I no longer viewed myself as Christian. I still believe in God, I just do not believe in organized religion anymore. I've studied too much history and seen too many evil things done in God's name so I divorced myself from that train of thought. I still "see God" in every beautiful leaf, in every caress of a gentle breeze, in every frightening thunderstorm....I just don't believe there is only one prescribed way to acknowledge a higher power anymore.

    That was way more than you wanted to know. Oops.
  • Alicia wedge56 2012/09/23 03:04:05 (edited)
    Alicia
    +2
    Wise words beautifully said!
  • Camille... wedge56 2012/09/23 03:14:50
    Camille Palmer
    +2
    NO,...wedge56, You got it right.
  • izzybean wedge56 2012/09/23 12:05:56
    izzybean
    Dont confuse gods word with mans work its easy to do, but not right.
  • Ken Bennett 2012/09/23 02:24:31
    other
    Ken Bennett
    +2
    Of course you can
    Its Christianity. Of course you can. Long as you read your bible everyday and pray and whip yourself for not going to church. Sure.
  • us 2012/09/23 02:09:30
    other
    us
    +3
    yes, as long as you believe in jesus christ as your personal savior. Church is good to learn about the Bible, meet others, and when you accepted jesus as your personal savior, you get batized. I believe you can worship jesus anywhere, and how you live your life that is important. GOD BLESS.
  • Kim(: 2012/09/23 02:04:45
    other
    Kim(:
    +1
    Of course
  • joshBigBoss 2012/09/23 01:57:42
    other
    joshBigBoss
    +1
    Churches are there to take our focus off of God and put it on to people. You can meet with fellow believers and it's just as good or better than sitting there listening to some man who wants to stand between you and God.
  • Maxine 2012/09/23 01:51:38
    other
    Maxine
    +2
    Yes I believe that you can have a relationship with God without going to church. However, when I don't go I miss the Christian fellowship.
  • BIG BAD JOHN R. 2012/09/23 01:47:39
    other
    BIG BAD JOHN R.
    Yes. You can be a Christian and not go to church.
  • Lady 2012/09/23 01:40:06
    no clue
    Lady
    +1
    you don't have to go to a physical place to have a relationship with God
  • Phil 2012/09/23 01:23:11
    other
    Phil
    If you would read the Word of God, you would have your answer. He has told us not to forsake assembling ourselves together as others do (Hebrews 10:25), but He also doesn't expect us to gather with those who we feel are believing false doctrine, as in: Matthew 16:12, 1 Cor 14:26, Eph 4:14, 1 Timothy 4:6, 2 John 1:9 - If you have the doctrine of Christ, you have the Father and the Son with you, no matter who you associate with, or don't associate with, 2 John 1:10 - If a person doesn't bring forth the 'genuine' Gospel, we are not to associate with them, Titus 1:16 - reprobates: those void of good judgement, Rom 1:28 - People who act like they are godly, yet don't retain God in their heart, 2 Tim 3:1-5 - Those who appear to be godly, yet deny the power of God [ which IS the Holy Ghost - Acts 1:8] , are to be left to their own demise.

    If there is no Church in your area, or within your traveling radius that believes the truth and/or professes unsound doctrine, I don't feel that He expects us to associate with those who are not ordained of God, just to fulfill the Heb 10:25 verse. However, I am just as ardent about not using the excuse that there is ONE minor disagreement that would cause you not to attend Church and worship with other Christians, because He knows that we draw str...





    If you would read the Word of God, you would have your answer. He has told us not to forsake assembling ourselves together as others do (Hebrews 10:25), but He also doesn't expect us to gather with those who we feel are believing false doctrine, as in: Matthew 16:12, 1 Cor 14:26, Eph 4:14, 1 Timothy 4:6, 2 John 1:9 - If you have the doctrine of Christ, you have the Father and the Son with you, no matter who you associate with, or don't associate with, 2 John 1:10 - If a person doesn't bring forth the 'genuine' Gospel, we are not to associate with them, Titus 1:16 - reprobates: those void of good judgement, Rom 1:28 - People who act like they are godly, yet don't retain God in their heart, 2 Tim 3:1-5 - Those who appear to be godly, yet deny the power of God [ which IS the Holy Ghost - Acts 1:8] , are to be left to their own demise.

    If there is no Church in your area, or within your traveling radius that believes the truth and/or professes unsound doctrine, I don't feel that He expects us to associate with those who are not ordained of God, just to fulfill the Heb 10:25 verse. However, I am just as ardent about not using the excuse that there is ONE minor disagreement that would cause you not to attend Church and worship with other Christians, because He knows that we draw strength from each other in our spiritual walk.

    If you 'HAD TO GO TO CHURCH NO MATTER WHAT' to be able to be saved, then what would happen to the person shipwrecked on a deserted island who had never heard of God, or even the one who knows God, but there is no one else to worship with him? Are they doomed to hell? NO. Some circumstances are not the fault of the individual, and are not held against them. Yet, if they ARE ABLE TO ATTEND SERVICES IN A CHURCH and merely use the excuse that they don't like the minister or someone in the congregation, as a means to avoid attending at any cost, I feel that God would not look pleasingly upon such a person and would turn them over to a 'reprobate mind' as per Titus 1:16, Romans 1:28.

    (All scriptural references are KJV. It DOES make a difference).

    Conclusion: If there is a way to go to Church with those which you feel are not false prophets, not preaching against the gospel of Jesus Christ, and ARE living what they profess, then you SHOULD go to Church. I am presently not attending myself, because there is no Church that I can find in the driveable radius, since moving from Missouri to Oklahoma, which I feel is preaching 'sound doctrine'. ( 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;). Most of today's so-called Churches are merely men appeasers and money grubbers who do not preach 'sound doctrine' and appeal to those who follow after their own lusts to hear just what they want to hear, and nothing more. Rev. Phil.
    (more)
  • Thomas Accola 2012/09/23 01:03:23
    other
    Thomas Accola
    +1
    the holidays,church, and official christian Bible didn't start to be used until around 878 A.D. if you take the time to read the book you will find you are not allowed to eat pork and Jesus asked for hid followers not to celibrate his birthday.
  • Kozmo 2012/09/23 00:50:31 (edited)
    other
    Kozmo
    “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile” ― Billy Sunday

    I've just noticed the person just below knew of the quote (but I proved the Original). Also, there are quite a few blokes (some belles too) who do spend much time in such places. May it be their Sanctuary (or an Abyss)? Just making a Statement, not judging.
  • closinyou 2012/09/23 00:28:23
    other
    closinyou
    Does standing in the garage make you a car?

    The real issue here is, if you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit resides in you. With the Holy Spirit in you, learning, fellowship and growth would be desired not avoided. So, as a Christian, you would essentially desire to attend church.
    On the opposite side of the coin. The church is the people and not a building. However, the desire to learn, fellowship and grow remains necessity in both definitions. Therefore whether in a building called a church or the back alley, a Christian has a desire to know God better, leading him/her to fellowship, learn and grow with fellow believers!
  • Hungry Guy 2012/09/23 00:25:59
    other
    Hungry Guy
    +2
    What if you're a Christian, but you believe that God is truly kind and just and caring. There's really no church to go to and no holy book to follow.
  • Kitty Hungry Guy 2012/09/23 04:41:40
    Kitty
    The temple of Christ is within you, not in a building. When you face conflict, look within for the answers and comfort.
  • Just me ∞ijm♥G☮F♀U∞ 2012/09/23 00:12:08
    other
    Just me ∞ijm♥G☮F♀U∞
    +1
    Church is for fellowship. One is saved by grace, not by works.
  • SA 2012/09/23 00:03:13
    other
    SA
  • shaltov72 2012/09/23 00:02:48
    other
    shaltov72
    +1
    I believe that GOD's (YAHWEH's) WORD, indicates that a person who accepts JESUS (YESHUA) as LORD (ADONAI) and is filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, and that person has Salvation, but He asks us to fellowship with one another (Iron sharpens Iron). When we are with others who really believe (not the ones who think its OK for murdering the unborn) or still lives in the attitude of the world! That does not mean we shrink from our duties, being responsible for values and morales, or were GOD has put you, or the (talents) HE has given you like the city, country, state, your home, in other words we are responsible!
    We are not to be isolated, we grow stronger with others, we see that they go thru difficulties also, and we might see how their faith is weakened or strengthened!
  • rereblue 2012/09/22 23:43:25
    other
    rereblue
    +1
    Absolutely. My dad is Christian and he doesn't go to church. You don't need to be in a church to be close to God, or talk to God.
  • rand 2012/09/22 23:43:04
    other
    rand
    YES! I"m an example.
  • PFV 2012/09/22 23:38:11
    other
    PFV
    +1
    Absolutely! In fact Christ preached to pray in private, and also said you don't have to be baptised.
  • kraftymomma1979 2012/09/22 23:37:54
    other
    kraftymomma1979
    +2
    Christianity is a state of the soul, not presence in a building.
  • Sarina 2012/09/22 23:36:44
    no clue
    Sarina
    +1
    I think that you do not have to go to church every single Sunday to be a christian. Because some of the so called people in church are not really christians. God sees whats in your heart, not how often you attend church. Just read your bible and keep good faith.
  • TXGirl 2012/09/22 23:22:21
    other
    TXGirl
    +1
    Of course it is. I don't go to church. I practice my spirituality at home.
  • k.l.white1 2012/09/22 23:19:01
    other
    k.l.white1
    +1
    of COURSE you can be Christian and not go to church. I had a falling out with the church I was raised in at 19, and did not find a new church home until I was 45. Going to church doesn't make you Christian any more than going into the garage makes you a car. Your BELIEF and your FAITH make you Christian.
  • The.Z.Viru5 2012/09/22 22:57:07
    other
    The.Z.Viru5
    +1
    Yes, you can. The only thing you do in church is read the Bible and praise God. You can do that on your own, or at home with family/friends. You don't have to go to church.
  • Catnip 2012/09/22 22:53:14
    other
    Catnip
    +1
    Of course. In some parts of the world, Christians don't even have churches to go to.
  • A Carpenter 2012/09/22 22:51:01
    other
    A Carpenter
    +2
    I sure hope so, I got disgusted going to church and seeing all these serene people, and then when Mass was over, those self same 'christians' cussing like a drunken sailor at people and some even flipping the bird as they all tried to leave the parking lot like they were fleeing judgement day.
    Who'd want to go to church and see that kind of hypocrisy on holy ground?
    I stopped going many years ago when i finally figured out faith was in your heart, not the pulpit!

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