Church attendance

[Corbinscam]

Only 16? Pretty good command of the English Language for a 16 year old.

Now, as to the question.......Not forsaking the assembly of others IS speaking of Congregational Worship.......try reading through the Epistles and see where the Christians were assembling together to worship. In the early stages, they had their "Church" in one of the homes of the Congregation, but, as time progressed, and they were able, they had free standing Churches. Now, is it LIFE OR DEATH MANDATORY? No. However, we are suppose to be in "fellowship" with one another. Kinda hard to do when one is going it alone.

Bible Studies only do so much. There is far more to be achieved in a Congregational fellowship.

16 huh?

hmmmmm

I'm sorry, I'll try to use more abbreviated terms and lack proper grammar and brain function. And pay more attention to social media than biblical discussion

Kidding. I won't.

But thanks for the input. That was actually very helpful.

[OneFaith]

Is church attendance biblically mandated? Not really looking for personal opinion as much as scriptural proof. Thanks.

Yes- "Do not forsake the assembly." To forsake means to leave it completely. No one I know has perfect attendance, but we should go as often as we can, and we must go at least often enough. The church is the body of Christ through which His life-saving blood flows. How long can you cut off blood circulation to your finger before your finger turns gangrene, dies, and falls off? It is the same in the church, you must take the blood (Lord's Supper) (in the assembly of the saints, upon the first day of the week) in order to stay part of the body and stay alive spiritually.

If you have no reason to miss church, and do so purposely, on a continual basis- that is living in sin. Those who purposely live in sin are already cut off from the blood- which means if they die before repenting they will not go to heaven. The Bible says "If you sin willfully there no longer remains a sacrifice for your sins." Sinning willfully means premeditated sin. (Sin planned for and provided for future occurrence.)

I have left my congregation to attend elsewhere. I told one person, who I assumed would tell them. Whether they know why I'm not there or not, no one has called me- which shows me I made a wise decision. But I have been missing more and more Church because of medical problems, no gas money, no clean clothes, etc. I want to be there every time, and used to go every Sunday morning, Sunday night, Tuesday morning, and Wednesday night, before I had roadblocks. Do people judge me, think I'm falling away? I don't care what people think, God is my only Judge, and He knows I'm just as strong as ever.

[Willie-T]

Yes- "Do not forsake the assembly." To forsake means to leave it completely. No one I know has perfect attendance, but we should go as often as we can, and we must go at least often enough. The church is the body of Christ through which His life-saving blood flows. How long can you cut off blood circulation to your finger before your finger turns gangrene, dies, and falls off? It is the same in the church, you must take the blood (Lord's Supper) (in the assembly of the saints, upon the first day of the week) in order to stay part of the body and stay alive spiritually.

If you have no reason to miss church, and do so purposely, on a continual basis- that is living in sin. Those who purposely live in sin are already cut off from the blood- which means if they die before repenting they will not go to heaven. The Bible says "If you sin willfully there no longer remains a sacrifice for your sins." Sinning willfully means premeditated sin. (Sin planned for and provided for future occurrence.)

I have left my congregation to attend elsewhere. I told one person, who I assumed would tell them. Whether they know why I'm not there or not, no one has called me- which shows me I made a wise decision. But I have been missing more and more Church because of medical problems, no gas money, no clean clothes, etc. I want to be there every time, and used to go every Sunday morning, Sunday night, Tuesday morning, and Wednesday night, before I had roadblocks. Do people judge me, think I'm falling away? I don't care what people think, God is my only Judge, and He knows I'm just as strong as ever.

No other way to express the utter confusion of this one... ☺ ☺ ☺

[resurrection33]

I'm not against person opinion or intending to be offensive in looking for biblical validation....I just know what most personal opinion is. If a person has been hurt by or in a church they think skipping it fine. If they haven't then church attendance is a must and you are a heathern if you assume you can skip.

I do believe fellowship in a structured church is biblical but I also think that sometimes in seasons of life it isn't as necessary.
But I care more about what God desires that what I think.

Part of the reason I go to church is to honor the Lord. Another reason is that church is a big part of my life. I don't think the Lord is so strict that he expects us to attend no matter what the circumstances. I don't attend twice a year because I'm up in Oregon visiting my brother. The Lord seems to be okay with that. If I'm sick, I don't go to church. If there's a lot of snow on the roads, I might not go.

People do get hurt by churches sometimes. The Lord understands this. He might try to guide that person into another church, or fix the situation in the first church.

[Corbinscam]

Part of the reason I go to church is to honor the Lord. Another reason is that church is a big part of my life. I don't think the Lord is so strict that he expects us to attend no matter what the circumstances. I don't attend twice a year because I'm up in Oregon visiting my brother. The Lord seems to be okay with that. If I'm sick, I don't go to church. If there's a lot of snow on the roads, I might not go.

People do get hurt by churches sometimes. The Lord understands this. He might try to guide that person into another church, or fix the situation in the first church.

Totally understandable and I don't overly disagree. I'm trying to not do things that bring dishonor to God and in the long run I think churches are in some ways how we help other peoples. I just simple wonder if abstaining from attendance for a time is unbiblical. I won't say I've or we've been hurt in a church just because I don't think anything done has been intentional. We just provide an odd circumstance and I think that sitting out a few years sounds reasonable. But if the idea is unbiblical I can suck it up lol

[dcontroversal]

Why wouldn't you want to assemble with God's people? It is where the assembly capacity worship of God takes place and the bible states that the Lord gave himself for his church......just saying........

[Corbinscam]

Why wouldn't you want to assemble with God's people? It is where the assembly capacity worship of God takes place and the bible states that the Lord gave himself for his church......just saying........

I am pretty sure that didn't mean a building with people in it. He meant His church not A church. Pretty sure there's people He gave Himself for that will never step through the doors of a church.

[Angela53510]

I've always gone to church. Being with other believers edifies and builds you up. I need to hear the Word correctly divided. I do a lot of reading, studying and praying. But it is not mutually exclusive to attending church.

And I do like a building, with people I am walking with on my journey with God. We have 300 as a ceiling for the max amount of people in a church we attend. Simply because when we went bigger, we lost the sense of intimacy. I feel in large churches, I could have stayed home and watched YouTube or some tv church. Others might like the services a larger church can provide. Still others are more comfortable in a home or other setting.

Christianity is a public religion. There is no Biblical justification for isolationism, or monks. We are the body of Christ. You cannot be the body of Christ, in community, if you stay home by yourself. (Not talking shut-ins, of course!)

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matt 18:20

"That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." 1 Cor 12:25-27

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.6 We have different gifts,according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." Romans 12:3-8

[dcontroversal]

I am pretty sure that didn't mean a building with people in it. He meant His church not A church. Pretty sure there's people He gave Himself for that will never step through the doors of a church.

a. Agree it is the people and not the building
b. Disagree...churches on the earth (plural) one church in HEAVEN
c. Agree....ALL humanity and most will die lost

And did I say anything about the building?

[Magenta]

Yes and I am thankful that we have churches now and we don't have to meet in people's homes. You ever been to a group bible study at somebody's home? In my experience it is usually much more awkward than if we meet at a church, and much fewer people will attend.

The church I attend is basically a weekly Bible study. I also attend two other home Bible studies. One is hosted by an elder in my church; currently, we follow along with the Sunday teachings, going over the same readings but bringing more to the study in terms of personal sharing, and praying for each other.

The second home Bible study I attend originally started in a church, but then all the Christians departed the church and the building was dedicated to community services/space only. At that time we started meeting at a member's home. Lucky for me she lives fairly close, and it is a pleasant walk there and back. The study itself follows the liturgical year, and is "lead" by an ordained minister who can read Greek and Hebrew. We usually read verses from both the old and the new each week, from multiple translations. We compare the differences and have lively discussions around them, and any number of related topics.

An awkward aspect of this second study is that largely, none of the people believe the things I do. They do not believe Jesus is God. They do not believe He died for the sins of the world. They do not like the gospel of John. One of the men does not even believe that God exists aside from perhaps being a set of principles to live by. He is a very nice elder gentleman and like the others considers himself a life-long Christian. But this study is a critical analysis of the text and not a devotional study. There is a difference. I like doing both

[Willie-T]

The church I attend is basically a weekly Bible study. I also attend two other home Bible studies. One is hosted by an elder in my church; currently, we follow along with the Sunday teachings, going over the same readings but bringing more to the study in terms of personal sharing, and praying for each other.

The second home Bible study I attend originally started in a church, but then all the Christians departed the church and the building was dedicated to community services/space only. At that time we started meeting at a member's home. Lucky for me she lives fairly close, and it is a pleasant walk there and back. The study itself follows the liturgical year, and is "lead" by an ordained minister who can read Greek and Hebrew. We usually read verses from both the old and the new each week, from multiple translations. We compare the differences and have lively discussions around them, and any number of related topics.

An awkward aspect of this second study is that largely, none of the people believe the things I do. They do not believe Jesus is God. They do not believe He died for the sins of the world. They do not like the gospel of John. One of the men does not even believe that God exists aside from perhaps being a set of principles to live by. He is a very nice elder gentleman and like the others considers himself a life-long Christian. But this study is a critical analysis of the text and not a devotional study. There is a difference. I like doing both

#2 sounds very odd.

[Magenta]

#2 sounds very odd.

That's the United Church for you

I do not attend United services, though.

[Corbinscam]

a. Agree it is the people and not the building
b. Disagree...churches on the earth (plural) one church in HEAVEN
c. Agree....ALL humanity and most will die lost

And did I say anything about the building?

I can agree. You simply stated it in a far better way than I did.

[Corbinscam]

#2 sounds very odd.

Agreed. Very much. Lol.

[Lynx]

I'm not against person opinion or intending to be offensive in looking for biblical validation....I just know what most personal opinion is. If a person has been hurt by or in a church they think skipping it fine. If they haven't then church attendance is a must and you are a heathern if you assume you can skip.

I do believe fellowship in a structured church is biblical but I also think that sometimes in seasons of life it isn't as necessary.
But I care more about what God desires that what I think.

Ah, so THAT'S it.

I was tempted to make a different kind of reply earlier in this thread but I wanted to see exactly where you were going with this first. And it is good, because my earlier reply would have been in the wrong direction.

If one thinks it is good to avoid church for a while I would first look at the kind of church one has been attending. It might be time to find a new church. Of course the reason one wants to stop going to church for a while could also be something one does not want to let go, something for which he always feels condemnation when he goes to church. Without information it is impossible to say WHY someone would want to stop going to church for a while.

But the fact that a person wants to stop going to church for a season does indicate something is very wrong somewhere. If you know somebody who is looking for a reason to not go to church anymore, you should probably pray hard for him. It's easy to go the wrong way when you're isolated from the church body.

[resurrection33]

Totally understandable and I don't overly disagree. I'm trying to not do things that bring dishonor to God and in the long run I think churches are in some ways how we help other peoples. I just simple wonder if abstaining from attendance for a time is unbiblical. I won't say I've or we've been hurt in a church just because I don't think anything done has been intentional. We just provide an odd circumstance and I think that sitting out a few years sounds reasonable. But if the idea is unbiblical I can suck it up lol

Well, you should talk it over with the Lord. However, the idea of "sitting out a few years" seems odd to me. If the Lord wants you to go to church, he wants you to go to church. If there are things that bother you about your church, he will be happy to work that out with you. Maybe he'd like you to try out other churches.

[20]

Is church attendance biblically mandated? Not really looking for personal opinion as much as scriptural proof. Thanks.

Yes, It is.Because we are encourage each other to love and good works KJVHebrews10:24-25 24.And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.,And another reason, we are body of Christ KJVRomans12:5 5. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

[oldethennew]

where we live, there seems to be a church or two' on 'every-corner & in a lot of strip malls'...
but where are the 'cars'??? it seems like even 'NEON' signs aren't working anymore...

go 'figure'...

[p_rehbein]

OR.........you could use real information on your Profile Page?

I'm sorry, I'll try to use more abbreviated terms and lack proper grammar and brain function. And pay more attention to social media than biblical discussion

Kidding. I won't.

But thanks for the input. That was actually very helpful.

[p_rehbein]

As to the Thread: Building? Yes.......and, not always needed. Jesus Himself criticized those who had turned His Fathers HOUSE into a den of thieves. Pretty sure He was talking about a building. The early Church gathered to worship in a home of one of the Congregation. Pretty sure that would have been a building. Now, at times, their worship services were outside, but for the most part, they took place IN A BUILDING.

Folks wanna diss a Church Building.......but it IS Biblical.

As for the word Church.........it has more than one meaning. The Church (all believers) The Church (building). Both are correct, and both are Biblical. From early on God Himself instructed His people on how to build HIS BUILDING.