I dont go to church, Is that a Sin? Will I go to Hell for that?

[josephkarthic]

Hi Everyone,

I'm Joseph from India, I'll keep my question simple..Its just my View so pls no offence..

Right from when I was saved I love Jesus but i dont love the churches, because I feel all these pastors are just money sucking people(atleast in my country) and they just do business with christians, all they ask and teach is about tithing every sunday.. Something inside me tells that its all false and its all man made rituals, I mean the church goings and always giving money to someone who holds the mic and speaks instead of poor people on the streets..

God loves me and I love him back, thats all he needs right? it doesnt matter where we are when we pray to him correct?
I pray to him from my room and I'm full of peace, I know he lives with me everyday and works in my thoughts and saves me from trouble which is far beyond my understanding..

This God is such a miracle worker to me so far, but sometimes i think if im really good so that ill go to heaven? I really dont know, But i have his peace all the time, every day I realize his grace and I appreciate this life God has given to me..

Am i going the right way or should i go to church also? Are there any one who is like me?

Sorry for my bad english, its not my first language..

 

[Simona25]

I am eastern orthodox christian, romanian, but since july, I live in Portugal, a catholic country. There is no orthodox church in the city I live and I feel depressed for not being able to go the church and participate in the Saint Mysteries. I also pray at home and read the Bible, but it`s not enough for me; I still feel that I do not participate in the real LIFE and that`s tragical.
In my church there are also priests that focus more in tithing, but they are the ones that perform the Saint Liturgy and administrate the Saint Eucharist...so, I need them. I say you go the church, because if everybody thinks like you, the churches will remain empty...and that`s a sin, in my opinion.
We are all sinners, both clergy and laics, we are not to judge the priests or the pastors.

 

[biscuit]

I am eastern orthodox christian, romanian, but since july, I live in Portugal, a catholic country. There is no orthodox church in the city I live and I feel depressed for not being able to go the church and participate in the Saint Mysteries. I also pray at home and read the Bible, but it`s not enough for me; I still feel that I do not participate in the real LIFE and that`s tragical.
In my church there are also priests that focus more in tithing, but they are the ones that perform the Saint Liturgy and administrate the Saint Eucharist...so, I need them. I say you go the church, because if everybody thinks like you, the churches will remain empty...and that`s a sin, in my opinion.
We are all sinners, both clergy and laics, we are not to judge the priests or the pastors.

If you can find a good church, attend it at your discretion. A church is supposedly be house God but many of them are far from it. Praying at home is just as effective as praying at a church (Revelation 1:6). We are not to judge a person but we can definitely judge his behavior. A priest or pastor is a servant of Jesus Christ just like you are. They hold no power over you ... but Jesus Christ does. The last time I went to church services i was 7 years old because of free ice cream. I am self taught and enjoy the Holy Ghost quite regularly. In the end your faith lies with Jesus Christ, not the church. Your relationship with Jesus Christ will get you eternal life and not the church. Yes it is honorable to go to church and support it if is preaching God's Words. However, if one doesn't have access to a church or having problem with its teaching, praying to Jesus at home is just as sufficient.

 

[Simona25]

If you can find a good church, attend it at your discretion. A church is supposedly be house God but many of them are far from it. Praying at home is just as effective as praying at a church (Revelation 1:6). We are not to judge a person but we can definitely judge his behavior. A priest or pastor is a servant of Jesus Christ just like you are. They hold no power over you ... but Jesus Christ does. The last time I went to church services i was 7 years old because of free ice cream. I am self taught and enjoy the Holy Ghost quite regularly. In the end your faith lies with Jesus Christ, not the church. Your relationship with Jesus Christ will get you eternal life and not the church. Yes it is honorable to go to church and support it if is preaching God's Words. However, if one doesn't have access to a church or having problem with its teaching, praying to Jesus at home is just as sufficient.

Thank you. But i do not feel that way. For me, the church is more than just a building, the church is the cosmical body of Christ; I feel like I`m pre-tasting heaven when I`m in it, when I participate in the Saint Mysteries. I love going to church because I feel peaceful and I feel that I put a good start to the week. I also used to sing in the choir of the church... I miss that too. I miss the icons painted on the walls of my church. I miss everything about my church...

 

[sandtigeress]

to be together with other christians is very helpfull, for your faith and theirs. But to go to a churchservice is not required or needed.

 

[secularhermit]

Those who follow Paulines letters would say "it is a sin"... Just ask GOD the fellowship you need, to enjoy and share what you may receive from Him.

I beg GOD lead you to the people He has chosen just for you to be.

 

[Angela53510]

The Bible has one admonition to meet with other Christians.

"And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, 25 not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:24-25

Therefore, I believe you should find other believers to worship with. But instead of going to a church you don't like, with a pastor you don't trust, why don't you share the gospel, start a Bible study and make some disciples? The church spends too much time caring for itself than Boeing the Great Commission. We are all charged with sharing Christ and the hope he brings!

"Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20

As for a Christian going it alone, God created us for fellowship with him and others. You will not lose your salvation, but God's will isn't for us to judge others, but to help one another grow and learn, and that needs to be done with others!

 

[Fj4Jc]

No it doesn't make you a sinner But its deprives you from having fellowship with believers.No man is an island, we need each other for spiritual growth. You cannot grow alone. Jesus is the founder of the church ...In his words he said to Peter "...upon this rock i will build my church and the gates of hell will never prevail against it".
I would encourage you to look for a Bible believing, Christ centered and a holy spirit filled church.As i said it is not a sin but avoiding church means avoiding fellowship, you are trying to isolate your self from the body....thus you a vulnerable to the attacks of the devil.

 

[jimmydiggs]

You will be seriously harming yourself if you have no fellowship with other Christians. Ask God for fellowship with genuine Christians.

 

[thecreationtutor]

hmm - well - do you have a gathering of saints? somewhere? Church is a powerful too for change. Omission is sin - failure to do what is right. There should be a desire to worship Jesus with other believers - and not hid it under a bushel

 

[dcontroversal]

Hi Everyone,

I'm Joseph from India, I'll keep my question simple..Its just my View so pls no offence..

Right from when I was saved I love Jesus but i dont love the churches, because I feel all these pastors are just money sucking people(atleast in my country) and they just do business with christians, all they ask and teach is about tithing every sunday.. Something inside me tells that its all false and its all man made rituals, I mean the church goings and always giving money to someone who holds the mic and speaks instead of poor people on the streets..

God loves me and I love him back, thats all he needs right? it doesnt matter where we are when we pray to him correct?
I pray to him from my room and I'm full of peace, I know he lives with me everyday and works in my thoughts and saves me from trouble which is far beyond my understanding..

This God is such a miracle worker to me so far, but sometimes i think if im really good so that ill go to heaven? I really dont know, But i have his peace all the time, every day I realize his grace and I appreciate this life God has given to me..

Am i going the right way or should i go to church also? Are there any one who is like me?

Sorry for my bad english, its not my first language..

Correct me if I am wrong, but in India if you are a Christian and have been immersed (baptized) is it true that you cannot be buried in the Hindu cemeteries? I know that a church I was apart of for a few years supported two works in India and one of the biggest expenses that they had was to buy an area of land to use as a cemetery.


The bible teaches us to....


Not forsake the (assembling) of ourselves together as the manner of some, but to exhort each other so much the more as we see the day approaching...If you (forsake) the Lord's church(es) you count the blood of Jesus a common ordinary base thing and trample under foot the Son of God and be prepared to expect judgment.

It is kind of hard to exhort brothers and sisters in Christ if you never see them....

 

[OrthodoxGirl]

I am eastern orthodox christian, romanian, but since july, I live in Portugal, a catholic country. There is no orthodox church in the city I live and I feel depressed for not being able to go the church and participate in the Saint Mysteries. I also pray at home and read the Bible, but it`s not enough for me; I still feel that I do not participate in the real LIFE and that`s tragical.
In my church there are also priests that focus more in tithing, but they are the ones that perform the Saint Liturgy and administrate the Saint Eucharist...so, I need them. I say you go the church, because if everybody thinks like you, the churches will remain empty...and that`s a sin, in my opinion.
We are all sinners, both clergy and laics, we are not to judge the priests or the pastors.

Wow! God bless you, hun. I'm Antiochian Orthodox myself and have realized the importance of attending Divine Liturgy... Oh how I've missed all those years without it growing up... I will keep you in my prayers! May The good Lord bless and protect you!

peace be with you!

 

[Simona25]

Wow! God bless you, hun. I'm Antiochian Orthodox myself and have realized the importance of attending Divine Liturgy... Oh how I've missed all those years without it growing up... I will keep you in my prayers! May The good Lord bless and protect you!

peace be with you!

Thank you and God bless you, too!

 

[BeanieD]

Going to "Church" doesn't always mean having fellowship with other Christians. The Bible tlls us that "Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I will also be". Don't remember right now where that is, but friends can get together any place, any time and it is church when Christ is the center.

Blessings

 

[lydever91]

I went to a church and you know what they talked about? Every dollar that is tithed to them goes to the missionaries.
I was a visitor and filled out the form, and the pastor handed me two $5 In N Out gift cards.

There is no way you're being condemned for going to churches with money-grubbing pastors. Maybe you could start a church where money isn't constantly asked for?

You can pray with people anywhere..in your home, car, on the sidewalk, homeless people are Christians too.

 

[kennethcadwell]

Hi Everyone,

I'm Joseph from India, I'll keep my question simple..Its just my View so pls no offence..

Right from when I was saved I love Jesus but i dont love the churches, because I feel all these pastors are just money sucking people(atleast in my country) and they just do business with christians, all they ask and teach is about tithing every sunday.. Something inside me tells that its all false and its all man made rituals, I mean the church goings and always giving money to someone who holds the mic and speaks instead of poor people on the streets..

God loves me and I love him back, thats all he needs right? it doesnt matter where we are when we pray to him correct?
I pray to him from my room and I'm full of peace, I know he lives with me everyday and works in my thoughts and saves me from trouble which is far beyond my understanding..

This God is such a miracle worker to me so far, but sometimes i think if im really good so that ill go to heaven? I really dont know, But i have his peace all the time, every day I realize his grace and I appreciate this life God has given to me..

Am i going the right way or should i go to church also? Are there any one who is like me?

Sorry for my bad english, its not my first language..

Not going to church is not going to make you a sinner. Remember this we do need fellowship though to help us be stronger. Plus Jesus says in the scripture to go to your place of worship, and he also says where two or three are gathered together in my name i will be there. If you have a couple of friends or bothers or sisters in Christ come to your house to read, study, and pray that can be your church and place of worship. The true church the bible speaks of is not a denomination or building you go to, it is the group of those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

 

[kennethcadwell]

I live way out in the country where i am at, and instead of making long drives to churches i invite the neighbors that are close to me to come to my house. We sit, talk, worship, study, and pray for God.

 

[G4JC]

Going to "Church" doesn't always mean having fellowship with other Christians. The Bible tlls us that "Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I will also be". Don't remember right now where that is, but friends can get together any place, any time and it is church when Christ is the center.

Blessings

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. - Matthew 18:20

There are many areas where the "state church" will NOT be helping you at all on your walk with Christ, see e.g. brothers and sisters in China where worshiping is illegal. It is NOT a sin to not go to church, you can stay home, pray, read, and study yourself. You can also be with other believers worshiping under a tree and that can be church. It is a gathering of believers, not a building.

Many of the religious institutions and infrastructure we have today has turned into a religious system that condemn those who do not think and act exactly like the particular denomination they are apart of, and also into a money making machine in some cases where tithe and big money is required for salvation. Such hypocrisy is not found in scripture. In fact... 1 Corinthians 1:11 mentioned the house of Chloe, where believers met in another believers house. There are also many mentions of studying the scripture for yourself.

Taking for example:
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. - Acts 17:11

So to summarize, as long as you have repented/turned from sin, asked forgiveness, and believed on Jesus Christ, you are born again. Now you can go read the Bible for yourself, and you are encouraged to if there is no place preaching the true unaltered Gospel in your area.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth - 2 Timothy 2:15

 

[josephkarthic]

Thanks everyone for your replies..Its good to know everyone's opinion.

 

[mlssufan01]

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered, there am I in the midst of them.
Hebrews 10:24-25 Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but let us exhort one another, and so much more as we see the day approaching.
I think it's ok to try different churches out with the intention of finding a church that teaches the Word as accurately as possible, but keep in mind there is no perfect church. But that doesn't mean you should just go to any church because they're all imperfect. Also, we called to fellowship with other believers, but if there's no growth, no community, and no love, those are for me a few good indicators that there is a problem.