Importance of local church attendance in avoiding doctrinal error

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sparkman

Guest
#21
Yes, I think the remarks of some of the older members here disillusion younger believers...including some of the more paranoid ones who have had negative experiences.

I don't think age should be an issue either, and I don't really think it is. Some of these things are just more individual insecurities than anything else. There's a wide variety of ages at the church I'm attending.


I didn't read all the way to the end either Sparkman but have heard and read you enough that I'm not worried you may have tagged anything unbiblical on the end. ;) I agree too with what you have said and believe that it is so important to be in a church for the reasons you posted especially in the beginning of your post and the list of reasons to be in a church fellowship.

It seems obvious that many of us here on CC have had some bad experiences with church organizations. And the older we get the more set in our ways we have become. There are circumstances where some can't go to church and they are varied reasons. Again, the older we get and the more used to living without other people, the less attractive and desirable it is to be involved with them., since we know by living on planet earth, people are flawed and difficult to even want to be around....let alone to be under their authority?! YIKES no way we say.

I'd like to add to your post that people should not get so old and set in their ways that they don't need others and then also preach to younger believers that same dismay they feel of other people. We do need others and although it can be painful and annoying, God wants us to join together and learn how to get along. Even submitting to a group and learning not to always have our opinions put out there even when we are just bursting at the seams to say something.

There's a lot we can learn from others even if it is to not answer a fool according to his folly. We learn patience and how to love the annoying. Sparkman, your post is very good and the spirit behind it is also one I can get behind. God made us to be strong together. Yes., we can survive alone if we must but it is far better to be part of the body and learn how God wants us to function together.

Start going to church right away when you get saved. Join a church that preaches the Bible. Don't listen to old dismayed believers who have not gotten back on the saddle and weathered the storms of learning how to get along with others. God has great and wonderful reasons why we should be in a church body in the physical aspects with other people. Getting up and taking ourselves and our families to be with other believers in church is one of the Blessings God has for us.
 
Jan 27, 2013
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#22
8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."Acts 15

in human terms, why are you trying to put a yolk on leader of church, when they believe there is a god, through jesus christ.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#23
really good post, Sparkman!

just want to add one thing - and not to detract from anything you said or suggested but..


Regarding the gospel, if you don't understand the elements of the gospel very well, I would recommend the book What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert. This book is about $12 new so it is cheap enough to give to seekers in your life...perhaps as a Christmas gift.
.. & if you don't understand the elements of the gospel very well, i would recommend the epistle to the Romans.
it's free :)


if you have trouble understanding Romans, then that's just another thing pointing to the need for you to be involved in a local community of believers, so that you can meet and talk with people face-to-face and the Spirit of God between you can work to sort out the things in it you don't understand.

not that books aren't good - just that scripture itself and real relationships with other believers around you are better.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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#24
Checks and balances is definitely one benefit for being amongst other believers...and that is not just pertaining to doctrine but also one's attitude.
 
Oct 21, 2015
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#25
really good post, Sparkman!

just want to add one thing - and not to detract from anything you said or suggested but..




.. & if you don't understand the elements of the gospel very well, i would recommend the epistle to the Romans.
it's free :)


if you have trouble understanding Romans, then that's just another thing pointing to the need for you to be involved in a local community of believers, so that you can meet and talk with people face-to-face and the Spirit of God between you can work to sort out the things in it you don't understand.

not that books aren't good - just that scripture itself and real relationships with other believers around you are better.
Romans is a brilliant book. I could almost say it is my favourite for learning in the entire NT but it doesn't seem right to put it above the Gospels.but it is true, if you understand romans you understand the gospel.
 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
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#26
Im not looking for a perfect church, just a church that believes the bible without changing it to fit their doctrine.
Are you sure that you are not looking for a church that changes the bible to fit your doctrine?
 
Nov 23, 2013
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#27
Are you sure that you are not looking for a church that changes the bible to fit your doctrine?
My doctrine is based on what the bible says... I would think all Christians would believe the same way but apparently not.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
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#28
Sparkman are you suggesting that in order to know understand and live the correct doctrine and to be a mature Christian one has to be in a church and under an elder? I am not against attending a church and having fellowship with people physically but for the longest time I have not found the right church for me my heart could not fully connect with all the many churches i have attended and while I have not given up on finding the right one for me cc has been the best church I have ever attended.

I have many teachers here in cc and the fellowship I have with others here is no less than if I was with them physically, in my three years of being here I have grown and matured so much and have connected with God more than I ever could in any church I can attend. God is just as active here in the forums as he is in a building with other believers, I don't need a building and elders to be in the church because the church is right here it is all of us
 
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sparkman

Guest
#29
Sparkman are you suggesting that in order to know understand and live the correct doctrine and to be a mature Christian one has to be in a church and under an elder? I am not against attending a church and having fellowship with people physically but for the longest time I have not found the right church for me my heart could not fully connect with all the many churches i have attended and while I have not given up on finding the right one for me cc has been the best church I have ever attended.

I have many teachers here in cc and the fellowship I have with others here is no less than if I was with them physically, in my three years of being here I have grown and matured so much and have connected with God more than I ever could in any church I can attend. God is just as active here in the forums as he is in a building with other believers, I don't need a building and elders to be in the church because the church is right here it is all of us
Yes, based on the Scriptures in my original post, the design for the Christian is to be in a local body of believers and under church authority.

However, I can understand that it can take some time to find one. I'd suggest being willing to drive an extra distance if necessary and continuing to look. I didn't think there was a decent place near me either but I was wrong.

The church I'm attending now is 35 minutes from me but it's well worth the drive. I can understand if someone isn't able to drive for whatever reason, but if we are willing to drive to go shopping for an hour, why not church services?

By the way as a member of the cult, I drove multiple times a week over an hour each way to attend church services, bible studies, and other activities, because I believed they were the true church. How much more should a person do that for a real, solid church?

I can recommend Evangelical Free Churches of America or Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches. 9Marks also has a church finder on its website..these are churches affiliated with them. If you want links to any of these church finders, check out my profile.

I categorically DON'T consider Christian Chat to be a church, and neither does the site owner. It is a fantastic place for fellowship, but it is also a place with a lot of bad doctrine which is introduced by the multitude of individuals holding aberrant theology here. The forums are full of individuals who deny the full deity of Jesus Christ, deny the Trinity, and belong to cultic groups. in fact there are at least two individuals here who belong to the cult I used to be a part of. They believe that they are the only true church and that they will become God beings in the resurrection, with the full powers of God the Father and Jesus Christ. You probably aren't even aware of all the bad theologies some hold here.

I can understand, though, that it take effort and time to find a good church, and that some of us must work under constraints such as being homebound for physical problems, lacking transportation or maybe being missionaries in Muslim countries or whatever. I am not talking about those unique situations.
 
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sparkman

Guest
#30
Sparkman are you suggesting that in order to know understand and live the correct doctrine and to be a mature Christian one has to be in a church and under an elder? I am not against attending a church and having fellowship with people physically but for the longest time I have not found the right church for me my heart could not fully connect with all the many churches i have attended and while I have not given up on finding the right one for me cc has been the best church I have ever attended.

I have many teachers here in cc and the fellowship I have with others here is no less than if I was with them physically, in my three years of being here I have grown and matured so much and have connected with God more than I ever could in any church I can attend. God is just as active here in the forums as he is in a building with other believers, I don't need a building and elders to be in the church because the church is right here it is all of us
While I have said that, I value the people in chat on CC as much as people in my fellowship, so I am not discounting the value of this supplementary fellowship. It is great to be able to get up at any hour and ask someone to pray for me or to be able to talk to them, as well as to be exposed to people from other countries and people who share my own understanding regarding Scripture. I don't know anyone at the church I'm attending who is into apologetics and specific areas of theology as much as I am, except for the pastor and I can't dominate his time to talk about such things all the time.

But, it's not the face to face accountability relationship that defines the New Testament church. It simply isn't. I'd just encourage you to keep trying to find a good church and to possibly use the church finders in my profile. Obviously I am not limiting the pool of worthwhile churches to Evangelical Free, Christian and Missionary Alliance and 9marks churches. You may have better options in your part of the country. These are groups I know are solid, and I have personally attended EFCA and CMA congregations.
 
Nov 23, 2013
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#31
Hebrews 10:25 KJV
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The only thing that can be truthfully said about the verse above is that believers should not forsake assembling together. Believers are assembled together on this forum. The verse does not say anything about a church meeting does it?
 
O

oldthennew

Guest
#32
you, yourself are indeed the most needy and pitiful character that we have encountered
in these forums =
the abuse that you have had to suffer at the hands of abusers is so obvious in your postings
that our hearts truly break at the posts that you feel that you MUST post to find some kind of
validation for the way you are living at this present time,,,,

may our Father have mercy upon you and we pray that His precious healing will eventually find
its way into your seeking heart....

we hope and pray that you will come to recognize that those whom you accuse have become your
validation to accuse others of the very same thing.....
 
Nov 23, 2013
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#33
Let's see, we have John McAurthur a church leader who says we can take the mark of the beast and still go to heaven. We have Billy Graham who says a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is not necessary for salvation. We have Beth Moore who teaches withcraft. We have denominational leaders that teach that it's ok for women to be pastors... LIke I said before, I will stick with my bible for doctrine.
 
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1faith

Guest
#34
So if it is established that there are 33,000 different Christian assembly's all teaching contrary to themselves its ok to go and condone what is against Gods word?
If he teaches another Gospel he is to be ACURSED!!!
Matt 16:18 I will build MY church.
Epesh, 4:5 one Lord, ONE FAITH.
 
Nov 23, 2013
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#35
So if it is established that there are 33,000 different Christian assembly's all teaching contrary to themselves its ok to go and condone what is against Gods word?
If he teaches another Gospel he is to be ACURSED!!!
Matt 16:18 I will build MY church.
Epesh, 4:5 one Lord, ONE FAITH.
That's why there has to be a rock solid inerrant standard to put our faith in otherwise we WILL be misled.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,215
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#36
Yes, based on the Scriptures in my original post, the design for the Christian is to be in a local body of believers and under church authority.

However, I can understand that it can take some time to find one. I'd suggest being willing to drive an extra distance if necessary and continuing to look. I didn't think there was a decent place near me either but I was wrong.

The church I'm attending now is 35 minutes from me but it's well worth the drive. I can understand if someone isn't able to drive for whatever reason, but if we are willing to drive to go shopping for an hour, why not church services?

By the way as a member of the cult, I drove multiple times a week over an hour each way to attend church services, bible studies, and other activities, because I believed they were the true church. How much more should a person do that for a real, solid church?

I can recommend Evangelical Free Churches of America or Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches. 9Marks also has a church finder on its website..these are churches affiliated with them. If you want links to any of these church finders, check out my profile.

I categorically DON'T consider Christian Chat to be a church, and neither does the site owner. It is a fantastic place for fellowship, but it is also a place with a lot of bad doctrine which is introduced by the multitude of individuals holding aberrant theology here. The forums are full of individuals who deny the full deity of Jesus Christ, deny the Trinity, and belong to cultic groups. in fact there are at least two individuals here who belong to the cult I used to be a part of. They believe that they are the only true church and that they will become God beings in the resurrection, with the full powers of God the Father and Jesus Christ. You probably aren't even aware of all the bad theologies some hold here.

I can understand, though, that it take effort and time to find a good church, and that some of us must work under constraints such as being homebound for physical problems, lacking transportation or maybe being missionaries in Muslim countries or whatever. I am not talking about those unique situations.
well due to my brain damage and all my medical issues it isn't possible for me to drive but God will lead me to the church he desires me to be in. But you are wrong about needing to be in an actual church to be a true and mature Christian. The key to being a true mature Christian is all about the relationship between you and God and about having that relationship built upon and overflowing with love, not the love the human heart knows of but the love that comes from his heart alone.
 
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1faith

Guest
#37
I have empathy for you ailments Blain.
however philosophy is what maligns Gods word.
Human reasoning will always go astray to His teaching.
He said, I will build MY church.
He bought and paid for it.
though man continues to strip His name from it.
the word of God convicts.
God oversees impairment - but maligning the truth He just cannot.
one church - Ephesians 4:5 One lord, ONE FAITH.

Its His church. Jesus Christ.
What man has the right to strip His name from it?

33,000 christain denominations in USA.

1 corin 1:10 Do not DIVIDE!
 
Feb 26, 2015
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#38
33,000 christian denominations in USA all worshiping God.

Thousands of Catholic Churches all Worshiping Mary!
 
Feb 26, 2015
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#39
I would love to be able to attend Church every Sunday. Unfortunately i am disable and it is very hard for me to drive to a Church and even harder to sit in a Church as many Christian Church's cannot accommodate the disabled people.
 
Oct 21, 2015
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#40
I suppose I am much like KJV1611. I don't tend to go much. I do see the dangers in not joining a church. Going it alone so to speak can lead to great doctrinal error, but not always. My excuse is few ministers actually preach the message from the pulpit that changed the worst of sinners into the greatest preacher of grace this world has ever known, more a watered down version of it.

But it was all so different in biblical times. The one church consisted of people who believed all Gentile converts should be circumcised and required to obey the whole law(Acts 15:5) and it also consisted of Paul.
Not much chance these days of having people with such opposing views as members of one church is there!