Is a Christian required to go to church?
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Second what TinTin said: there is no obligation or law or requirement to go to church, but we are encouraged to gather with other believers, because fellowship is important: "Do not forsake the assembling of [yourselves] together... but exhort one another, and more so as you see the Day approaching" (Heb. 10:25).
A
Consider a person's reason for not going to church and the answer should become more obvious. If they cannot go to church because they are living in some remote area preaching the gospel, you wouldn't question it. But if they are not going to church because they have other things they would rather do more, or they don't want to learn about the word of God, then the answer seems quite obvious. Now there are many reasons someone might not go to church on a given day, and I think many of the reasons are valid, but I agree with p_rehbein aswell.
Whenever people start asking things like "Is it required?" I get them to apply the same thinking to their friendships. If your friend approached you and asked, "What is the bare minimum that I have to do for us to be friends?" you might turn around and ask that friend, "Are you sure you want to be my friend?" No other relationship functions in this way, and so neither can our relationship with God.
Whenever people start asking things like "Is it required?" I get them to apply the same thinking to their friendships. If your friend approached you and asked, "What is the bare minimum that I have to do for us to be friends?" you might turn around and ask that friend, "Are you sure you want to be my friend?" No other relationship functions in this way, and so neither can our relationship with God.
Someone gave me an analogy once saying when you have coals for a fire when put together they stay hot longer one coal separated goes out pretty fast. So it is with the gathering together of God's people as we can encourage and lift each other up in a group and it is easier to get discouraged when you are alone. The choice is yours to make, but we are encouraged to gather together.
B. Forsaking the assembly - ἐγκαταλείπω - to abandon, desert, to leave in straits. This is a barometer for a spiritual condition. It is a reflection of an attitude.
1. Complacency
2. Shame
3. Avoidance
These are exercises in rationalization.
a. Uncomfortable relationships with another member, the preacher, a certain teacher, or the elders
b. Being confronted for sin in our life.
4. Abandonment is a decision of the will that develops into habit.
5. It becomes a rejection of sacrifice.
6. It is an insult to the Spirit of grace because it disregards the grace that has been extended to you. It rejects the gift.
7. It is a rejection of the covenant between you and God. We have set aside the covenant in favor of personal interests.
a. They have trampled underfoot the Son of God.
b. They have rejected the blood as an unclean thing - The hog slaughtered on the altar as it were.
C. This decision forces a change of relationship whether we accept it or not. Proverbs 16:28.
1. We have become a hindrance to the body. We are either a part of the support system or we are part of the problem - a hindrance.
2. We have become enemies of God. This is self-separation.
D. Consequences, 28-31.
1. Divine vengeance - Example: Moses and the Law - Death.
2. More sever punishment than those of old.
3. Total separation
E. A call to remembrance, 32-39
1. Remember the former days when you endured. What is the virtue in remembering times of endurance?
a. They had been made a public spectacle.
b. Became sharers with those who are persecuted
c. Suffered the confiscation of their property - Jewish disinheritance.
2. Realization of a better possession.
3. There is great reward for holding on
4. You have need of endurance - Why? More difficult days are coming for you.
1. Complacency
2. Shame
3. Avoidance
These are exercises in rationalization.
a. Uncomfortable relationships with another member, the preacher, a certain teacher, or the elders
b. Being confronted for sin in our life.
4. Abandonment is a decision of the will that develops into habit.
5. It becomes a rejection of sacrifice.
6. It is an insult to the Spirit of grace because it disregards the grace that has been extended to you. It rejects the gift.
7. It is a rejection of the covenant between you and God. We have set aside the covenant in favor of personal interests.
a. They have trampled underfoot the Son of God.
b. They have rejected the blood as an unclean thing - The hog slaughtered on the altar as it were.
C. This decision forces a change of relationship whether we accept it or not. Proverbs 16:28.
1. We have become a hindrance to the body. We are either a part of the support system or we are part of the problem - a hindrance.
2. We have become enemies of God. This is self-separation.
D. Consequences, 28-31.
1. Divine vengeance - Example: Moses and the Law - Death.
2. More sever punishment than those of old.
3. Total separation
E. A call to remembrance, 32-39
1. Remember the former days when you endured. What is the virtue in remembering times of endurance?
a. They had been made a public spectacle.
b. Became sharers with those who are persecuted
c. Suffered the confiscation of their property - Jewish disinheritance.
2. Realization of a better possession.
3. There is great reward for holding on
4. You have need of endurance - Why? More difficult days are coming for you.
Many people cannot attend church - no need to make them feel guilty or an indication of their spiritual condition. I know many with back problems, other illnesses, aging problems. Some can't sit very long without pain. I tell them to at least have a few friends they can meet with for prayer, bible study, etc. Jesus said if even two people gather together in His name, He is there.
What if you can't go to church because of work. So far I haven't been able to get a job after graduating in May and part of the reason has been my refusal to come in during service hours and on nights that I have group. So I'm just curious if you have a job that requires you to miss church. Is that a problem or not?
It has been for me in the past from time to time. When work begins to dominate then perhaps it is time to change jobs. I often hear the argument, "After all, I have to make a living don't I." I would suggest that what we "have" to do is be faithful. When we take care to obey the will of the Lord, He will take care of all our other needs. Is this not what he promised?
for a long time my work kept me from being able to be part of a traditional sunday/wednesday or saturday congregation.
i made an effort to meet with other believers somehow over the week, and to listen to teaching from some source, and to spend time in worship. it wasn't "going to church' in the American sense, but i think that what the bible teaches is that we don't become detached from other believers, that we praise God, and be in prayer, and that we continue to grow in understanding and in love.
i don't think that the only way to follow that is to go to a single church regularly on sunday mornings. i do think that the best way to stay and grow in be abundant in the faith includes that sort of 'church membership'
i made an effort to meet with other believers somehow over the week, and to listen to teaching from some source, and to spend time in worship. it wasn't "going to church' in the American sense, but i think that what the bible teaches is that we don't become detached from other believers, that we praise God, and be in prayer, and that we continue to grow in understanding and in love.
i don't think that the only way to follow that is to go to a single church regularly on sunday mornings. i do think that the best way to stay and grow in be abundant in the faith includes that sort of 'church membership'
This should answer your question 
Acts 15:28
. 28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
Acts 15:28
. 28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
This should answer your question
Acts 15:28
. 28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
Acts 15:28
. 28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
I can see some unsaved church member or a carnal Christian deeming it a burden and going to Bedside Baptist instead. Humorously I recall reading some Jewish guy saying how on Sunday morning he was so glad he was not a Christian! I myself would prefer Saturday night (start of Sunday biblically), but it is no burden to attend a weekly church service, a burden laid on a Christian.
Barometer? If a Christian forsakes the assembly, it does indicate carnality; but conversely, there must be millions of Sunday-go-to-meeting"Christians," hypocrites who are also carnal. A person who trusts the Lord Jesus as Savior (not as mere chance-giver), a person who trusts the Savior as only & sufficient Savior, not in works, indeed ought not to forsake the assembly. And it is an important admonition, immediately followed by a passage that threatens chastisement for willful sin.
But that laundry list you posted is not connected specifically, neither do you have any proof that neglecting the assembly is trampling the blood of the Lord Jesus underfoot. That is largely just you saying things.
As bad as it is for a Christian to neglect church attendance, "church attendance" can also be quite bad for a pretender. A pretender professes belief, gets "baptized," and joins a church instead of getting saved. Then he proceeds to act religious and imagines himself a Christian. It is like getting the cow pox to prevent you from getting the small pox; it is an inoculation vs salvation. There are the religious who will hear someday, "Depart from Me; I never knew you."