Is Christian attendance at church necessary?

I know some do it for the community...interacting with like minded people and such. When I first embrace my Christianity as an adult (having lapsed as a Catholic) I did it mostly for the people, and to strengthen my beliefs.
Now, I have not been to a church service in years...since the small church community I belonged to closed, after the Pastor retired. They moved on to follow another pastor, who I did not care for.
I do not now consider myself less a Christian since I stopped attending services.
 
I haven't been to church on a regular basis since my kids were small.
I find that when I'm alone in my garden or out in nature alone with my thoughts I find a certain feeling of peace and connection with my loved ones who have passed on. I can sometimes find answers to my problems and it makes me pause to enjoy the little things in life.
This means more to me than sitting in church for an hour listening to someone rattle on about his or her thoughts on what should be and their take on the bible..
This is just how I feel, I'm sure many who go to church find it meaningful and helpful and that's fine also.
 
hoo boy....this is a topic that has bambozzled me forever...
went to fire/brimstone Christian church as a kid, then in Navy pretty much went to hell, then after as a drunk didn't go anywhere but Bar CHurch...then GOD found me in 1982, and
been sober since, and tried out several denominations, but
heres the fact that caused me to leave all the churches...not
one of them could accept me the way I am, the way My God
accepted me in 1982....so do not, will not go back....just my
]two cents......:)
 
Years ago, I tried several church denominations until I got sick of each one saying theirs was Yahwah/God's true teachings, even though they had different interpretations of scriptures. So I gave up searching. I now listen (T V) to a few ministers/pastors who preach directly from the Bible, Word for Word. God is with us no matter where we are, even if not in a building called a Church. Christ Jesus sacrificed his life to save sinners, not for 'goody-good-shoes' people, for which there are none anyway. Although I will say that a church with a wise preacher of God's Word is a great place to be on Sundays, or whenever.
 
For the most part, I think people who attend church do it because they enjoy going and taking part in the things they believe in. Younger families with kids want that kind exposure, and nurturing environment for their kids while they are growing and their minds are developing to reinforce what they teach them at home. For older people who live alone or have little social life it's a good way to interface with like-minded others. It's not required and I think few people attend because they think it's required. We haven't attended in years but we did when our kids were growing up.
 
I avoid church religiously.

Many people that I know who attend church regularly behave in ways that are a great disappointment to me.

I can follow my own moral compass without ever feeling the need to enter a church.

If attending church services gives a person some comfort or sense of community then by all means they should attend and support the church of their choice.
 
debodun said:
Once a Christian has accepted Jesus as their soul's savior, why do they have to continue to attend church services?
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EMILY DICKINSON

Some keep the Sabbath going to Church –
I keep it, staying at Home –
With a Bobolink for a Chorister –
And an Orchard, for a Dome –

Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice –
I, just wear my Wings –
And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,
Our little Sexton – sings.

God preaches, a noted Clergyman –
And the sermon is never long,
So instead of getting to Heaven, at last –
I’m going, all along.
 
Accurate moral compass is taught in the Bible. Too much of Mankind chooses their own. It drives me bonkers when I see someone shout "Thank you Jesus!" for whatever went well for them, yet they have a fit and rebel if they're given a ticket for breaking the law one way or another. On Sundays they go to their church, praise the Lord, then, not long after leaving church, they go back to living by their own immoral compass.
 
debodun said:
Once a Christian has accepted Jesus as their soul's savior, why do they have to continue to attend church services?
Click to expand...
Not really, but I once heard someone say that there is no such thing as Lone Ranger Christianity. We need other people so that we can be part of a community where we can learn and grow in faith and love, where we can express our joy and share our pain.
 
Warrigal said:
Not really, but I once heard someone say that there is no such thing as Lone Ranger Christianity. We need other people so that we can be part of a community where we can learn and grow in faith and love, where we can express our joy and share our pain.
Click to expand...
 
digifoss said:
For the most part, I think people who attend church do it because they enjoy going and taking part in the things they believe in. Younger families with kids want that kind exposure, and nurturing environment for their kids while they are growing and their minds are developing to reinforce what they teach them at home. For older people who live alone or have little social life it's a good way to interface with like-minded others. It's not required and I think few people attend because they think it's required. We haven't attended in years but we did when our kids were growing up.
Click to expand...
I just recalled that when in a country church with my grandmother the preacher said what I thought was 'fear' the Lord. And I thought that if we are to be afraid of the Lord, I want nothing to do with Him. Of course I know now He is an awesome God, not an awful God. ha
 
debodun said:
Once a Christian has accepted Jesus as their soul's savior, why do they have to continue to attend church services?
Click to expand...
Of course they don't "have to" but might rather "want to". I'll explain that word "might" . . .

As a brand new Christian in my late teens, I had a strong desire to learn more, to understand more, and to grow in my faith. At that time I also desperately needed the support and guidance I received from the more mature Christians who comprised my church family in that small, Christ-centered bible church.

Fast-forward a few years and my life took a very bad turn. For a time I felt that I was just struggling to regain a sense of normalcy. My faith wasn't gone, but I had buried it ... deep. I had no involvement with any church. I eventually got past that, and since then it's been a series of normal ups and downs but I find there are three things that have remained constant:

1. I repeatedly fail to live as I should and constantly need to repent and ask for forgiveness. I still do and always will.
2. Even during the worst of times, the Lord has ALWAYS been with me, guiding and watching over me in spite of where my head happens to be.
3. I am closest to God when I have regular interaction with, and support from a strong family of Christian believers.

I've lived many places and attended many churches. In some areas, finding a good, Bible-believing church seems impossible. For the most part, the larger, highly structured denominations are as others here have described, paying lip service to God while pursuing other agendas.

So, between my own shortcomings and not being able to find a strong church family, there have been times when my church participation has been spotty at best.

My wife and I feel fortunate to have a wonderful church family now. Church is NOT just a Sunday morning thing. It's NOT an entertainment. It's a group of Christians bound together by their lives in Christ, worshiping Him together, and supporting and being supported by one another 24/7. With this as an option, I just can't imaging myself not "wanting" to be part of the church but I understand that, at times, that doesn't/can't happen.

I'm so thankful to know that He will never give up on me!
 
"Sow your wild oats on Saturday night. Go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure!"

Is it mandatory to attend church services to be a Christian? Can I be a Christian if I attend a Lutheran church and you believe I should be attending a Baptist church? Can I be a Christian if I attend a church on Sunday, when the Bible says we are to keep the Sabbath... Saturday... holy? Can I be a Christian if I attend a church that closes their eyes to the parishioner who beats his wife, because he tosses significant money in the offering plate each Sunday, but condemns the person who loves someone of the same sex?

I believe one's Christianity should be between themselves and their God. Should be a personal decision how and when you worship, not the business of a pastor or church elders or the ladies gossip group.
 

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