Do you have to go to Church in order to be a good Christian?

Question

I am a Christian and I don't go to church. I realize that being in a church and fellowshipping with other Christians is good, is it necessary? I've worked in a church for the past 3 years, and I feel that it's ruined my desire to go to church, because now I have this mindset that "well I'm not getting paid to go..." What do you all think?

Serious answers please, don't tell me I'm going to hell because it's not going to answer my question or help me at all.

Answer 1

I feel one can be a good christian and not go to church. However, there are a lot of christians out there who *will* judge you based on your church attendance, rather than on your behavior in every day life. I don't agree with this, but hey, that's just me.

Answer 2

I won't say you're going to hell. That's not for me to judge. You don't need to go to church to be a good Christian, but in my opinion you could become a better Christian if you do go. Church is what you make of it. Many use it as a social club, some go there solely to worship, others like to listen to the Word of God. Maybe you just need to switch churches. Not all churches are the same and a lot of times it depends on the pastor. I have one at my church who has a very thick African accent. He's a really nice guy, but it's hard to understand what he's saying most of the time. I don't like going to his services. Maybe you shouldn't go to church though. Your concern is that you're not being paid to go. Well then you're going for the wrong reason. I'm not condemning at all, but it may do you more harm than good if you continue to go somewhere with the wrong mind set. It's like going to a ballet and expecting to hear Heavy Metal music playing. It's just not realistic. You can still do other things to help if you like that are worthy of Christianity in which you'll get paid like working for the American Red Cross or the Peace Corps or something to that extent.

Answer 3

I'm not a Christian, so personally I think going to church is a terrible idea, especially for children. But that's not what you asked now, is it? I guess lots of people will tell you it's not that important, but why don't you think for a moment about the Christians of Europe in the Middle Ages. Back then if someone chose not to go to church there would be absolutely no doubt that they were a horrible Christian and would burn in hell or whatever. So why would God have dropped his standards so much over the last thousand years, which probably seems like the blink of an eye to Him.

Answer 4

Joshua (above) said it better than I can. I think we all need a church family and fellowship. We need the encouragement from each other. I can't understand why you would feel the need to get paid to go to church. I'm paid every time I go to church, when I walk in and feel the love of God and my church family. If you don't feel that in your church, maybe you could find another church. It's just one of those things God wants us to do, and for our own edification.

Answer 5

I believe that above all else, fellowship with other Christians is important. I don't go to church either, because I got tired of all the hypocracy I kept finding. The 'Church' according to the Bible is all believers, all of us! I have been blessed with some very good friends with whom I have weekly Bible study/prayer/fellowship with, and right now that is enough for me. I've attended a lot of different churches in my life, and had my experieces there, and I know that when God starts urging me back to church that I will find the right one for me. Right now He is urging some changes in my heart, so I'm pretty well with Him, without going to church.

Answer 6

The definition of church according to the Bible is "where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of you." I do not go to organized church, yet I feel as close to God as I have ever been. I was an avid churchgoer for 5 years, and now, going to a service at a church doesn't fit into my schedule, but my wife and i will discuss things from the bible, and pray together. I don't feel like God would allow me to go to Hell over that.

Answer 7

The purpose of church is to fellowship with other Christians and grow together in doctrine and teaching. Do you have to go? No. Is it a good idea to go? Yes. The more Chirstians you surround yourself with, the more knowledge you gain. Who knows, maybe you will change a life just by being there.

Answer 8

Yes, going to church is part of being a good christian. Fellowshiping where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name He will be there also. This is part of obeying the word of God. You need to have a spiritual connection and not a natural or materialistic connection. When you have trials and tribulations when in church you will need the prayers of the saints, words of encouragement from the preached word, testimony, scriptures, etc. to allow you to overcome those trials and tribulations.

Answer 9

If you aren't familiar with the teachings of a certain religion, then I believe that the Church is helpful as an educational tool. However, I don't believe that "good Christians" can be measured by their attendance (or lack thereof) at a man-made building once a week to hear a lecture by a religion scholar and/or interpreter. To believe that a "man of the cloth" is anything more than a religious scholar or interpreter of God's word, in my mind's eye, comes too close to worshipping false idols. They are not God. ...and quite of bit of editorial license comes with some of the interpretations.

Those that think that weekly Church attendance is a non-negotiable, mandatory part of being a good Christian are not giving God the credit he deserves. If you have faith and believe God to be all-powerful and all-knowing, then you must believe he is capable of finding you wherever you are...not just in Church. Think about it...If He only acknowledges what happens in Church: Do sins committed the other 6 days of the week not count? Does he not hear bedtime prayers? Does he not hear last rites delivered at a hospital bedside? If miracles can happen outside the brick walls of a Church, so can faith. ...and relationships with God can be one-on-one, without a weekly interpreter, as long as you understand the Bible as written and work toward living your life in a manner that honors God.

I attended Sunday School regularly when I was in pre-school to receive my religious education (just as I attended public school for my practical education). I missed Sunday School sometimes (because I live on a farm and my mother breeds and shows dogs). The work schedule at the farm, my father's declining health and resulting inability to tend to the farm, and the dog show schedules occasionally caused me to miss a Sunday School session. When I would return to Sunday School the following week, I would be treated like a heathen by the adults for missing a week. I remember crying because of the way in which I was treated. I thought that the Church was a place to find love and acceptance...I was met with judgment and consternation at age 7. I was confused, because I read the Bible and believed that my occasional absences were excusable because I was taking care of God's animals...and honoring my father and mother...and giving assistance to the sick and infirmed...which he tells us to do. I received a proper baptism in a Church. I won awards for learning my Bible lessons, memorizing all of the books of the Bible and reciting them from memory. My church presented me with a Bible that I still have to this day...so how could adults who attended Church weekly passing themselves off as "Good Christians" see no problem in passing judgment on a pre-schooler who was doing God's bidding in taking care of animals and people? Who was the better Christian? When I get to meet God, I look forward to finding out...

Answer 10

What do I think?? I think that you are a religious christian and not really born again. I have been born again for 30 years and it is still a joy to go to church and worship my Father. If you are a christian then God is your Father and Christians are your family. Why do you not like to visit your Dad and family????
If you are married and have children then is it OK to live somewhere else and not with them??
The question really needs to be IF you are a christian then why don't you want to be with your family. You will not survive without the help and fellowship of other christians.. PRAY and fix your relationship with Dad..