I don't go to church because I have really bad social anxiety disorder. I can't be near crowds of people because I get panic attacks and almost pass out. I want to go back so bad but hold myself back because I'm afraid of what will happen if I go. My family thinks I'm no longer religious because of this and therefore, no longer believe in God. In truth, I believe in God more than most people I know. Do you think God forgives me that I can't go to Church to worship him? My family keeps saying that I'm banned from Heaven or something like that because I don't go to Church but really, I don't think God thinks like that. Can you love God and bleieve in everything he stands for without going to church on a regular daily basis?
2007-01-21 02:26:40 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Some people who go to church regularly do it for reasons other than worshipping God--some just want to be seen in church so that people think they are 'religious'. Some people who go to church regularly are cruel and downright nasty. Some people who go to church regularly are just trying to find a date, or have other reasons, including caving-in to pressure from family or the community.
On the other hand, some people who don't go to church are very spiritual people, who love God and their fellow human beings, and who are always conscious of the presence of God in each of us.
Because people choose to think what they want, it really doesn't matter who thinks you believe or don't believe in God, my friend. You are not responsible for what others may think of you because you cannot go to church--AND YOU SHOULDN'T LET THEM GET TO YOU. You know the truth. Only you--and the God who dwells within you.
It is not a matter of God forgiving you because you can't go to church to worship Him. God is infinitely present everywhere. So you don't have to go to some place to worship God. God is right where you are, closer to you than your own breath.
All you need to do is to sit quietly and think about the presence of God, maybe by starting off with a favorite quote from scripture--"I am with you all days", for example. Then, calmly let your thoughts take you where they will, and soon you will be quiet in your thoughts, and then wait patiently in peace. God is already within you, and now you are giving God a chance.
Some people pray and go to church to beg God for something, or to bribe God with promises (If you do this, I will be good. . .). That's not prayer. Repeating memorized prayer formulas over and over is not prayer, either.
Real prayer is more like being quiet so God's presence can emerge. "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." Real prayer is attentive listening--not begging. You will know it when it happens.
Going to church is no guarantee of holiness. People who FORCE others to go to church to pray begging prayers or to sing songs, or to go through ritualistic services, don't know God. They only know what their religion teaches--and all religions are man-made institutions attempting to explain God. And many religions teach that you have to go to some place to worship a God that requires people to grovel and beg before him. And all religions contradict each other.
But most of all, many religions teach that God is something separate from us, that He is out there somewhere (people usually look up to the sky when they say this), and that we are need to "find" God, as though God were in hiding or lost.
But, in reality, there is no separation from God, and wherever you stand you are standing on holy ground, because God is everywhere. This is my own experience.
2007-01-21 03:04:02 · answer #1 · answered by Marion111 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Of course you can, your family is ignorant and very insensitive to your problem, and causing you further anxiety. God is everywhere you are, that's basic. There are many legitimate T.V. church services on the weekend, tune in to see if you like any of them, or you might find a website or group on the Internet, that through Instant Messaging or e-mail will commune with you. And while I'm on the subject why isn't your church reaching out to you? Does the Pastor know of your condition? He or someone in his stead should be administering to you, that's also basic to Christianity!
2007-01-21 02:56:46 · answer #2 · answered by gugenheim84 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes,.......it is possible without Church and The Bible. Just as a small child learns how to crawl before he/she can walk, a child also needs to hear the spoken word in order to learn how to understand the talk/language, and they need to be taught what is right and good to do, so that he/she knows in his heart, when something is wrong. How can you fully understand what you read or hear, without knowing the Author and the Source behind it first? Reading the Bible, listening to sermons and spending time with other Christians do help the child of God to grow, provided a child of God has grown up enough "spiritually" first to understand it. The Scripture even refers to some as needing the "milk" of the Word first, then as you grown, you are better able to digest and understand it, then you seek out the "meat" of the Word. Even an infant will choke on solid foods until he grows. Keep it simple and get to know God. As you grow (spiritually), the understanding of your heart will change. For some, it may be better to stay away from so-called-religious people, and Churches for a time, and just seek God, and His Wisdom about everything, and He will lead you to know the truth. Unless a man's heart is changed, his thinking stays the same. The things is, it is not possible to have a relationship with God, if you reject or deny His Son. You can reject churches, and even reject the Bible, but when you reject Jesus. God will not listen to your prayers. I.E., you can't 'dis' God's Son, and still have a good relation ship with the Father. What you do or say about Him, you're saying about God. Just like any family, if someone disses or mistreats my brother, my dad, my mother, etc, they've done it to me too. Only difference God is willing to forgive...... Drawing closer to God and spending time alone with Him, getting to know Him, and being taught by the Holy Spirit, will surpass anything you can discover by yourself just by reading or going to Church. You must have a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, first, so that you CAN understand what is right and true. or it will always seem like foolishness to you. The human heart cannot understand it, that's why we need a power greater than ourself. Going to church won't make a person a Christian, any more than sitting in a garage will make you a car! Neither will reading the Bible without having a relationship with Jesus Christ. He will teach you all that you desire, if you genuinely seek Him with all your heart,. and open your heart to Him, He will give you the truth, and tools you need, so that you may be able to discern what you read/hear as you are able. Trust Him with your whole heart, and just be honest about how you think about Him, and tell Him. Come clean with Him and just ask Him to show you the truth, to show you whether He's real or not, Whatever it is that bothers you about Him, just say it to Him!, ask Him!, and He'll show you . "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" --James 4:8†
2016-05-24 04:47:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My father was studying to be a pastor. He said that you do not have to go to church. As long as you live the christian way. God just likes for you to visit His house for an hour to worship with others. No, He will not hold it against you for not going. Think of the many people that don't go because they have to work on Sundays. Do you think God will punish them? He knows where you are and why you are there. Don't worry about it. If you have to have the pastor come to your house and explain it to you himself.
2007-01-21 02:38:26 · answer #4 · answered by ruth4526 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I personally think that churches hinder one's spirituality. You can worship better outside in your back yard and feel a closer connection to God than in four walls...where a lot of people go to present a fashion show or gossip about others.
Going to church doesn't make you a good person...being a GOOD PERSON is what makes you a good person...I know lots of folks that are good people that NEVER attend church and I know if there is a reward in an afterlife that they will front the pack because they are good people and feel the love of God in their hearts without feeling bad because they don't go to church.
Not going to church isn't going to make God angry.
Simply because God knows what's in your heart and that's all that matters.
I would tend to think that God would be more angry with those who would put fear in your heart and try to make you think that God is turning away from you because of what THEY want you to do....
If you're a Christian, just ask yourself if Jesus would rather you worship at home and study your scripture in comfort and without distraction....or would he rather you be somewhere that you are uncomfortable to the point that it COULD affect your spirituality at some point?
2007-01-21 02:42:51 · answer #5 · answered by Chick-A- Deedle 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes, of course you can! You got to wonder how much your family believes in God by the way they place this guilt trip on you. What gives them the right to make the rules about who gets banned from going to heaven? Who left it up to them, or anyone else for that matter, to judge you, or any body, in how to express belief in god? These self proclaimed religious zealots have caused more trouble for the human race. This self righteous intolerance is not necessarily for the benefit of any true belief in God, but is for the mandate of narrow minded mortal human beings. The height of arrogance is the height of control by those who seek to create God in their own image. In the end we all answer to God; not to any person placed in this world created by God.
2007-01-21 03:08:56 · answer #6 · answered by quantumview 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Yes. Going to church is comforting to many people but it not a requirement.
2007-01-21 02:34:41 · answer #7 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can. However, when you repent then you will desire to fellowship with Christians. You will also desire to go to the House of God, AKA church. It is a place of learning about God and to worship.
2007-01-21 03:26:49 · answer #8 · answered by Shayna 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes of course!
In Islam Our God-Allah- says us that he is near us always, every time, everywhere
in koran he says that he see all our acts and our minds!
he know everythings!
he is very kind and powerful!
2007-01-21 02:37:16 · answer #9 · answered by Sahba 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, if you know that God and Religion are distinct.
2007-01-21 02:36:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋