2007-02-02 18:03:04 · 17 answers · asked by MADLYNN 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
just so no one here assumes anything or gets confused as to where I am coming from, I love God, Jesus, but I absolutely Hate Church, it makes me sick to my stomach. I think people would be closer to God without church because they would actually have to seek Him instead of just showing up in a room once or twice a week.
2007-02-02 18:19:48 · update #1
I think if people were truly christian, in the sense of wanting to be more like Jesus, they would turn all churches into homeless shelters.
When you look at cultures where there was nothing like church-going, you see people who are more spiritual and closer to God, yes. Churches are places where powerful men keep control of the masses. Churches also function as social clubs and I've seen some pretty nasty cliquing going on at some of them.
People need to return to a more personal spiritual nature. Church is all "for show". You're showing off your faith. But faith is a private thing, not public. People don't understand that any more.
Certainly not people in the US. Religion has become all about exclusion for an awful lot of them.
2007-02-02 18:08:50 · answer #1 · answered by grrluknow 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
For some- yes, for others -no. And still others it wouldn't matter at all because they don't believe in God. Religious institutions seem to confuse a lot of people with the doctrines and traditions. However, anybody can get close to God without a church. But church keeps a lot of believers on their toes and without church it is easier to fall away from God.
2007-02-03 02:16:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. It varies a great deal for different people. You see different people connect with God differently. Some people really understand the meaning behind the old rituals and traditions and can perform them sincerely. Other people have a more casual yet just as intimate relationship with God and prefer to avoid rituals that mean nothing to them. That's why there are so many different sects of the same religion, each portraying a different method of worshipping the same God.
2007-02-03 02:12:58 · answer #3 · answered by keg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are BAPTIZED into HIS CHURCH. The building is NoT the ChUrCh. We would certainly be better off if people would quit attempting to reinvent Christianity by inserting man's ideas into GOD's BIBLE. HE inspired the writers and HIS WORD is all that counts. We do not need others to add to or take from it at all.
Study these scriptures and see what you think. To become a Christian:
HEAR - Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
BELIEVE - To the Prison guard in Acts 16:31 Paul and Silas said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
REPENT - Acts 17:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.
CONFESS CHRIST - Matthew 10:32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
BE BAPTIZED - Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
CONTINUE TO BE FAITHFUL - Revelation 2:10b Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Send me a note if you have questions. I am anxious to hear from you. Have a Great day.
Eds
2007-02-03 02:11:26 · answer #4 · answered by Eds 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They would still gather together with fellow believers even if in small group settings in their homes. That is what early Christians did.
People can also be close to God without attending a church building.
2007-02-03 02:12:06 · answer #5 · answered by mc 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm a christian but I don't attend church. The ones I've attended in the past wanted to focus more on money than God. So in my opinion, I believe it's possible to feel closer to God without them.
2007-02-03 02:11:58 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, you don't have to go to church to be close to God. Accepting him as your savior and allowing him into your heart puts you close to him. A lot of people are better Christians, or Catholics, or whatever they believe in but can't make it to church on a regular basis.
I ask you off of your question, would you consider me LESS of a Christian because I don't always go to church on Sundays?
It goes both ways.
Addition: Okay, that makes more sense and I agree to a point. Like someone above me said, people would still gather so I say let the people that want church, go. No one forces you to go. My question to you is now obsolete, ignore it please but I want to leave it up as food for thought.
2007-02-03 02:10:14 · answer #7 · answered by ~Les~ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is spirit; we worship Him in spirit and in truth.
God existed before he created all the we can observe.
How do we get close to God?
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
We are the church without us it would be another building.
You can not blame the imperfect church for the imperfect people who occupies it.
Answer: No. Having no churches will not get us toward God. Reading his revelation will.
2007-02-03 02:13:05 · answer #8 · answered by J. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure. I believe in God, but I'm having difficulties with the church because I don't think that God is as judgmental as they say he is. I believe he loves EVERYONE... no matter what. I don't believe in some of the churches "outrageously dumb" guidelines to being a good person. I believe in the not hurting the other... and not killing and stuff, but some of those "rules" are just dumb.
2007-02-03 02:08:29 · answer #9 · answered by Scrole 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No we all carry a little piece in us so when we come together it makes a bigger piece. would be nice if we came together as a
whole.i sapose by having no Churches we would see ourselves not as belonging to this our that church.But the whole and then maybe your onto something.But i still think churches are a good place to saport each other.
2007-02-03 02:14:09 · answer #10 · answered by Bruce S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋