Church attendance & salvation?

Question

I go to church, ever Sunday...yet I hear that going to church doesn't necessarily mean you are a Christian/ saved person. Is this true?

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

It is a matter of opinion. Interestingly, a lot of Christians do believe this, even though the doctrine of their religion says no. But it really depends on what denomination you are. There are different kinds of Christians. Most of Protestant religions do not believe that you can achieve grace through works, so going to church would not eliminate or aid your chances of gaining salvation. There are, no doubt, some exceptions. Catholics believe in the sacraments, but there is not necessarily any rule that indicates how often you have to go. Some go once or twice a year. Some go every week. Everyone believes something different.

The fact is that even a murderer or rapist can go to church. There is nothing keeping evil people out. Even the devil can quote scripture. Being saved is something that happens inside you. Going to church can be a really nice sign that you are likely saved, but it guarantees nothing. Pretty much all denominations would agree with this... though many of the Christians who follow these denominations might not. It ultimately is a matter of opinion.

Answer 3

Yes.

Sitting in church no more makes you a christian than will sitting in a chicken coop make you a chicken.

But, if you are a christian with the proper attitude, then you will go to church! This is because a Christian loves God, loves the brotherhood, and loves the truth. A Christian, therefore, will have a desire to worship God, study his word, encourage other believers, and have fellowship with those of like faith! A Christian will love being in a place where the truth is taught and God is honored!

Notice this attitude in the following scriptures:


"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." (Psalm 122:1)

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

"Love... rejoices in the truth." (1 Corinthians 13:4-6)

"Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God..." (1 Peter 2:17)

"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" (1 John 4:20)

If a person has this love for the brotherhood, then he will desire to have fellowship with them! If a person loves God, then he will desire to worship him. If a person loves the truth, then he will desire to hear it taught.

A person is not a Christian because he attends church. That idea is backwards. A person attends church because he is first a Christian!

Answer 4

Absolutely true. Church attendance is the result of salvation not the purpose for gaining salvation. If church attendance was a reason for salvation then salvation would be because of works not by God's grace.
Christ is our atonement, for God to forgive us His love toward us may then be freely given and His eternal blessings are ours by His Grace toward us.

Answer 5

I believe it is true, if you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Going to church doesn't mean you are saved. You have to ask Jesus into your heart, ask for forgiveness of your sins. Jesus is the ONLY One who can save us. There is nothing in the world more beautiful than a relationship with Christ. And believe me once you accept Him in your heart you will feel the relationship start to grow.
There are so many people sitting in churches thinking they are saved, but they don't know Jesus.
Remember the criminal on the cross, He never went to church, he never got baptized, but he believed Jesus, and
Jesus told him, "Today you will be with Me in paradise." Luke 23:43
That's why we call Jesus our Savior

Answer 6

That is true. I used to go to church myself and was not a Christian. I just said I was but I didnt read the bible or do what it said. I didnt put God first in my life. I didnt even accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior who allows me to be born again. .... Sir, its a good question you asked and I hope you will make that decision to make God number one in your life. God bless you.

You might want to read John 3 and Romans 10 today. www.biblegateway.com if you dont have a bible.

Here is a nice website about being saved. Being saved means you believe in Jesus as your Savior and you are given the promise of eternal life, you become born again, its a chance to start a new life in Christ. http://www.jesusfolk.com/Jesus-saves.htm

Answer 7

yes, it's very true. i was the same way. i am working on my spirituality because i was going to church but not believing or seeing the truth of the words they were saying. so you have to believe in the bottom of your heart that Jesus died for you in the cross and saved you from the sins that you may have lived in. That's what being saved is... by my definition anyway.

Answer 8

you ought to call on Christ first, and do what's referred to as the Salvation prayer, or repentance prayer. You ask him into your life and coronary heart, asserting you believed he's the Savior and that he died to your sins. You ask him for forgiveness, for all your sins and then ask him to coach you His plan for you. Amen. Then as quickly as you're able, you get your self baptized by water. that's the prevalent public proclamation which you have been born back. After that, you are able to study the Bible and worship privately. you do no longer ought to pass to Church in line with se, yet Christians are meant to have fellowship and worship Him by hymns, songs and so on. with a minimum of another Christian. greater could be greater desirable.

Answer 9

This is true. It has to do with your position before the Father rather than your position in the institution.

For example, one of my son's friends could come every day to my house. But that would not make him my son. He is welcome, and I hope I have a household that will show him good principles of sharing and whot-not, but such things do not change the relationship. Now, if the boy was an orphan and asked me to adopt him, that would change the relationship drastically. He could now just walk in the door without knocking, jump into my arms and yell, "Daddy!"

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

I go in to much more detail in my treatise below...

Answer 10

yes - You're saved by a relationship with Jesus. I went to church faithfully for the first 25 years of my life before I caught on and really got saved. Salvation is admitting you're helpless without Him and asking Him to forgive you for everything and help you to live life in His ways.

The verse that really hit me and made me realize my error was this part of Matthew 7----
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

This shows that knowing Jesus and doing the will of the Father is the only way to salvation. Going to church just isn't enough. Believing in God isn't enough. Only Jesus is enough.

Answer 11

Going to church is fine but you need to actually live the values.