Why do you go to church?

Question

I'm doing some research on the church in today's society. What are your motives for going to church each week? I'd like to know the real reason people go...not just the "church answer".

If you don't go to church then I would like to know why you don't go.

Thanks in advance for your honest answers.

Answer 1

I don't go to church because I no longer believe in the sky fairy.

Answer 2

My answer has evolved greatly over the years. My parents took me to church growing up, so my reason then was quite obvious. As a teenager I just really loved God and enjoyed every chance to learn more and be around friends who held similar beliefs as myself. As an adult I now understand that part of being created in God's image is being made for community. In order to be more whole as a person I need to be in community with people who are struggling, growing, and dealing with the same God I am. There are times I get so frustrated with church and there have been times when I have not liked it in the least bit, but I go because I know it helps me grow and develop as a person and as a Believer. Most days I do enjoy it and I really like the challenge I get from the teachings and from the opportunities to serve others.

Answer 3

I go to church every week because I'm the pastor!

Seriously, before I was a pastor I went every week, too. I went for several reasons.

1. The God that I serve is worthy of praise and worship, and the music sounds much better when I am singing with a bunch of other people rather than just me alone.

2. I went to hear the scriptures preached by a man, annointed by God to preach and teach His word.

3. I went because I was instructed to in scripture. We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

It is a part of being the body of Christ. To encourage one another, to minister to one another, to hang out with people who have the same beliefs as I do, to work together to share resources and reach those outside the church with the good news of the gospel.

Begin with my spiritual family is one of the high points of my week.

Can you be a Christian without attending church on a regular basis? I suppose, but you cannot be an obedient Christian if you are not functioning as a part of a body of believers.

Answer 4

Hello!

I go to Church every week for the following reasons:

1) Receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ in the Eucharist

2) To pray with my brethren

3) To hear the holy scriptures and how they relate to our lives today

4) To feel encouraged that there are others who feel the same way I do about God

These may sound like "church answers" but they are the real reasons why I go.

Take care.

Answer 5

As a Wiccan MY church is the whole Universe. I spend every single moment of my life in my church. And MY church is MUCH more beutiful than ANY building that the mind of man can come up with, although I HAVE seen some very lovely buildings.

Raj9 the Green Witch

Answer 6

I go to church because I gain support from the other members of the Body. I take time out and praise my
God in a group setting and I get to learn more about the God of this universe.

I get excited thinking that Sunday is almost here. It's been a hectic week but I can go and get my battery recharged.

Answer 7

I go to Church because God is there. Literally. He is in the Holy Eucharist, and if I am in a state of grace (i.e. I have comitted no mortal sin since my last confession) I can receive Him into my body. I also get to pray, to hear the holy scriptures, and socialize with other Christians. But the main reason I go is to receive the Eucharist.

Answer 8

As I am a Jehovah's Witness, I go to the Kingdom Hall. It is equivalent to a mosque or a church. It is where we hold our bible sessions, learn some more texts from the bible and interact with the brothers and sisters of the congregation. It is where we do our worship, praise JAH and sing ministry songs.

Why do I do that, go to the Kingdom Hall each week? To gain more knowledge about Jehovah and Christ and his works, to satiate my curiosity and find answers as to why Jehovah allows things to happen and to foment a strong fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Answer 9

I and my family go to worship and praise our Lord and Creator God. To us it is a joy, a pleasure to be in Gods wonderful presence. It is not a duty. Just as you would enjoy spending time with someone you care deeply for, so do we. It is also a time of refreshing fellowship with others of like mind, who come together to worship our Lord.
For those how think that church is boring, cold, a wast of time, you don't know what you are missing.

Answer 10

I'd like to think that people go to church to learn more religion, or exchange views with like minded people.

But sometimes, i seriously think it's due to the following :
1. forced by parents/spouse/partner etc
2. new in area/looking for relationship partner etc, so church serves as best place for first contact (superficial networking)
3. nowhere else to go
4. habit
5. free food (if applicable)

Answer 11

I don't go to church for the same reason you don't go to Islamic Mosque or Jewish Temple, or Budist Temple.

If you zoom out and look at the entire world population of 7 billion people, and you imagine them color coded by religion (see http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm ) , you'd see a shinking minority are Christian. There's nothing about any one of the religions that makes me think that *it* is the truth.