O.k. So I do not go to church I haven't sinse I was 10 becasue at my grandfatehrs funral when my younger brother asked if he would go to heaven the priest told him no he would burn in hell becasue he did not repent his sins........ I feel that was a horable hatful thing to say and I do not want to go hear gods word from someone who twists it to thier own beleave, and many prists do ... so my question is how important is church I beleave in god and i pray and I try to live rigth and help others... will not going to church make me go to hell ?
2007-07-20 10:27:05 · 33 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My guess is no. And not only because I'm atheist.
There are too many sections of religion to all be "right". So God could only be fully with one church.
That's right, the Church of Flying Spaghetti Monster.
Pasta be with you.
2007-07-20 10:29:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
First of all, the priest was absolutely out of line. No priest knows if your grandfather repented or not. You have the right to repent between you and God, you do NOT have to go through a priest or Mary or other idols to repent or petition God. Second, a church is merely a building where worshipers meet to study/learn about God. It is similar to say does God favor one "religion" over the other. Religions are man made, the buildings are funded by people who agree with what is being taught in there.
Your relationship with God is more important than the church building. Your acceptance of Jesus as your savior, and the repentance of sins is far more important.
If you deny Jesus as your savior and Redeemer of you sins, you probably will go to hell, There really is only two simple choices: heaven or hell. To many religions try to interpret the bible to say other wise.
2007-07-20 10:39:55 · answer #2 · answered by Nifty Bill 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I perceive that your question is sincere, so I will give you my heart felt answer. If I were going by the way I would sometimes like to understand things, I would tell you that it is not necessary to go to church. The Bible never says that anyone would go to hell for not gathering with other believers, however we are told in the book of Hebrews not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Together, the church is like a body and Christ is the head. Lets say you are the leg. Without the head the church is dead. Without the leg the church is crippled and the leg itself is of little or no use. You may not necessarily go to hell for not going to church, but you would be out of the will of God to stay away from church. The word Church or "ecclesia" means "body of called out ones".
This is not the four walls, but certainly a strong fellowship with other worshipers. Find yourself a good church, you will be strengthened and that church will be blessed when you allow God to use you the way he has purposed. The priest could have chosen more sensitive words to help comfort your spirit, but please do not let him or anyone keep you from what you may find to be the biggest blessing in your life.
With Love and Grace
2007-07-20 11:12:13 · answer #3 · answered by Jimbo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are correct. The Priest answered in a bad manner. Although the bible does say we must repent of our sins to enter in, and the body of a church does help us grow in Christ, no where in the bible does it say or implie that we must attend church, but that we should. God understands the pain in your heart from the past. What is important for you is that you know in your heart that your life is right with God, and of course, repent, often. Cool 64
2007-07-20 10:43:22 · answer #4 · answered by Cool 64 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"where 2 or more of you are gathered together there will I be also"
Jesus said that, does it sound to you like He demands you go to church? read the Bible start with the first few books of New Testament, then read the first 5 books of the Old Testament.
I am not God so I have no idea where your grandfather went after he died-and neither did that priest-the priest just thought he did, but given that the priest was human.....just remember that humans make mistakes
2007-07-20 10:34:06 · answer #5 · answered by rwl_is_taken 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
church is a group or 2 people gathering to praise and worship God. It can be anywhere. The building itself is not the church its the people inside. So yes he does care about the church as in the people not the building itself. You do have to repent that is the way it works only through him can you be forgiven and go to heaven that is what it says in the bible. You do not have to go to a building called church you can go anywhere and worship the lord My aunt has church with her family at her house every sunday.
2007-07-20 10:29:57 · answer #6 · answered by knowssignlanguage 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You do not need to go to church for your salvation, but you can learn a lot at a good church. One bad experience shouldn't turn you away from all the rest of Christianity.
It is estimated that there are 20 million Christians who are bigoted idiots. out of 2 billion. Thats 1 percent.
2007-07-20 10:32:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The church is not a building. The church is the people. The body of Christ. You have to worship together. Sing, pray, give, take communion, worship together. You shouldn't stray from the church just because of what one person said. Search for the truth in your Bible.
2007-07-20 11:36:19 · answer #8 · answered by SarahMorgan 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God has far more important things to care about. Besides, think about the people who have gone to church and commit major crimes. Going to church isn't an automatic to make God 'like' you.
Believe in your way that you think is best. The fact that you're trying to live right and help other is what God is looking for.
2007-07-20 10:35:25 · answer #9 · answered by Sara H 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In my opinion, God must be ashamed to have churches running around doing these awful things in her name. Men of the church, as opposed to men of God, are the ones that twist and pervert the sacred wonder of a universal connective spirit. No god worth worshipping would want their followers spreading hatred and murdering innocent people to "prove" their god is better than someone else's.
You keep believing as you see fit. Live your life on your principals and never compromise your integrity. If God punishes you eternally for that, they were never worth the trouble to begin with.
2007-07-20 10:45:15 · answer #10 · answered by OhKatie! 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋