Why does it matter what church you belong to?

Question

I personally believe my church is the true church, but I also believe that anyone in other churches can go to Heaven as well...and of course I believe some people in my own church may not make it into Heaven(because there are bad people in all walks of life)...

So my question is why, if you're a TRUE believer in Christ, and you have faith the size of a mustard plant(bigger than a mustard seed) then why does it matter what church you attend?

Answer 1

In Matt 17:20, Jesus said, "...If ye have faith as a GRAIN of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; AND IT SHALL REMOVE; AND NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE UNTO YOU".

I can't imagine anyone being able to say, they have faith the size of a mustard plant. A small seed of faith moves mountains, and not too many mountains being moved these days.

Answer 2

It doesn't necessarily matter. As you said, there are true believers and fake Christians in all walks of life. Jesus told the parable about the wheat and the tares to illustrate this point.

But you have to be careful that the church you attend doesn't lead you into false doctrine that can be dangerous. Some churches claiming to be Christian churches are actually cults that teach things very contrary to the gospel of Christ. If the church teaches anything other than salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, or that you have to do anything else along with that to "earn" your eternal life, it's a false teaching (I'm sure I will get some arguments about that--but it IS a very big deal--search the Scriptures for yourself.)

There are many "flavors" of churches and some of the differences are more about style of worship or church tradition than any basis in the Bible--God made us all with unique personalities, gifts, and needs, and that's as it should be. It's when the doctrine is so off that it may actually be deceiving people into thinking they're saved when they're not or thinking they have to keep working to "keep" their salvation, or the church sanctions things the Bible clearly states are sins that your church membership can become a problem. The churches on earth are Christ's ambassadors in the world today. If we are not truly representing what He taught, then we're actually working against His cause and confusing people that might otherwise come to know Him. That's where and why it matters.

I do believe that individuals from many different churches and denominations are saved and will be united in heaven--it is about each person's personal relationship with Christ, and no church membership is a ticket to heaven. But some of the people will actually be saved IN SPITE of what their church teaches and practices rather than because of it.

Answer 3

In my opinion, it doesn't matter what church you go to as far as making it to Heaven or not.....as long as it is a true Christian believing/serving/praising church. I do believe that you should attend because the Word does tell us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves. It is more enjoyable if you attend a church with similar beliefs beyond the true basics...such as repentance and salvation...and Christ.... This was a very good question...it makes a person think.

Answer 4

apparently they are SO rent about people who believe false teachings that they must spend all their time energy and resources debunking that faith. Forget about the starving naked people in the world. Nope, they are such good Christians they are fighting the good fight to have all the blasphemies run from the world. What's a little money that could be put into humanitarian aid when you can make a website for the Utah Lighthouse Ministries? Hm... Let's not forget all the millions of people in the world who will never get to hear the gospel of Christ, we must focus on the ones who don't do it the right way!

What would Jesus do indeed.

Answer 5

Don't you think God will put His people where He wants them? Do you think you gain any more "points" for your own efforts of finding that "perfect" church that worships God in exactly the right way?

When you formally join churches, they usually ask if you believe along the same lines as their "official" teachings. The deep theology may or may not matter to you. But how many times the bible tell you that God looks at the heart, for you to believe it?

So I'll say yes, it should matter to you to align your beliefs with the church you plan to attend. But God goes beyond, way beyond, your particular religious affiliation.

Answer 6

Well, Christ's church is the true church, and yours is but a local expression of that. I wonder what you mean that yours is the true one. True, and no other church is? How could that be possible? Look, Jesus' church is comprised of true believers over the face of the entire earth. There is no single little building meeting somewhere in which only that handful of people are God's only real Christians. But there are differences that good Christians can hold, and they don't make them false or true, just different. What matters is if a church teaches the Bible. There are cults that teach the Bible, like the Jehovah's Witnesses or the Mormons, but they don't hold to basic foundational Christian truth, instead they teach Bible Plus. The Bible plus the Book of Mormon, or the Bible plus the Watchtower dogma, etc. But any real Christian church that holds to the truth and doesn't twist Scriptures is going to be a true church and true Christians will be found there. Churches have differences on issues like baptism or church government, but that doesn't make them essentially true or false.

Answer 7

To me, a church is an institution that provides spiritual education. Nobody says that one can't gain that education outside an institution or formal structure, but often, that structure makes the knowledge much more available.....

Depending on what the particular church teaches, (description of God, mode or method of salvation, etc.) and how those teachings relate to what you actually believe seems to be what really matters.

Answer 8

quite. look on the church's assertion of religion-then learn that with what they practice. If it does not experience up-go away it. 2 stable indicators that a church isn't in the present day is: -in the event that they do no longer have confidence Jesus is God -in the event that they do no longer have confidence the Bible is the infallible word of God (there are extra-yet those 2 are huge ones) Then there are some church homes that say one ingredient and have confidence something different. you basically ought to smell them out.

Answer 9

If you are a true born again child of God you would do best by seeking God's will on where you attend because each believer has certain gifts that should be joined together to supply to the other believers with what they need

Answer 10

You are right as long as this is the foundation of the church:

Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, died on the cross to save us from our sin, rose the third day to conquer death for us, ascended to heaven to prepare a place for us, and is coming back to get all who believe this.


And that the church is true to the Word of God, the Bible.