If you have a personal relationship with God, why do you go to church?

Question

In what way does it help to further your spiritual progress?

Answer 1

I attend church because the environment is conducive to spiritual learning and progression. It has nothing to do with my relationship with God....Outside of church spiritualists face a hostile environment. Especially from the fundamentalists. For me, church is a sanctuary, I can quietly and collectively with other members concentrate on matters of a spiritual nature.

Answer 2

The Word says that those who have been born again and are one with GOD through Christ, are the Church. I myself, am the church of Christ, along with others who are. We all make up the church. I do not have to go to a physical church to worship with others. All I have to do is gather with one other person or more and the Lord promised that He would be there in our midst. One does not have to go to any church to know God. Thank God for that!!!! With all of the false teachers and gospels going around the best thing for a christian to do is to stay out the mainstream christian churches. It was prophesied that in the last days, the truth would fall away, from the church and wouldn't be preached. We are already there. The "Church" at this point is only hindering spiritual growth.

Answer 3

I go to church to worship God with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and listen to the anointed sermons being preached.

I don't see it as "furthering my spiritual progress" in the sense of scoring points with God, or doing something to earn God's love. No, God already loves me unconditionally. I go to church to be encouraged by the Word of God being preached, that unveils the loveliness of Jesus Christ and the perfection of His work of redemption.

Answer 4

The same can be asked of other religion also. I am a Sikh and our Gurdwara is like your church. I have often wondered why go there when I can remember my God within four walls of my own home and feel his blessings. Then I felt that the serene atmosphere of such a place where Gurbani is chanted and people come there leaving their egos aside, create such positive vibrations that you feel quite overwhelmed. The experience humbles you...

Answer 5

The Bible says to forsake NOT the assembly. We are built up/educated in God's Word through the sermon/ Bible class.We are able to pray for each other's needs.That lifts our burdens as God instructs(lift other's burden's). We are told to praise,glorify, and worship God. We gather to do that. We teach sinners the plan of salvation. Then give them the opportunity to respond to the gospel. That is service in a nutshell. It's what "revs" our motor for the week, so to speak.

Answer 6

Where there are 2 or three gathered in my name there I am in the midst of them. This is in the Bible. Sometimes through out the week I tire and when I go to Church on Sunday Its like you get refreshed you get a special touch that keeps you going that's the best way to explain it. Going to Church is very important for believers.

Answer 7

We are supposed to meet as a Body, and encourage one another, assisting each other using the gifts we've been provided. The Scripture is also clear:

“And let us continue to consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another even more as you see the day coming nearer.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

John Calvin and Martin Luther, both of whom were important figures in the Reformation of the Church, believed so strongly in corporate worship that they made comments like, “Apart from the Church, salvation is impossible.” (Martin Luther) And, “So highly does the Lord esteem the communion of the Church, that He considers everyone a traitor and apostate from religion who perversely withdraws himself from any Christian society which preserves the true ministry of the Word and Sacraments.” (John Calvin)

"Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." (I Peter 5:8) If we separate from the Body (the church), we are alone in the faith. The devil and his minions are like wolves, hyenas, coyotes and other animals that hunt in packs. In the wild, these animals rarely attack a herd or flock. They wait for one or two to get separated from the rest. They go for the stragglers, who are usually the weakest, either from the journey or illness. Then the predators attack. It's never fair. Five or six to one. And the attacked animal almost always loses.

Likewise, the Christian who separates from the church, is alone. Without a constant diet of solid biblical preaching, and encouragement from other (and stronger) believers, this Christian becomes weak and malnourished in the Word. Their defenses are down. Then the devil and the demons attack. Since the Christian is alone, weak and malnourished, he/she has nothing to defend themselves with, and they succumb to temptation or become disillusioned with the faith, and fall away. Their testimony gets damaged, their faith is in shreds, and they wonder, "Why bother?" and quit. Then the devil is satisfied.

It is like this: If the devil can't have your soul, he will have your walk and testimony, if you let him. And skipping church is a sure fire way to go down that road.

Answer 8

I go to church as a part of my relationship with God because He uses His body (the church) to edify His people. It's an opportunity for me to give back to His flock; church isn't just about what I get out of it but rather what I can do to serve. Jesus came as a servant and called his disciples to serve each other as well.

Answer 9

The relationship that Christians have with God is actually "corporal" - through the Body of Christ, the Church.

Answer 10

Because Christ established a Church, and because Paul was a churchman who sought salvation through Christ's Church and exhorted us to do the same.

Most of Paul's letters in the New Testament were addressed to churches -- he specifically used that word in his salutations in those letters.

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