I grew up in a Christian church and I stopped going a while back for a few reasons, I actually left that church for another and ended up encountering the same type of people so I decided to just stay home. I still believe in God still read the bible and I am alot happier. Do you feel you need church to have God in your heart?
2007-12-13 04:40:59 · 26 answers · asked by Candace B 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
For those of you who say yes and say its in the Bible chapter and verse will help me alot
2007-12-13 04:50:37 · update #1
No I personally am closer without church, and obviously you are as well. I am a spiritual Christian. I read the Bible as much of daily as possible, I try to meditate on His word as much of day and night as I am able and throughout the day I stop everything and try to spend quality time talking to GOD and thanking Him for all He has done for me and thanking Him for who He is. And I am so close to Him and Him to me I have never felt closer to HIM which is the whole purpose of going to church in the first place. Take care and may GOD bless you spiritually.
2007-12-13 04:52:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, you don't.
I am a Christian, and have been around the block a time or two. The objection church-going Christians have to non church-going Christians is a verse in the Bible that says, "Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together," Hebrews 10.
Now, these people will tell you that this verse means to go to church meetings, and that may be partially true. But look below the surface to find that 'assembling' yourself means that you join together with other believers to make a whole of out many parts, like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. God does want you to be a part of a believing community, but how you do that is really open for interpretation. But listen: the rest nof God's people NEED you. Not just for you to help feed the poor and orphans, which each church ought to do, but also so YOU can exercise YOUR God-given gifts and talents. YOUR gifts, assembled together with the talents of others, can lead to awesome works for God!
The way mainstream America does 'church' is found nowhere in the Bible!!!!!!! Did you know that? Oh sure, people have accepted these man-made traditions as godly practices, whereas in reality God leaves so much up to His people to decide how to put His principles into practice.
In the Bible, there was no hierarchy of 'senior pastor' supervising a paid staff of professional clergy. That structure is more like a business or monarchical model of government than Biblical. In the Bible, the believers all _mutually submitted_ to one another, made group decisions, etc.
The out-of-church movement of Christians is growing rapidly. George Barna writes of this in his book "Revolution" and James Rutz in hs book, "The Open Church".
Ask God to lead you to a HOME fellowship perhaps. There you be more likely to find the kind of fellowship you need to provoke others, and be provoked yourself, to good works, as the Bible says. God does want you to have friendship with other believers; just wait on Him to show you where that will be and accept nothing less.
2007-12-13 04:58:12 · answer #2 · answered by Bride of Yeshua 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. I think if you accepted God into your heart and believe that he died for your sins what more would you need? I think what we call a church here on earth it just a building to God in heaven. Church here on earth is just a place where you can fellowship with other Christians. God knows your heart and where you stand. It wouldn't be any different going to church or not going to church. He's only going to look at your heart.
2007-12-13 04:50:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldnt find a church there are to many hypocrites and money hungry people in there in there MANY ARE CALLED FEW ARE CHOSEN.
Real gift is in your heart if your serious about it, submit yourself to it. Church has got to point now days its been worse place to go because they judge people come in not much with sermons but other things healthy relationship is staying out and not let people get you down.
I am coming back to be christian again i was reading like Jehovah Witness Brochure and helped me on my way with understanding. I was terribly beaten down because church but this time im going stay away with it. Give me a negative i dont care but its the truth.
But 2-3 gathered together scripture you just sort them outside of church.
And Last but not least i didnt stick with denomination it was with every non-denomination and denomination
2007-12-13 04:49:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You do not need churches to find His Majesty. I stopped going there as well. And I still believe, even more strongly. And perhaps it is better to go to church just a few times a year because then you find being there very beautiful and value it more.
2007-12-13 04:50:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not. I found God/became a Christian whilst sitting on the couch watching PBS --- I am serious as a heart attack. No altar call, no nothing, God just spoke to me (though not audibly).
However, we are called to go to church, the Bible tells us that. I understand that you may have been wounded by the church. It is a terrible tragedy, but sadly it happens often. But talk to the Lord about it and ask Him to heal your heart and lead you to the church He has for you.
Going to church doesn't make you any more or less a Christian. But as a Christian who loves the Lord and longs to please God, we should be following the commands He gave us, and one of these is going to church.
God bless!
2007-12-13 04:46:19 · answer #6 · answered by KL 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
No because God is everything and so therefore God is part of you making you part God. Knowing that, I will never need to go to Church ever again.
2007-12-13 04:46:25 · answer #7 · answered by lost in a world of confusion 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that having a belief actually blocks the path to knowing God. I think that your mind has to be free of the endless divisions that divide your mind and your life into political, religious, gender, ethnicity, color, etc., that seems nearly endless. Those fragmentations of life create not only social violence and unrest but make your mind the same way. God is an ocean of peace and stillness and to come to him your mind needs to be at peace, still and undivided, too.
2007-12-13 05:12:14 · answer #8 · answered by Neomaxizoomedweebie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God is your heart at home or in a synagogue or a temple or a church, in the park, at the beach, etc.
NO, you don't need the actual structure with all its accouterments to feel the presence of God.
2007-12-13 04:47:31 · answer #9 · answered by Cybele K 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the true church is not a building. you can be in the true church(body of Christ) and never step foot in side a church building. but it is a blessing if you are fortunate enough to have a good church that really believes the Bible
2007-12-13 04:47:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋