How important is church?

[Lybrah]

Can you still be saved if you don’t go to church? My church is so boring. I find myself drifting away. I hate singing and standing. I don’t mind listening to the music and I like the songs and I can follow the lyrics in my heart but I hate singing. The sermons at my church are pretty good. I like the communion part. I realize the importance of attendance, but I also say my prayers every night and occasionally read my Bible. I was part of a weekly Bible study that I attended almost 100% but they broke up during COVID. That church went woke. The church I’m at now is pretty good but I haven’t connected with anyone there. I’m scared to go to one of those places where they’re singing and dancing and everyone pulls you in because I’m shy. What should I do?

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Can you still be saved if you don’t go to church? My church is so boring. I find myself drifting away. I hate singing and standing. I don’t mind listening to the music and I like the songs and I can follow the lyrics in my heart but I hate singing. The sermons at my church are pretty good. I like the communion part. I realize the importance of attendance, but I also say my prayers every night and occasionally read my Bible. I was part of a weekly Bible study that I attended almost 100% but they broke up during COVID. That church went woke. The church I’m at now is pretty good but I haven’t connected with anyone there. I’m scared to go to one of those places where they’re singing and dancing and everyone pulls you in because I’m shy. What should I do?

Our Father knows your heart and He is the only one that can answer whether you are saved or not. That being said, salvation and attending a brick and mortar congregation have no connection. Our connection is with our Lord who makes His Home in us as a beliver. We are part of the Body of Christ, His Church, not churches made by human hands. It's ok to be shy so maybe avoid overly flesh driven gatherings. It sounds like it's not for you. It's not for me either.
Blessings.

 

[d taylor]

Can you still be saved if you don’t go to church? My church is so boring. I find myself drifting away. I hate singing and standing. I don’t mind listening to the music and I like the songs and I can follow the lyrics in my heart but I hate singing. The sermons at my church are pretty good. I like the communion part. I realize the importance of attendance, but I also say my prayers every night and occasionally read my Bible. I was part of a weekly Bible study that I attended almost 100% but they broke up during COVID. That church went woke. The church I’m at now is pretty good but I haven’t connected with anyone there. I’m scared to go to one of those places where they’re singing and dancing and everyone pulls you in because I’m shy. What should I do?

That one question you ask Can you still be saved if you don’t go to church?

Just shows how poor churches are teaching how to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life.

If there is one important fact a person should be taught in church. Is that, church attendance has absolutely no bearing on a persons eternal life salvation.

The sole condition God has given to receive His free gift of Eternal Life is to believe in The Messiah/The Son of God. For the free gift of Eternal Life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.


Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

[seeking.IAM]

Your church will not save you so I think you can set that worry aside. I think the real question is whether your faith can be sustained, nurtured, and grow apart from the church. Perhaps it can for you. I gave it a whirl and realized that it cannot for me.

I suspect you are attending the wrong church and might find something better suited for you elsewhere.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

So say someone cannot make it to gather with others because they are no longer physically able. Is this any different from those who are no longer psychologically able?

 

[BNR32FAN]

Can you still be saved if you don’t go to church? My church is so boring. I find myself drifting away. I hate singing and standing. I don’t mind listening to the music and I like the songs and I can follow the lyrics in my heart but I hate singing. The sermons at my church are pretty good. I like the communion part. I realize the importance of attendance, but I also say my prayers every night and occasionally read my Bible. I was part of a weekly Bible study that I attended almost 100% but they broke up during COVID. That church went woke. The church I’m at now is pretty good but I haven’t connected with anyone there. I’m scared to go to one of those places where they’re singing and dancing and everyone pulls you in because I’m shy. What should I do?

Many people were recorded as being saved by the gospel in the scriptures before any churches were established.

 

[BobRyan]

Can you still be saved if you don’t go to church? My church is so boring. I find myself drifting away. I hate singing and standing. I don’t mind listening to the music and I like the songs and I can follow the lyrics in my heart but I hate singing. The sermons at my church are pretty good. I like the communion part. I realize the importance of attendance, but I also say my prayers every night and occasionally read my Bible. I was part of a weekly Bible study that I attended almost 100% but they broke up during COVID. That church went woke. The church I’m at now is pretty good but I haven’t connected with anyone there. I’m scared to go to one of those places where they’re singing and dancing and everyone pulls you in because I’m shy. What should I do?

1. Go to a "normal church" where good Bible teaching can be found.
2. Get into a good engaging small group fellowship even if it is over ZOOM
3. Get into a Sabbath School or Sunday School class that holds your attention and actually opens the Bible for study of it.
4. Pray that God will lead you into situations where you can share your faith.

 

[Tolworth John]

I’m scared to go to one of those places where they’re singing and dancing and everyone pulls you in because I’m shy. What should I do?

We go to church to worship God, to encourage others, to be encouraged ourselves, to be challenged by the sermon, to meet people and have fellowship with them.

You don't need to speak to people, you are the visitor, they should be lining up to speak to you.
Go to the same church for two weeks in a row, if no one has spoken to you before or after the service, send an email to the minister about there lack of a welcome and try another church.

If you don't want to stand, or have difficulty standing don't, ditto singing.

 

[Paidiske]

Forgive me, because this may come across as blunt, but I hope it's a helpful piece of perspective.

What stood out to me in your post was that your consideration was all about what you like (or don't like), what you find helpful or not. What seemed missing was any consideration of what you might contribute; how you might serve, what your gifts are.

Church isn't somewhere we go just to get our needs (or desires) met. It's somewhere we belong to something bigger than ourselves, and contribute to God's purposes in the world. Sure, you can be saved without participating, but it's normal in the Christian life to take your place alongside your brothers and sisters in the church's mission.

 

[TzephanYahu]

Hi @Lybrah

I'm totally with you and understand you entirely on this point.

I was concerned over this for many years but I actually found my faith and knowledge of the Word increased exponentially whilst I was out of church. (Although you must be disciplined to keep up your studies of the Word if you do not attend church.)

The church, in general, is in quite a poor state at the moment, as prophesied, and it will become worse as the end of days draws in. In general, their teachings are very limited to closed-minded thinking of pastors fresh out of mandated Biblical Seminaries and miracles and signs are lacking from surely over 90% of them. Indeed, going to some churches can actually be detrimental for growth. Therefore, I think that future of true Christians will go back to small home groups in the future, as it was at the beginning.

Now yes, going to church can be good for you, for social reasons and to make connections with good people. I'm not saying going to church is wrong and not every church is bad. But I am saying that if you don't attend, you are still a Christian destined for salvation (providing your walk in the way the Messiah taught us). Church attendance doesn't 'stamp your faith' - only your actions through life can.

But the only thing I would advise you beyond that is to, again, read your Bible and study it. If you drift from the Word you will fall into the world easily. So keep up your studies and meditations upon it. And, if you read it each day or week with no preconceived ideas, I'm very sure the Spirit of Truth will lead you in the way you should go.

I hope that helps.
Peace

 

[Brihaha]

D Taylor summed it up really well. It does reflect poorly on organized religion when church members ask questions like this. It leads me to believe they are using deceit to keep people coming to church to donate money.

One clearly doesn't need to attend a church to be saved in the eyes of God. Do churches even teach the Bible anymore?

I have had a problem finding a comfortable place to worship for years. I don't mind the singing and standing. I love the fellowship with other Christians. Yet a Bible-teaching, comfortable and welcoming place of worship still eludes me. So I have some friends and family with whom I worship God wherever we are. We talk about the word and our experiences to share our faith. I read whenever more than one person are together in their worship God is here too. That is enough for me for now. I don't need the perversion or politics present in today's churches anyhow. Have a great day friend.

 

[tturt]

And
one of God's promises is -
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt 18:20)

Some of God's wisdom for us includes "...Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together... " (Heb 10:25).

We can praise and worship God anywhere, anytime but we also have-
"Come through the gates to his Temple giving thanks to him. Enter his courtyards with songs of praise. Honor him and bless his name. " (Psa 100:4).

We"re singing to an audience of One. What an opportunity. We can worship the Lord. Worship is an attitude of bowing down - even our human spirits bowing down before God and acknowledging His holiness. (Zech 2:13, Psa 95:6, 96:9, 99:5; John 4:24).

 

[ValeriyK2022]

Can you still be saved if you don’t go to church? My church is so boring. I find myself drifting away. I hate singing and standing. I don’t mind listening to the music and I like the songs and I can follow the lyrics in my heart but I hate singing. The sermons at my church are pretty good. I like the communion part. I realize the importance of attendance, but I also say my prayers every night and occasionally read my Bible. I was part of a weekly Bible study that I attended almost 100% but they broke up during COVID. That church went woke. The church I’m at now is pretty good but I haven’t connected with anyone there. I’m scared to go to one of those places where they’re singing and dancing and everyone pulls you in because I’m shy. What should I do?

Do you have an Orthodox church? No one is forced to sing there (only if desired). Moreover, they don’t force anyone to dance (they don’t dance there at all). A person only stands at the liturgy and prays. But it is impossible to be saved without the church. This is evident from the words of Jesus Christ. "The Church is the pillar and affirmation of the truth", "Whoever does not listen to the Church, let him be like a pagan and a publican", "I will create my own Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it".

There are two concepts of the Church: 1) the universal Church of Christ; 2) the local organization to which the person applies. These are words about the first sense of the Church. It includes living Christians and deceased saints.

 

[turkle]

Your words, as highlighted, are telling me that you are attending church for your entertainment, and it's falling short in your eyes.

Can you still be saved if you don’t go to church? My church is so boring. I find myself drifting away. I hate singing and standing. I don’t mind listening to the music and I like the songs and I can follow the lyrics in my heart but I hate singing. The sermons at my church are pretty good. I like the communion part. I realize the importance of attendance, but I also say my prayers every night and occasionally read my Bible. I was part of a weekly Bible study that I attended almost 100% but they broke up during COVID. That church went woke. The church I’m at now is pretty good but I haven’t connected with anyone there. I’m scared to go to one of those places where they’re singing and dancing and everyone pulls you in because I’m shy. What should I do?

As others have said, we go to church to raise each other up in the Lord. We find ways to serve each other, thereby loving each other as Jesus instructed us. Then, once we have built each other up, we go into the world as ambassadors of the Lord.

It's true that your salvation is not dependent upon serving, but you miss out on what Jesus taught, and the blessings that come with it if you do. It is also very easy to stray when you are not in fellowship (like sheep, we go astray) if you don't have others to hold you up and keep you accountable. And if you are only reading the Bible occasionally, then you are even more likely to drift away.

I recommend that you refrain from making church about you, and instead of evaluating its performance, see where you can serve. I think your perspective will change for the better.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Can you still be saved if you don’t go to church? My church is so boring. I find myself drifting away. I hate singing and standing. I don’t mind listening to the music and I like the songs and I can follow the lyrics in my heart but I hate singing. The sermons at my church are pretty good. I like the communion part. I realize the importance of attendance, but I also say my prayers every night and occasionally read my Bible. I was part of a weekly Bible study that I attended almost 100% but they broke up during COVID. That church went woke. The church I’m at now is pretty good but I haven’t connected with anyone there. I’m scared to go to one of those places where they’re singing and dancing and everyone pulls you in because I’m shy. What should I do?

I quote what the bible says first:

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The church is important, it keeps us focused on God. There is bound to be one good church in your area if you need to keep looking for one where you feel comfortable.

 

[seeking.IAM]

-Post deleted- Wrong thread. Sorry.

 

[Joined2krist]

As Believers, we are to delight ourselves in the things of God, attending gatherings is one of them. You also have spiritual gifts that other believers need, and they have gifts that could help you. It is helpful to have other believers around you.

 

[RileyG]

Depends on how much you are putting into Church.

Is Church what we do for God or what God does for us?

In Church, we hear the word, have the sacraments administered to us, and are spiritually nourished.

 

[*LILAC]

Nobody is "required" to attend church. Church does not save you. If your church went woke, that's your cue to hit the door.

 

[Kees Boer]

That's complicated. I made a very short video on what is the purpose of a churchmeeting. But, I'm concerned about a church going woke, depending on what you mean by that word... It needs go more Biblical than any other cultural thing right now... I'll put the link of the 4 minute video below here.