Church

[summerdowling87]

So I belive that some one can love God with all there heart and believe in him only as there savior but sometimes not attend church. And be a true christian. But I had an arguement with a friend saying you can't be a true chrisitian if you don''t or rarely attend chruch.

 

 

What do you guys think

 

A-You can God love and serve in your heart

 

B-The only way you can serve God is in church

[quankanne]

your relationship with God is highly personal, and he calls you to dialogue in a manner that best suits that relationship. Church/community is necessary for recharging, if you will, to help you live out your life according to his will. However, I don't think he's gonna send you to hell if you're not actively involved in that community, because again, the relationship is between YOU and HIM.

 

in other words, the relationship you have with God is chicken friend steak; being part of a supportive church community is the cream gravy that goes with it. It enhances your steak, but it's not absolutely necessary for enjoying the meal

 

as for what a true Christian is, look to Jesus' mama, who was the first Christian: Someone who believed fully in him and his mission. Everything else was gravy ...

 

or to put it in a pop-culture sense, borrowing from a popular Christian song from the 70s, "they'll know we are Christian by our love."

 

don't ever let anyone bully you your faith!

[Tayla]

Truly a bizzarre question. Faith may be practiced and spoken of in a church yet it is lived 24/7 in life experiences. Tell you friend that a church doesnt make a man . Ask them about the blind, sick and infirmed who cannot go to church, is there level of faith any less?? IF so then we have fallen the wrong way in practicing being ones brothers keeper.

[OpenBook]

My take - it's not my call to determine who is (or not) a "true" Christian. Nor is it up to me what God does with people who do (or do not) attend church. He works in mysterious ways that are not for my understanding.

 

All I can do (from my own individual standpoint) is discern via "By their fruit ye shall know them." I know some non-Christians who are more Christlike than most Christians. And I know some Christians who are more divisive, polarizing and all-around unpleasant than almost anybody else.

 

I view the church as a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints. I do agree with the other posters here that attending church regularly helps you stay close to God.

 

But it's not my place to judge people who don't attend church.

[Tayla]

Summer wrote:

Options

A-You can love God and serve in your heart

 

B-The only way you can serve God is in church

 

Bent replied:

So I think neither of your options are right. But the choice is yours.

 

My reply to that is:

Bent I think you are incorrect in saying that neither option is "right"

I truly think its absolutely "right", "Okay" to "Love GOD in your heart and serve in that manner".So I graciously disagree that the posters comment/option deserves dismissing by your standards.

As to "only" serving God thru Church, yeah that is a wee bit narrow minded for anyone to think that way , yet its extremely common for folks who profess one thing whilst "living" a life contradictory to the basic principles of their faith.

[summerdowling87]

Thanks all for you help -) I belive you should do both as for me being a young lady how grew up in church and use to go three days a weeks. Till I got so busy with school and work. I was just proving all you guys points

[DreamerGirl27]

Church is for fellowship and worship and preaching.

 

I don't believe God's going to punish you if you don't go all the time.