Do you NEED to go to church?

[diamarie]

See,I'm not from a christian family. Also, I'm not from a family willing to let me go to church. However, I've chosen to accept Christ as my God and my Savior, regardless of the prohibitions of my family's religion.
I don't get to go to church, and the only way I'm closest to a 'congregation' is the InterSchoolChristianFellowship in school.
Is this bad?Am I still considered christian?????

[Keen]

All the Bible says is to not forsake the assembling of one another in fellowship. so as long as you meet with Christian friends, and not just small-talk hanging out I'm talking about, but the Word lines it out pretty clear it has to be spiritual "edification", encouragement, discussion, praying for one another would be prime. It's a lot nicer to have that PLUS an immediate large family of a congregation that gathers close to you in a building/area ("church" = falsehood; WE are the Church). And say you don't even have any Christian friends around you (well, you should try to make some and try your hardest to find some, but, lol) then (and I know more than a few people where this is the case) you'll have to resort to a forum and (interpersonally) IM or something.

[Cookiemobsta]

No, you don't need to go to church to be a Christian--far from it. The only thing you need to be a Christian is a desire to love like God.

That being said, it's really helpful to be around other Christians, especially for a new Christian like yourself. They can help encourage you and teach you things about the faith that you don't understand, so you should really seek out friendships with solid Christians if you can't go to church (even if you can go to church, too). Also, you can get sermons online. I recommend Mosaic church (Mosaic.org) and North Coast Calvary (http://www.northcoastcalvary.org/nccc_audio.html).

[joy-girl]

diemarie, I so understand your situation. My family won't let me go to church either. Just rememberthat this is all for a reason; don't allow yourself to get bitter because everyone else has fellowship/church friends/ and you don't. Lean fully on God, and make your relationship with Him priority.

Also the advice above is good.

[KeepingTheFaith]

As Cookiemobsta mentioned, going to church doesnt make you a Christian in much the same way going to Krispy Kream makes you a donut.

When Paul went to Prison he was never able to go to church, yet he wrote a great part of the New Testament!

BUT, your enviroment GREATLY affect you. That is why it is so important to go to church. I would say to try to find a cell group. Somewhere where you can get together with other true Christian friends, not just to chat but to read the Bible and strengthen each other.

Read your Bible daily and meditate on it! It will be a great help. We need to renew our minds as Christians and our enviroments/actions play a huge part.

[Godsgal]

As mentioned before...Church is for fellowship with fellow Christians. You pray together, sing together, sometimes even have a fellowship meal together. Since you are stuck in a situation in which you are the only one in your family saved, you don't have to. I hope I haven't offended you with my words. God Bless you in your journey with the Lord.

[homegirl76]

Hey, I'm glad you post this thread,diamarie. I'm a prosecuted new convert too!!! Actually, I've had my 1st salvation years ago...but I drifted away once I lost touch with the teacher who tell me about Christ. We used to have something like a cell group at home when the teacher's there. He taught us English and took 20 minutes each lessons to teach us about Christ. Then I got lost and kinda lost the connection with God.
But I've met God again last Christmas!!!! I had my second salvation and my faith has grown stronger....much stronger, now I pray everyday and read the Bible. I even tried fasting a few times but failed a couple of times...hehee.... But I'm glad you're saved and God touched you. Always remember that God loves you and the ones who faces prosecution will be much stronger than those who doesnt't. And you'd be blessed because you remain strong on your belief!
God bless you, diamarie!!! And always read the Bible, it'll keep you close with God!!!

[PureOxygen]

The Church is the body, intended to help us stay strong. Do you have some Christian friends you can get together with? If you have 2 Christians together, you have a church.
The point isn't so much that you need to go to a particular building, cuz remember in the early days of the church there were no "church buildings". People got together in homes
So get together and pray and encourager each other, read scripture and support each other And pray that God would perhaps provide a larger church family for you
And of course you have support here too

[PawPrints717]

I agree with everyone here. If you can round up a few Christian friends to talk with, you have a church. As a matter of fact, couldn't this forum be considered a church?

[call on angels]

Yes, as many have said, Church dosn't determine whether or not you are a christian. Yes, it does help out a great amount, but there are alternate ways to grow. Us christians set up tv shows, internet sites, emailing lists, outreaches, prayer groups, school groups, music, bibles in hotel rooms, mail, and so many more ways that we put recources out there for people to learn and grow in Him. Church is just one of them, it just so happens that many go to it. However, if you say "I do not have enough time to go to church" that would be different. However this is not the case, you don't have a choice. What you need to do is WORSHIP him in every way possible. We're called to worship.