Can you be saved and not attend "Church"

[seekerman]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Maybe I read too much between the lines, but I took it to mean regular (e.g., weekly) attendance at a church service, with fellow believers and a preacher and stuff.

Like just assembling with other believers? Maybe so.

[Aquila]

Of couse a born again believer can be saved and not attend "a church". I have a couple "churches" I frequent, but I'm not a "member". I primarily house church.

Here's a short video on the concept:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvJR_SIiPl4

Neat explanation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyMQl7sPKMY

[Dordrecht]

[Dordrecht]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht

Good post.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Maybe I read too much between the lines, but I took it to mean regular (e.g., weekly) attendance at a church service, with fellow believers and a preacher and stuff.

Yes, this is what I meant.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Of couse a born again believer can be saved and not attend "a church". I have a couple "churches" I frequent, but I'm not a "member". I primarily house church.

I think house church would be very acceptable also.

[Amanah]

I think I might have same problem with simple church that I have with organized religion, not sure though.

It seems to me that most are very uncomfortable with you if you don't agree with every fine point in their belief system.

And most people want to worship God in a place that cherishes what they consider to be essential doctrine.

It's complicated. overly complicated.

[KeptByTheWord]

I believe that we are not an island unto ourselves. Part of the great commission is being a part of the body of Christ.

However, that body has been corrupted so badly beginning with Constantine, that it is not recognizable at all as the body Christ intended for it to be, and which body Paul spent much time outlining.

For that reason because a "pope" reigns in most churches, and has absolute say and authority in most things that go on... I don't believe that many churches even have a clue about how the real body of Christ functions.

For that reason, our family is involved in house church and fellowship, and while it is not perfect, it is better than the alternative, which is going and listening to a little "pope" speak and everyone else bow down and practically worship the ground he walks on, and bend and bow to his every wish and dictum. Of course, this example is just one of many where our churches nowadays can be related right back to the RCC. This is a soapbox I could wax eloquent on, but won't. I don't want to derail this thread.

But, I do believe all that being said, that the body of Christ needs to function with other members working together. WHERE those members come together and worship does not matter... but it does matter that they join themselves together in a time of worship, prayer, exhorting, and fellowship. I do believe we need to be a part of a body of a group of people whose sole intent and purpose is to further the gospel of Jesus, and to love and encourage and strengthen one another... WHEREVER that may be... a house, a home, a church building, a tent... I don't think the Lord cares about the building... He cares about the people who are meeting together!

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I think I might have same problem with simple church that I have with organized religion, not sure though.

It seems to me that most are very uncomfortable with you if you don't agree with every fine point in their belief system.

And most people want to worship God in a place that cherishes what they consider to be essential doctrine.

It's complicated. overly complicated.

I feel and understand your pain. That's why we have chosen house church as opposed to a "church building" simply because house church is much closer to the NT way of having church than the RCC system we see in almost all churches, regardless of denomination.

House church is not perfect... but it is far better than what you are getting in most "churches" today....

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht