Author	Thread: Christians who avoid public worship/church services
agapephileros View Profile History	Christians who avoid public worship/church services Posted : 17 Jan, 2011 01:46 PM I still cannot fathom why some Christians insist that believers in Christ DO NOT HAVE TO attend church services or "enter a building" to worship. In his or her mind, it is more than sufficient to satisfy this spiritual need inside the privacy of the home. Is this the result of the so-called "Christians" who fail to read the Bible daily or do daily devotionals? Just wondering. Hebrews 10 (New International Version, �2010) Christ�s Sacrifice Once for All 1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming�not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: �Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, �Here I am�it is written about me in the scroll� I have come to do your will, my God.�� 8 First he said, �Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them��though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, �Here I am, I have come to do your will.� He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 �This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.� 17 Then he adds: �Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.� 18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. A Call to Persevere in Faith 19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another�and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, �It is mine to avenge; I will repay,� and again, �The Lord will judge his people.� 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, �In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.� 38 And, �But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.� 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Footnotes: Hebrews 10:7 Psalm 40:6-8 (see Septuagint) Hebrews 10:16 Jer. 31:33 Hebrews 10:17 Jer. 31:34 Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35 Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14 Hebrews 10:37 Isaiah 26:20; Hab. 2:3 Hebrews 10:38 Some early manuscripts But the righteous Hebrews 10:38 Hab. 2:4 (see Septuagint) Post Reply
View Profile History	Christians who avoid public worship/church services Posted : 18 Jan, 2011 10:51 AM Man decided we should go to a church once or twice a week to stay close to God- but God decided if You draw nigh to me, I'll draw nigh to you --- no matter whether you're in a pew or out on a boat. Nuff of my opinion shared on this subject. chevy Post Reply
View Profile History	Christians who avoid public worship/church services Posted : 18 Jan, 2011 11:36 AM Chevy shared: "Going to church every Sunday doesn't mean you're having fellowship with God----sometimes He's not even there!" :ROFL:.....So True! Btw, did you see Sally's dress last Sunday? It was backless, she sat right in front of me, I couldn't even concentrate. I overhead some ladies saying against the light you could see right through it, one questioning if she even had underware on! Anyway some buddies and I are going to the lake next Sunday. We've got the food all arranged, all you need is your fishing pole and a Bible. Let me know if your in. You can ride with me; I've just got acouple of good worship CDs and downloaded a cool podcast I think you might like. You can be all spiritual next Sunday. Post Reply
View Profile History	Christians who avoid public worship/church services Posted : 18 Jan, 2011 11:41 AM have we jumped on the band wagon too fast here. :peace: I am all for going to church friends how about you. Church is whenever, believers get together to worship. Dennis Post Reply
marikashome View Profile History	Christians who avoid public worship/church services Posted : 18 Jan, 2011 12:32 PM @ Two--I thought you were going to say after hearing the description of Sally's dress you were going to make sure and get to church next Sunday. :ROFL: DG: I enjoy church. The learning experiences, fellowship, and outlet to assist others as I can. There are definite advantages of meeting together in an organized way, as long as we meet for the right reasons. (Sally's dress not being one of those... j/k) Post Reply
View Profile History	Christians who avoid public worship/church services Posted : 18 Jan, 2011 01:12 PM Dennis; no wagon jumper here--- the point I was trying to make is that in my opinion going to church doesn't make a person any more a Christian than someone who doesn't go. Why would there even be the question as to whether or not they are Christians simply because they choose to do otherwise? I can't fathom thinking a person isn't a Christian simply because they don't attend a church. twosparrows--- I'm in! I was told Sally might wear that same dress again anyway.:ROFL: chevy Post Reply
flyby View Profile History	Christians who avoid public worship/church services Posted : 18 Jan, 2011 04:24 PM I�ve been going to a building with a cross on it extremely steady for about 8 years, the church usually shows up at 11:00 am. There once was a discussion of membership and a list of things to adhere to, my response was �my Bible says vow no vow�. I don�t believe any of the church signed the membership. We all still meet at the same building and the pastor has never brought it up again. probably just me but boy I sense a little sun worship in this thread Post Reply
View Profile History	Christians who avoid public worship/church services Posted : 18 Jan, 2011 04:53 PM This might help someone...:glow: A Church go�er wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday... "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 203,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all." This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this.. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment! "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes an act of rebellion." - George Orwell Post Reply
flyby View Profile History	Christians who avoid public worship/church services Posted : 18 Jan, 2011 05:07 PM oops yup just me, it was just the original posters pic, I have a weird thing with symbolism. no offence agapephileros im sure your intentions are appropriate. Post Reply
View Profile History	Christians who avoid public worship/church services Posted : 18 Jan, 2011 08:39 PM You can definately have church anywhere -- does not have to be in a building with a cross on it. I've certainly had church in many different venues -- just 2 or more Christians showing up is all. But consistently not attending a church service (see above - 2 or more gathered) and receiving and participating in fellowship and teaching ----------- and call yourself a Christian? I would question how well fed you are and how strong your foundation is. Not judge it; just question it. Post Reply
View Profile History	Christians who avoid public worship/church services Posted : 19 Jan, 2011 11:38 AM Very interesting how some would try to use this verse as a church service: 15 � Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 21 My question to all that so brilliantly said going to a church service does not make anyone a christian, is that your best excuse? How do you walk in light of 1st John and make such statements. Make sure you do not use the bathroom today because surely there is no where in the bible that tells you too. Happy Stinking, will always be the results of those that try to interact and walk in fellowship with word the word of God with their mind. Puuuuu Post Reply

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