going to church or not

Shalaina - posted on 03/04/2010

I agree with Sarah, I think you would want to go to church...that being said going to church doesn't make you a 'better' Christian but I think that it is nice to learn more each week. Also, it seems like a great idea to get your boys in a Sunday School with other children not only will they learn from other people but they will also make Christian friends for life, I know I did!!!

Kaci - posted on 03/04/2010

we would really like to go to church every sunday and we use to but now since we've moved we are having a hard time finding a church that we are comfortable in. we want to find a church where you don't feel like you have to dress up and also we want the church to have a good childrens program. the church we use to go to before we moved was the best. it had a class for every child of all ages and junior high class. it had a diverse group which is really important to us. plus i guess since me and my husband sometimes even work monday thru saturday that we just want one day to rest all day

Heather - posted on 03/04/2010

I believe that you need a healthy balance. You need to do the things that you are doing at home, but I also believe that you need to attend a church. There are people on both ends of this, people who think that just sitting in church makes them a Christian, and people who don't believe it is important. But I believe it is a balance. My reasoning is that Jesus went to church. He would still have been the Son of God without going, but He did. We are encouraged in the Bible to not give up meeting together in Hebrews as Cheryl mentioned. And in Bible times there was no such thing as a follower of Christ who did not attend church. We need the support of other believers. We are all family in Christ, and all part of one body, and we cannot say that we do not need each other. I recommend reading 1 Corinthians 12.

Don't stop what you are doing though. What you are doing is oh so important! I just think we need both.

Tah - posted on 03/04/2010

the church is not just the building it is the body of christ also....i myself and my husband don't go as often as we would like but i am changing my schedule to try and make there more often because i just feel better worshiping with other christians, and listening to the word and having it broken down to me, when i have questions or don't understand i go to the bible and then to my father(a associate pastor and the leader of christian education) it doesn't make you a better christian but it offers worship with the body of christ.

Cheryl - posted on 03/04/2010

Have you read Hebrews lately? The writer of Hebrews (most say Paul but it's not clear) talks about how Jesus has fullfilled all the previous laws and regulations that enslaved the Jews- like manditory attendance. He talks about how Jesus has ushered in a new and living way that we can come before God through Jesus, not a certain prayer or something. Then in Heb 10:23-25, he says "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering... let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds...not forsaking our own assembling together... but to encourage one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." I left some out- you can read it all for yourself. But to you see the point- church is not just for your benefit, but what you can do for others. Church is not a building or nonprofit entity- it is a group of people joining together to edify (Prov 17:17), encourage, pray, fellowship, discipleship, evangelize and grow in their understanding of the word of God. It doesn't make you a "better" Christian but it should lead you closer to God and strengthen your faith all the more.

"All the more as you see the day drawing near." And let's face it, I believe we're coming into end times (no, not 2012 like the movie says ;-) but probably if not my lifetime, definately my children's. We need to be grounded in the Word of God to be able to decern truth from lies. The Bible says in these days, men will want their ears tickled... I'd almost concider a good church to be one that people might be leaving becuase they don't like what the Pastor is trying to teach them!!

And there is so much more benefit to your children to be invested in by other Christians other than mom and dad. I know many families when the tough teen years hit- it was another person in the church the teen turned to for advice becuase mom and dad just didn't understand. You want those kind of good people in your children's lives. I concider it a blessing that my kids have tons of "grandmas and grandpas types" praying and looking out for them!!

Sarah - posted on 03/04/2010

I think when you are a strong Christian you want to go to church. Does going to church make you a "better" Christian....No, but I think it does stregthen your faith. You are able to be with others that believe the way you do. You are able to listen and learn more about the faith, God, and the Bible. I also think it teaches our children that God is important to us and attending church (going to His house) is also important. Church is God's house and just like when we have friends we can talk on the phone or email and never visit each other to be a good friend, but being in that friend's home adds a level of intimincy to the relationship and the more you visit the closer you become. I also think that being around others that are Christians helps keep you accountable for your actions. Does that mean you need to attend EVERY Sunday...No, but it does make it harder to go the next sunday if you missed the Sunday before. I also think it can send mixed messages to our children. It is OK to miss this sunday, but the next sunday you must go. I know people that only attend on special occasions. I think that also sends a mixed message. I think to our children it says church is only important on these days. I also wonder what message that sends to God. If we feel it is important to attend church on those days, why not the other days? I think that it is important to attend church and also carry out that faith and learning (devotions, reading Bible, etc.) throughout the week.