Lunis Lacrimosa
This turned out much longer than I meant for it to be, so I apologize!
gonk For a bit of background, I was raised in a Christian house and have been going to the same church regularly every Sunday since I was little. Now my matter is this. I don't have a driver's license yet, so I depend on my mom to drive me everywhere. We've started driving my grandma to church with us every Sunday now. I always loved Sunday school and that was what got me most involved in the church and it's activities. But because my grandma is beginning to have health issues she can't go for both Sunday school and the Church service. So we've only been going for the service. I draw and sketch during it because I can't just sit there and focus on someone talking, it actually helps me pay attention better. I tried once to just sit and listen, but 5 minutes into the sermon I realized that my mind had wandered so far that I had no idea of anything that had been said.
sweatdrop The Church sermon has good points to it, but we've gone through several preachers recently and I just don't really care for how our current preacher talks. The way he words things. It's not bad, it just comes off the wrong way to me I guess.
Now I promise I'm getting to my actual dilemma soon.
sweatdrop I've missed the past two Sundays. One was because I felt sick, and the other I pretty much chose to stay home. I don't want to fall out of being a good Christian or doing what I should. But I don't know if going to Church every Sunday is something that you need to do to keep your faith or if I just feel that way because I've been going all my life practically. I have noticed that I've been more conscious of things since not going, and I've been trying to get more active as a Christian too. Maybe it's just because I feel like I have to make up for not going? I'm not sure.
So now, finally, I'd like your advice on this matter. Do you think going to church every Sunday is something that a good Christian should do? Or do you think you can still be a good Christian even if you don't go?
For myself, I'm not talking about never going again. I miss Sunday school and want to go to it, but I can't until I get my driver's license and can drive myself.
So, what do you think? What are your opinions on this?
I personally believe that a Christian can be on the right path without going to a church. Church in itself is a building that is built for a specific purpose - to praise God and to hear His word as well as fellowship with other Christians. Now, the church building in itself isn't what is imporant in my mind, it's the intention to it and behind it that makes a church imporant. There is no command that says, "You must go to church on Sunday mornings." For one, the Sabbath was generally a Friday - Saturday. Supposedly Christians have their Sabbath on Sunday to separate themselves from other religions. However, Sunday is considered the Sabbath for the majority of Christians. I personally believe that we should make God a habit in our lives every day of the week and not only on Sundays. So it doesn't matter what day of the week one would attend church.
Now, going to church is something I highly encourage if a person finds a church that they truly agree with and a church they know that truly follows the Lord, our God. I believe if a person is fortunate enough to have a wonderful church they agree with and know follows God's word that they should go and get involved when they are able because a lot of good can come out of it. However, if a person doesn't go one Sunday or something or has a reason not to go to that church such as they don't follow God's word then I don't believe that God will hold a person accountable for not going. I truly believe that fellowship in person with other believers is far better than doing so on the internet because there is a real connection there and being able to speak about God with our lips feels much different than typing it all. If we are fellowshipping with others in person, we can help each other out, get our points across easier and have a more deep and meaningful conversation. I truly feel that in person fellowship does something a lot different for the soul than online fellowship alone. As believers, we need encouragement from one another, words of wisdom from others, etc.
I haven't been able to find a church that I agree with even a little in my area. Thus, why I have taken over the Gaian Community Christian Church guild - to somewhat fulfill my need for Christian interaction as well as to help others with the same dilemma. Some people are not able to get out of their home and go to church possibly due to a long-term chronic illness or not be able to go to church for a short while because of an injury or condition in which they need to get their rest. I've known individuals that had chronic illnesses and weren't able to go to church because something as simple as the common cold may kill them so I don't think God held them accountable for not going to church.
How I see it, as long as we study God's word every day, act in a way that glorifies God, have our alone time with God, pray to God about our concerns, as well as giving thanks to God every day then we are still on the right track.
I will say, though, to be honest that since I don't have a church to go to, I feel like there's a piece of my soul that needs that fellowship with others in real life. I feel that we should all fellowship with other believers when given the opportunity. I generally enjoy home church as an in-person type of option for now and see nothing wrong with it. I remember this verse on the home church matter:
Matthew 18:20 NIV:
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
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