My sister-in-law does not attend church nor have any fellowship apart from me but believes she is a christian because she prays, reads the bible and believes that Jesus is Lord. But friends say she is decieved and not a christian at all, I’m confused can you be a christian and not go to church? - anne Anne, I’m not surprised that you’re confused because it is true to say both that you don’t need to go to church to be a Christian and that if you don’t go to church, you’re not a Christian. Let me explain. If we were to narrow down what it means to be a Christian, the best place to look is at one of the people who Jesus said was a Christian. If you remember the thief on the cross next to Jesus ( Luke 23:39-43), Jesus promises this man that he will be with him in paradise. This man never got to go to church, and yet he is a Christian because he trusts in Jesus. So in that sense it is true to say that you don’t have to be a church goer to be a Christian. In fact as soon as you say you “have to do something” to be a Christian you are in danger of getting the gospel message wrong. However, the Bible has no concept of individual spirituality - that is Christianity is not something personal that has nothing to do with anyone else. That is a very modern way of thinking. We can see it in the above passage, the way the man expresses his trust in Jesus is that shifts his allegiances to Jesus’ kingdom. He sees that Jesus is the true king and joins his kingdom, he joins a group of people - those ruled by Jesus the king. If you are a Christian, then you are a member of God’s church. The church is now your family, and they are God’s gift to us in living Christian lives. We see this in Romans 8:28-30. Those who are saved are saved so that Jesus would be the big brother of many brothers. God is in the business of making a family (have a read of Romans . This can also be seen in the fact that most of the instructions for Christians are done in the plural, there are very few (if any) instructions to individuals. (The Greek of the NT distinguishes between singular and plural ‘you’ English doesn’t do that anymore). The Christian life was never meant to be lived solo, God has gifted each member of his church to serve one another, you can’t do that solo. It is near impossible to live a Christian life alone, it runs counter to everything God has done for us. However, some people can’t help but live alone. The thief on the cross could not join a church, he had no choice; but where we have a choice, we really should become a part of God’s church. It’s like someone who gets married, but never moves in with their husband. It is true that you can be married without living together, and there may be extreme circumstances that you can think of where someone may get married and not live together (if someone is on their death bed for example). But a real marriage involves relationship. Becoming a Christian means being a part of God’s family. So my advice for your sister-in-law is, if she can join a church near to her, she should do so. If there is nothing holding her back (and there might be legitimate reasons) she should go to church. It’s best for her and for the people who are missing out on her gifts that she may bring to that church. If there is some reason why she cannot get to or go to church then encourage her to meet regularly with other christians to read the bible and pray (after all this is what the essence of church is).

Opeomoope:
My sister-in-law does not attend church nor
have any fellowship apart from me but
believes she is a christian because she prays,
reads the bible and believes that Jesus is
Lord. But friends say she is decieved and not
a christian at all, I’m confused can you be a
christian and not go to church?
- anne
Anne,
I’m not surprised that you’re confused
because it is true to say both that you don’t
need to go to church to be a Christian and
that if you don’t go to church, you’re not a
Christian. Let me explain.
If we were to narrow down what it means
to be a Christian, the best place to look is at
one of the people who Jesus said was a
Christian. If you remember the thief on the
cross next to Jesus ( Luke 23:39-43), Jesus
promises this man that he will be with him
in paradise. This man never got to go to
church, and yet he is a Christian because he
trusts in Jesus. So in that sense it is true to
say that you don’t have to be a church goer
to be a Christian. In fact as soon as you say
you “have to do something” to be a
Christian you are in danger of getting the
gospel message wrong.
However, the Bible has no concept of
individual spirituality - that is Christianity is
not something personal that has nothing to
do with anyone else. That is a very modern
way of thinking. We can see it in the above
passage, the way the man expresses his
trust in Jesus is that shifts his allegiances to
Jesus’ kingdom. He sees that Jesus is the
true king and joins his kingdom, he joins a
group of people - those ruled by Jesus the
king.
If you are a Christian, then you are a
member of God’s church. The church is now
your family, and they are God’s gift to us in
living Christian lives. We see this in Romans
8:28-30. Those who are saved are saved so
that Jesus would be the big brother of many
brothers. God is in the business of making a
family (have a read of Romans . This can
also be seen in the fact that most of the
instructions for Christians are done in the
plural, there are very few (if any)
instructions to individuals. (The Greek of the
NT distinguishes between singular and
plural ‘you’ English doesn’t do that anymore).
The Christian life was never meant to be
lived solo, God has gifted each member of
his church to serve one another, you can’t
do that solo. It is near impossible to live a
Christian life alone, it runs counter to
everything God has done for us. However,
some people can’t help but live alone. The
thief on the cross could not join a church, he
had no choice; but where we have a choice,
we really should become a part of God’s
church.
It’s like someone who gets married, but
never moves in with their husband. It is true
that you can be married without living
together, and there may be extreme
circumstances that you can think of where
someone may get married and not live
together (if someone is on their death bed
for example). But a real marriage involves
relationship. Becoming a Christian means
being a part of God’s family.
So my advice for your sister-in-law is, if she
can join a church near to her, she should do
so. If there is nothing holding her back (and
there might be legitimate reasons) she
should go to church. It’s best for her and for
the people who are missing out on her gifts
that she may bring to that church. If there is
some reason why she cannot get to or go to
church then encourage her to meet
regularly with other christians to read the
bible and pray (after all this is what the
essence of church is).

You don't go to church, you assemble as church. Now it is not possible to be a Christian and now ignore the gathering of the saints! It is unscriptural!

read acts 17 v 23

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything

christainity is following Christ in his ways not going to church.

going to church is only a social thing, it's very good and healthy.

but it's not compulsory, after all we are the temple of the Lord.

Christianity and confusion is like 1 & 2, they claim to talk to the same Holy Spirit but they can't agree on anything

Let's ask Christian sects how to define Actual Christianity:

Methodist: It is accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior and publicly sharing that acceptance by getting baptized through sprinkling of water.

Baptist: No, no, no -- you must be DUNKED in water, heathen.

Pentecostal: Yer both wrong -- ye must be baptized by the Holy Spirit and ye must speak in tongues to prove you are saved.

Lutherans: You don't need to do any of that. Our founder said just believe and have faith (oh yeah and he REALLY hated Jews).

Presbyterian: How droll -- lol. No no..you see it does not matter what you do or do not, God has already decided who the true Christians will be and they are obviously all Presbyterians.

Episcopalians: Well, we each get to decide what constitutes Christianity. What is in your heart? What do you think it is for you? What say you, Bishop Spong?

Church of Christ: None of you are going to heaven because you use musical instruments in your services and God hates that.

Jehovah's Witness: Something Something Kingdom Hall; something something no birthdays, no blood transfusions

Seventh Day Adventist: Pah! None of you even have the right day.

United Church of Christ: It's all good; let's listen to an acoustic guitar solo and accept gay people.

Non-denominational: Gay people? ewww. No no, ye must build megachurches with gyms and cafes to be righteous to god.

Catholic: Ummm....oldest sect here, guys. Forget that "accepting Jesus" stuff. You must mediate with God via a priest and eat crackers to get saved (just do not leave your kids alone with said priests, OK?). Oh yeah..and Virgin Mary is way cool.

Church of England: Yeah, what the Catholic said...but divorce is 100% OK.
Unitarian Universalists: Why are you guys even trying to define Christianity? All beliefs are the same (whoops.we aint even Christians).

and the confusion goes on and on and on, each sect believing their sect will make heaven while others are heading to hell


our "True Christians" should visit this thread https://www.nairaland.com/3844519/meaninglessness-deep-personal-relationship-jesus and give explanation and clarifications as the spirit leads

Yes, Its possible not because it is right but because she has her own reasons when you critically look at what goes on in the church these days.

Going to church doesn't make you a Christian

Believing in God's word n doing his will is good enough for me


With the current trend of churches we have now I don't blame your in-law

.

You know, I don't blame your sister-in-law. The congregation of heathens is far better than that of Christians today.

Christians don't help themselves again. They snub themselves.. Even pastor are going into fetishcism to get to a better postion in the church. Most church goers today go there to show their expensive laces, designer wears, dating, expensive cars, seek human favor... Etc

Yet all these reasons don't justify not going to church. Face your God!

Can someone ask me why I'm still on nairaland by now?

yes you can and going to church does not guarantee you a ticket to heaven without a holy heart

all the very best oooo

Can u be a doctor in Nigeria without belonging to the MDCN, or a Lawyer with belonging to Lawyer community. Or even an accountant, welder or a vulcanizer without belonging to an association.?

This days the devil just use "serving God alone" as a ploy to deceive ignorant Christians. On Fridays come to the major roads in the North and see what is called strength in Numbers.

Remember the bible stated that "we shouldnt despise the fellowship of brethrens".

Bye

Not even going to church today

Yes, though not easy.

Who church epp?

Christianity is a confused religion. No GPS

Many people that were Christian in those days, I did not come across the church they belong to in the bible. Christianity is living Christ like life simple.

It is a wrong attitude to christinity, for he said..........wherever two or more are gathered in my name, I will come in their midst, so this question is like; can you be educated without going through school?, end time post spoted, this generation don't want to go to church again, lord help us

Yes.

Yea Christian or any religion is a belief. The fact that two ppl live together doesn't mean they are blood related just as the fact that two ppl ain't together doesn't mean they are not related. This is end time so ppl might have genuine reasons for not going to church

The Bible does not support dat, he said we shld nt neglect our fellowship with other believers. Going to Church is very important ooo

adepeter26:
Christianity is a confused religion. No GPS

Okay

Some people have unconsciously turned going to church into a tradition - they go to church to be seen, they go to church so that pastor wont talk, they go to church to see some certain people, they go to church to show their new clothes, they go to church because of their POSTS in the church.

But that is doing more harm than good to the church of Christ, when going to church becomes a tradition, members go reluctantly. There is no more enthusiasm in their heart on a Sunday morning, rather they feel like a civil servant going to work on a monday morning.

If I dont feel like going to church, I stay at home because i believe its better to be at home thinking about God that to be at church thinking about evil

why is it that is only Sunday that you people will post something related to d church is not good

Can you be a footballer and not go for training? We would more appropriately label you a sports fan.

Christianity is all about being Christ-like. Is that what Christ would do?

ask her did she​ pay her tight? did she attend passover said by jesus to remember him. how many soul has she won...... if she can't answer this question she's not a Christian....all this are practice in church.

Christianity is nt abt going to church, its abt ur attitude towards life generally....does going to church make u righteous? Most church goers go back hm wit huge sin in der hrt at times self!

It is very bad not to go to church
Remember you are opportuned to go to church but that thief wasn't...probably he has being in prison for years

K

Eleyi gidi gan o!

not going to church doesn't mean you are not a christian
We are not even worthy to enter the temple of God sef we are just worthy to praise him on the environment.