Did Jesus say that we are supposed to attend church?

[Taken]

The Apostles wrote letters to the churches throughout the region. Who were they writing to if not a church(s) that one should attend with pastors and teachers?

Surely you understand, The gathering places, were necessary, for men to gather TO HEAR the Word of God. New Testament Preaching, Was NOT YET "WRITTEN".
Jesus ... Spoke, small crowds gathered to hear.
Jesus ... Spoke, near or in Established Temples, where men Went to Hear the Word of God.
Jesus ... Chose men to Hear.. disciples, who become Apostles, (who themselves chose disciples)... and continued traveling about to Synogogs, towns, cities, countries...speaking Gods word, to crowds, announcing when and where they would be speaking...and there was no TV announcing the "news"... people orally communicated the "news'... and curious of "news", people would Gather to HEAR.

2,000 + years later...The New Testament has been written, formatted by book, chapter, verse, for ease of reference, Churches established, for the unknowing, the curious, to GO and Hear (at appointed times), and the Speakers, there With an agenda to SPEAK, the Word of God....that APPLIES, TO:
* The curious completely unknowing;
* Those who have been routinely coming to Hear, already TASTING, receiving Measures of Gods gift of Faith and PARTAKING of blessings of the Holy Spirit.... "WITH" them.
* Those who have ALREADY, become "CONVERTED", having chosen to heartfully surrender their WHOLE life to the Lord God, and RECEIVED Gods Works of:
FORGIVENESS, GIft of FAITH-FULNESS, soul saved, spirit quickened...the Holy Spirit...
"WITH and IN" them forever.
* A PASTOR...preaching ONE SERMON...
* TO: a complete MIXED CROWD...
* It is the INDIVIDUAL, who KNOWS, if he is a completely unknown Beginner, a Babe following along for a short time, a Converted man.......and WHICH PART of the Pastors' SERMON, APPLIES to them...or not.

* AND in this DAY, People do not have to "GO" stand in a crowd, "GO" to a synagogue, "GO" to a Church...to HEAR, a Sermon a Pastor has "SELECTED" to Preach.
* IN THIS DAY, People have ownership of COPIES of Scripture, in their own Homes, that on ANY DAY, ANY TIME, for ANY particular TOPIC, can open their Bible, READ for themselves, WHAT applies to THEM, and WHY, and WHAT they WANT to apply to THEM, and the WAYS and MEANS of what it takes for SOMETING TO Apply to THEM, their Family, their Children of "THEIR" Household.
* It requires no special title, educational degree, building, clothing, appointed time of day, waiting for a door to be opened, unlocked.
* It requires no trinkets, altar, statues, artwork, insense, music, water splashing, cameras, videos, microphones, marching processions, stages, stained glass....
* It simply requires a mans willingness and the Word of God.

Scripture makes it clear that Jesus built a church on a rock.

And that ROCK OF Chirst's CHURCH is CHRIST Himself:

1 Cor 10:
[4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Cornerstone Foundation, Head...
And it's "visitors" come voluntarily TO HEAR.
And it's "members" ARE in ONE ACCORD:
In True HEARTFUL Belief;
THAT Jesus "IS" THE CHRIST, The Son of the Living God.
And Every "one" who IS A "member", ARE themselves as little "stones" being one atop of the last, BUILDING UP, Christ's Spiritual Church....WITHIN men.

1 Pet 2:
[5] Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

What did he build if not a Church to attend?

A Church to Learn HOW TO BECOME a MEMBER....a lively stone upon and in the ROCK, and He the ROCK be WITH and IN a man.

But he never flat out said we must attend church.

When YOU ARE a member of Christ's Church, YOU ARE the Church...how do you NOT Attend to WHAT YOU ARE? It's daily, 24-7 you ARE the Church.
Christ's Church is Christ's Church....
His Church.
It doesn't BELONG to ownership of the Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterians, etc....
Christ's Church and the Members' thereof Belong to Christ.

However, if we are following the examples of the NT Christians we would gather on the day of the Lord giving thanks, reading Scripture, breaking bread and singing hymns.

Every day is the Lords Day, to Praise and Worship Him, Give Thanks, Bless Him, Exalt Him.
Pray without ceasing.


Glory to God,
Taken

 

[An Apologetic Sheepdog]

But I would like to see the verse that explains the Church is in individuals such as you and I.

Let me help you with this- maybe clear up some mud

Some of this has to do with 'weak" English translations of the words church/temple etc and their use in scripture.

The word Ekklesistia has multiple meanings depending on placement and tense in a passage to include an individual person (assembly or communion of the person and the Spirit), a physical building and/or a "congregation" of fellows on a common subject

Temple ( haykal) pretty much means a physical building only BUT Nahos ( another word mainly NT) translated to "temple" means dwelling. ( this is where the "body" is the temple in the sense that it contains the "Holy of Holies" that God[ The HS] lives in)

So in proper context- a "church" can be an individual, a building, an assembly ( crowd or in a facility)

A temple can be the same but has an additional qualifier.

The usage and tense really defines the meaning and context in the specific verse.

 

[Marymog]

Surely you understand, The gathering places, were necessary, for men to gather TO HEAR the Word of God. New Testament Preaching, Was NOT YET "WRITTEN".
Jesus ... Spoke, small crowds gathered to hear.
Jesus ... Spoke, near or in Established Temples, where men Went to Hear the Word of God.
Jesus ... Chose men to Hear.. disciples, who become Apostles, (who themselves chose disciples)... and continued traveling about to Synogogs, towns, cities, countries...speaking Gods word, to crowds, announcing when and where they would be speaking...and there was no TV announcing the "news"... people orally communicated the "news'... and curious of "news", people would Gather to HEAR.

Glory to God,
Taken

Hey Taken.....Surely you understand that when I said that the Apostles wrote letters to church(s) (Phillipi, Corinth, Thessolonica) that those letters WHERE “New Testement Preaching”. Those letters were read aloud to the Christians who congregated to hear not only oral tradition about Jesus but to hear the written word (Epistles) from the Apostles. Those Epistles are today what we call the New Testament. Also we KNOW that there were other letters written that we don’t have copies of sooooo I don’t understand what you mean when you say New Testement Preaching was not yet written.

I see you recognize Apostolic Succession. Most Protestants don’t.

Mary

 

[Taken]

Hey Taken.....Surely you understand that when I said that the Apostles wrote letters to church(s) (Phillipi, Corinth, Thessolonica) that those letters WHERE “New Testement Preaching”. Those letters were read aloud to the Christians who congregated to hear not only oral tradition about Jesus but to hear the written word (Epistles) from the Apostles. Those Epistles are today what we call the New Testament. Also we KNOW that there were other letters written that we don’t have copies of sooooo I don’t understand what you mean when you say New Testement Preaching was not yet written.

I see you recognize Apostolic Succession. Most Protestants don’t.

Mary

Funny you say I didn't recognize succession, when I clearly expounded on succession.

You appear to STOP short, that forever you must be in the "following" appointed others, and never taking on the role of SPEAKING with authority the Word of God.

 

[Marymog]

Funny you say I didn't recognize succession, when I clearly expounded on succession.

You appear to STOP short, that forever you must be in the "following" appointed others, and never taking on the role of SPEAKING with authority the Word of God.

Read it again. I said you DID recognize succession ;)

 

[Marymog]

* AND in this DAY, People do not have to "GO" stand in a crowd, "GO" to a synagogue, "GO" to a Church...to HEAR, a Sermon a Pastor has "SELECTED" to Preach.
* IN THIS DAY, People have ownership of COPIES of Scripture, in their own Homes, that on ANY DAY, ANY TIME, for ANY particular TOPIC, can open their Bible, READ for themselves, WHAT applies to THEM, and WHY, and WHAT they WANT to apply to THEM, and the WAYS and MEANS of what it takes for SOMETING TO Apply to THEM, their Family, their Children of "THEIR" Household.
* It requires no special title, educational degree, building, clothing, appointed time of day, waiting for a door to be opened, unlocked.
* It requires no trinkets, altar, statues, artwork, insense, music, water splashing, cameras, videos, microphones, marching processions, stages, stained glass....
* It simply requires a mans willingness and the Word of God.


Glory to God,
Taken

Your theory is interesting. You do know that for the 1st 300+ years of Christianity men disagreed on what was inspired or Scripture? AND people didn’t have “COPIES of Scripture in their homes” for the first 1,600+ years of Christianity since the printing press hadn’t been invented yet and hand written copies were so expensive only churches and the rich had bibles sooooo the average Christian didn’t have a bible they could “READ for themselves”. That means for the first 1,600 years of Christianity Christians couldn’t meet YOUR requirements to figure out what “apply to THEM, their Family, their Children of THEIR Household”. Also Scripture doesn’t say that each individual family can decide what Scripture means to them and their household. It says completely OPPOSITE of that. Putting all that together means your theory is historically and Scripturally bankrupt. Who taught you this?

 

[An Apologetic Sheepdog]

Also Scripture doesn’t say that each individual family can decide what Scripture means to them and their household. It says completely OPPOSITE of that.

What verse says the opposite of that?

More specifically, what verse says we subjugate ourselves to the RCC?

 

[ChristisGod]

Thanks in advance.

Church attendance is not just a “good suggestion”; it is God’s will for believers. Hebrews 10:25 says we should “not [be] 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.” Even in the early church, some were falling into the bad habit of not meeting with other believers. The author of Hebrews says that’s not the way to go. We need the encouragement that church attendance affords. And the approach of the end times should prompt us to be even more devoted to going to church.

Church is the place where believers can love one another (1 John 4:12), encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13), “spur” one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), honor one another (Romans 12:10), and be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32).

When a person trusts Jesus Christ for salvation, he or she is made a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). For a church body to function properly, all of its “body parts” need to be present and working (1 Corinthians 12:14–20). It’s not enough to just attend a church; we should be involved in some type of ministry to others, using the spiritual gifts God has given us (Ephesians 4:11–13). A believer will never reach full spiritual maturity without having that outlet for his gifts, and we all need the assistance and encouragement of other believers (1 Corinthians 12:21–26).

For these reasons and more, church attendance, participation, and fellowship should be regular aspects of a believer’s life. Weekly church attendance is in no sense “required” for believers, but someone who belongs to Christ should have a desire to worship God, receive His Word, and fellowship with other believers.

Jesus is the Cornerstone of the Church (1 Peter 2:6), and we are “like living stones . . . being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). As the building materials of God’s “spiritual house,” we naturally have a connection with one another, and that connection is evident every time the Church “goes to church.”got?

hope this helps !!!

 

[ChristisGod]

What about the person that lives far away from a local church or in a place where it is against the law ?

There are many areas of the world where restrictions are placed on Christians in regard to when, where, and how they may worship. In some countries, Christian worship in any form is not permitted, and some repressive governments arrest and kill Christians simply for declaring or exercising their faith. Christians who live in such areas must expend considerable effort to ensure they will continue to grow and mature in the faith while away from any kind of church atmosphere and in a country hostile to God.

For the Christian in a country that allows possession of a Bible or Bible study material, diligent, daily study of the Word is essential, especially if fellowship with other Christians isn’t possible. It’s essential to spend time each day personally studying God’s Word and praying. For believers in countries where Bibles are outlawed, the internet may help. Numerous websites provide access to the Bible. There are even online fellowship groups for believers to communicate and encourage one another. Radio broadcasts that teach God’s Word are also available in most countries around the world, even if they have to be aired via shortwave from great distances.

Finding other believers in a restricted area can be the beginning of an “underground” home group for believers to get together to study God’s Word and pray. The home church movement in China has produced a strong and vibrant community of Christians facing persecution. Those who have started underground home groups in the Middle East have found a tremendous hunger for God’s Word among English-speaking foreign workers living in their area. These faithful believers rotate the meeting’s location each week, keep invitations to word-of-mouth only, and grow tremendously in their faith during difficult and hostile times.

Nothing can separate a child of God from the love of God in Christ (Romans 8:38-39). Even when a Christian is isolated from other believers, he or she can maintain a close relationship with the Lord, and God will encourage and strengthen him or her. Believers have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit who resides within us (Ephesians 1:13–14), and He is the Comforter who will help us through threatening situations. The history of Christianity is filled with stories of believers who maintained strong faith under the worst persecution and isolation imaginable. The power of the Holy Spirit within believers should never be underestimated.got?

hope this helps !!!

 

[Truman]

We, the congregation of Christ, are instructed by the writer of Hebrews to keep meeting together so we can encourage each other.
I suspect that, at least in part, we are told to show up on Sundays so our denominational leaders can continue to collect your tithe, which, by the way, isn't instructed by the new covenant.
Some leaders say that if you don't tithe, you'll lose your salvation, though I think, in reality, the only thing that you'll lose is your seat.

 

[Marymog]

What verse says the opposite of that?

More specifically, what verse says we subjugate ourselves to the RCC?

Hi Sheepdog,

1st off show me a verse that says each individual family can decide what Scripture means to them and their household. You can’t so there is one bible lesson for ya.

2nd I will happily teach you Scripture: 2 Peter 1:20–21, 2 Peter 3:16, James 3:1.

Bible Study Mary

 

[An Apologetic Sheepdog]

1st off show me a verse that says each individual family can decide what Scripture means to them and their household. You can’t so there is one bible lesson for ya.

The Spirit (present in every believer) does that ( the Spirit of truth)for those who diligently seek Him and yes i just did give you the correct answer and nowhere in that is the RCC.

2nd I will happily teach you Scripture: 2 Peter 1:20–21, 2 Peter 3:16, James 3:1.

Who is going to teach you first?

You are still in the less than nothing crowd- you have to expunge all the RCC false teachings just to reach zero where you can be taught.

 

[Taken]

Your theory is interesting. You do know that for the 1st 300+ years of Christianity men disagreed on what was inspired or Scripture?

Ofcourse. Teachers, Speakers, Clerics most often had Scribes (ie Sectetaries) doing the writing while the Speaker spoke to the crowds, and then Recorders, Wrote the Scribes words on Parchment scrolls. It wasn't only Prophets who had Scribes, so did kings.
Point being, someone was deciding, how to formulate the Scribes "notes" into a readable formate.
And anyone in the crowd listening could hire a Scribe to write what they heard, so there are writings that were never part of Scripture. Then to consider how writings were kept, handed down, sold, etc.

AND people didn’t have “COPIES of Scripture in their homes” for the first 1,600+ years of Christianity since the printing press hadn’t been invented yet and hand written copies were so expensive only churches and the rich had bibles sooooo the average Christian didn’t have a bible they could “READ for themselves”.

Of course, well aware. In addition, many could not read, even up to the 20th century.

That means for the first 1,600 years of Christianity Christians couldn’t meet YOUR requirements to figure out what “apply to THEM, their Family, their Children of THEIR Household”.

Personally, my ancestors, by letters I have, were reading and writing in the mid - 1600's. Into the 1700's, I also have many letters, and family Bibles, and copy's of a long history of college degree certificates, from the 1880's to present. So I am very familiar with my family's (maternal and paternal) educations, Spiritual Beliefs, occupations, and services.

Also Scripture doesn’t say that each individual family can decide what Scripture means to them and their household. It says completely OPPOSITE of that. Putting all that together means your theory is historically and Scripturally bankrupt. Who taught you this?

Scripture! Which doesn't matter you think it a "theory"... I trust this:
1) God is All knowing.
2) 1 Cor 2:
[11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? [/B] even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Which is to say...WHO entirely knows a man, but the man himself and God.

How do you think anyone else is qualified to determine what Scripture Applies to me, except me?
I know what I think, believe, reject, accept, commit to and do and do not do;
which IS what determines WHAT Scripture Applies to me.

If you tell me you are a die-Hard Catholic, I can read the Catechism, and know step by step what you think, believe, accept, reject, commit to, do, do not do....by the format pronounced by a handful of men who have decided for you all those things, Because a die-hard Catholics allegience IS to their church.
My allegience above all IS to my Lord God...

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[Taken]

Hey Taken.....Surely you understand that when I said that the Apostles wrote letters to church(s) (Phillipi, Corinth, Thessolonica) that those letters WHERE “New Testement Preaching”. Those letters were read aloud to the Christians who congregated to hear not only oral tradition about Jesus but to hear the written word (Epistles) from the Apostles. Those Epistles are today what we call the New Testament. Also we KNOW that there were other letters written that we don’t have copies of sooooo I don’t understand what you mean when you say New Testement Preaching was not yet written.

I see you recognize Apostolic Succession. Most Protestants don’t.

Mary

I don’t understand what you mean when you say New Testement Preaching was not yet written.

Meaning they were Preaching from OT Scripture AND Oral Preaching the NT and years later were the "scribes" and "Apostles" letters being assembled "into" books.
Yes agree, copies made (by hand) distributed. And many many years later, before the public at large nearly all have a copy of the Book of Scriptures.

Mid 1400's invention of printing press, made books available in small quantity and not everyone could afford...To date, approx.,
5 Billion Bibles have been received into the hands of the people...(bought or gifted).
Pretty Phenomenal.

 

[robert derrick]

Thanks in advance.

Christians are to believe and to stand by the hearing of the Gospel preached according to Scripture:

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

You're welcome.

 

[robert derrick]

People who stand by attending church are not standing by faith in Jesus, but by attending church.

We 'go to church' to hear the gospel of the cross preached according to Scripture, and if it is not, but another gospel is preached without scripture, than they are gathering together for the worse, than the better. (1 Cor 11:7)

Ministry by which we stand begins in the home (Deut 6:7), and continues in places of assembly.

A strong Christian church begins with strong Christian homes, where Christians are made strong in the Word. (1 John 2:14)

 

[FHII]

1 Cor 3:
[16] Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
[17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Glory to God,
Taken

Fair enough... I really don't see that verse saying the Church is in an individual person since God called the Body of Christ (aka the Church) one body with many members, though.

I don't see anything too wrong with someone saying "the church is in me", except when they do so for not going to Church.

 

[FHII]

I suspect that, at least in part, we are told to show up on Sundays so our denominational leaders can continue to collect your tithe, which, by the way, isn't instructed by the new covenant.

Some verses may surprise you... Jesus said we ought to give tithes (Matt 23:23). That was still under the law... But Paul did say to prepare an offering on the first day of the week (1 Cor 16:2).

 

[FHII]

Let me help you with this- maybe clear up some mud

Some of this has to do with 'weak" English translations of the words church/temple etc and their use in scripture.

The word Ekklesistia has multiple meanings depending on placement and tense in a passage to include an individual person (assembly or communion of the person and the Spirit), a physical building and/or a "congregation" of fellows on a common subject

Temple ( haykal) pretty much means a physical building only BUT Nahos ( another word mainly NT) translated to "temple" means dwelling. ( this is where the "body" is the temple in the sense that it contains the "Holy of Holies" that God[ The HS] lives in)

So in proper context- a "church" can be an individual, a building, an assembly ( crowd or in a facility)

A temple can be the same but has an additional qualifier.

The usage and tense really defines the meaning and context in the specific verse.

I appreciate your effort, but I still do not see it as a reason that one individual can call himself "the Church" or say the Church is in him for the purpose of saying goi g to Church isn't necessary. There is just too many verses -- Old and New Testament, both -- that express the need and reasoning for gathering our physical bodies together.

 

[Truman]

Some verses may surprise you... Jesus said we ought to give tithes (Matt 23:23). Jesus only told Jews who were under the old covenant to tithe...He would've broke the Law if He'd said otherwise. They were still under the law... But Paul did say to prepare an offering on the first day of the week (1 Cor 16:2).

Showing up on Sundays to collect offerings is great. It's not the Sabbath. I'm not talking Sabbath law here. Treating offerings like they are part of the Old Covenant is wrong. See 2 Cor. 8&9
Too many church leaders take from both the old and new Covenants, according to their need. Telling someone that God'll punish them if they don't tithe is wrong. Though stinginess towards God can bring a curse.