The Bible tells us that you are to fellowship and worship with other Christians but where in the Bible does it say or imply that you are to become members of a church?

Answer 1

It says in Mt 18:17 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, Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own . 1Co 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. {have not: or, are poor?} Heb 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And almost every time Paul wrote he wrote to the church. If you are asking this question because you do not want to go to church, than I advise that you go for a month or two. and see if you change. YOUR HEART WILL CHANGE. Make sure you find a KJVbible believing church. Not that new stuff. I myself go to a Baptist church. Make sure your church is Christian, Bible based, sings Godly music that you see Christ would sing, and not a church that does that new stuff. Whilst the sentiment of the above paragraph is so right - church attendance is imperative for the Christian - the above writer has a few blinkered views about the kind of church you should attend. First, whilst the King James version of The Bible is very popular in the US, there are other translations that are equally as valid. The KJV uses old language, and is often hard to understand especially if you are a new Christian. Other valid versions include the new KJV, The New International Version, The Revised Standard Version, The Good News Bible, and even 'The Message' although this is more of a paraphrase than a traslation, but gives you an idea of what the passage may mean in very modern language. Best still is to own several Bibles and a decent commentary to get to grips with the different translations available. Avoid the 'New World' translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses as this version has been mistranslated so as to back up the skewed 'Christianity' (if that is what you call it) that the JWs proclaim. Second, the main criterion for a church belief is that it can adhere to the Creed set down by the early church to avoid heresy. Look up the Nicene Creed on the 'net. This is what all churches should believe. Churches that adhere to this include Baptists, Methodists, Anglican,. Episcopalians, Pentecostals and so on. Sadly Catholics have included other (non-biblical) doctrines that are very suspect. Avoid Christadelphians, Unitarians and jehovah's witnesses who shun the Trinity and the divinity of Christ. Thirdly, whilst it is important that a church is Bible-based, the writer above has some hang-ups about the music involved. Far more important is the worhip given to God through prayer, praise and sacrament. Modern music and worship songs are equally as valid as 'old stuff' - and, in many cases the theology behiond them is far more sound (who remembers the verse taken out of 'All things bright and beautiful' because it is heretical?). Fourthly,you go to church primarily for worship but equally for support and companionship during corporate worship. Worship alone and the worship will soon fade. Worship together with others and you will be bolstered in your faith through corporate worhip, home groups, Bible study sessions and so on. A little story to finish. A new Christian did not wish to go to church and so he was sent to a wise old man in the village. The man let him in and without saying a word he ushered him to a large open coal fire in the room. In silence they stared at the fire for some minutes, and, suddenly the old man lifted out a piece of coal from the fire, placing it on the hearth with his tongs. Very quickly the isolated piece of coal died, until it was nothing more than an ugly grey cinder. He then picked it up again and placed it with the others back in the fire. It quickly glowed red again - as bright as all the others. The new Christan looked at the old man with a tear in his eye; "I think you have answered my question," he said.