I'm a Christian But I Don't Need Church!

You are only following the spirit of the first protestants that broke with the Roman Catholic Church: for them the authority lay in their personal search for God by studying the Bible against a corrupt and wicked institutionalised church

Let your personal conscience guide you in these matter, you will come out a stronger and better person.

You can't say you don't need church:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25

And you can't despise the role of Pastors:
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. - Hebrews 13:17

That is, if you are a Christian who follows the bible.  Do you follow the bible or does your Christianity exclude that?

 this forum is becoming unbecoming. Michelin89 said she dosen't believe in God. am becoming afride of some of the members of this forum. l have said this before, let not bring religion issues here less we speak against our creator.

ye! you don't believe in God ke,oya tell me o,what do you believe in?
am thinking some one needs help..

IAH, let me tell you that there are a lot of people who feel this way.  Some say because they just don’t feel like being around people, others, because they just don’t feel like going through the process.  But let me say this: if you believe in the Bible, let’s see what it says about church:
When you become a Christian, you are called into a relationship with God: 1 Cor. 1:9 “9God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”  But 1 John 1:3 “3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” makes it clear that we enter a fellowship that goes two ways: with God and with other Christians.


You see, church is not exactly a building, rather, it’s the coming together of Christians.  We are not to forsake that because there are times in which we need each other, as a form of encouragement and fellowship.  It’s a place to share our burdens with one another and exhort one another. (Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25)


Now, when it comes to Pastor’s, Elders, Deacons, Teachers and the like you’re talking about those who were given gifts to help edify the body of Christ.  We all need one another to make up the complete body.

1 Corinthians 12 “21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

Acts 20:7 “ 7On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.”

Every time the apostle Paul comes to a town in the book of Acts where there are no Christians, he wins a few converts and immediately organizes them into a small group - a little church.  This is the way of life for Christians.  As they say “There’s strength in numbers.”  Even God himself is 3 in 1 not 1 in 1.

Hope this helps.


V

well u are a christian and as a christian u know what is right.
girl, it is written in the BIBLE that u should fellowship with other
brethren and itz not always possible in your room
so girl uv got to go to that church
well these days there are some crazy churches in town
whose principles are not based on the doctrines of the BIBLE
so get a good Bible Believing Church and go and serve GOD.

What is so unbecoming about Michelin89 not believing in God? Each with his own. If you believe in God, hold on to him and if you don't, fine! I think this is a virtual community that should accommodate people with different beliefs. So don't judge others based on their opinions or beliefs. You may try to convince her of God's existence but not in this manner!

@Vexxy, chanfb, Oracle and Idollier
If you read my reply to Seun's post, I have replied that fellowship with other believers does not necessarily mean church. Here...

@ IAH..

Babe...

What defines a "Church"... but by being a body of believers..

The mere fact that u gather with one or more believers to fellowship simply means that u are forming your own "Church" for that purpose..

We shouldnt hold on too rigidly to definitions..

People migrate from church to church seeking the face of GOD in their lives.. Sometimes, a particular church doctrine may not agree with you.. The bottom line is to study His WORD carefully, and understand it..
Your spirit will direct u as to the best place for your spiritual development.. but to grow spirutually, u do need to be with believers who would encourage u, and put you right when u're wrong.. they also provide a means of support through dificult times, especially through shared experiences (testimony)..

Follow your heart directed by the Spirit and the WORD ...

Why can't you accept that people hold different beliefs. It neither makes them better, nor worse. Follow your conscience and try to lead a good life. Morality is not the exclusive property of one or another religion.
Michelin89 has made it quite clear that she is an atheist and she should not be chastised for that

michelin89  Your belief is yours. am just wondering,do u believe in witchcraft, ghost, devil or demons oreven forces of darkeness, wickedness, forces of water or skies???

IAH, I understand what you're saying which is why I said this:


That is a church.  A church is not a building, a church is the gathering of believers.

You don't have to follow the doctrine of any pastor if you think the doctrine is not from God.
You can go to chuch for other things apart from obeying the doctrine of any pastor. Though you can praise God in your home but to be a better christain you God go to church to be lifted in spirit.

i know you aren't supporting my choice rather than the fact that you respect it!

what is so unbecoming about Michelin89 not believing in God? IAH you said, you that posted this topic at the first place for peoples opinion what do you think? If you are a true christian and believe in the holy Bible you read in your room and not in church servic then Michelin89 will be right. l havn't said that Michelin89 is evil.

IAH what l mean is that a true christian is not surpose to support the idea that there is no God irespective of religion or believe. so can you see the meaning in my post now.

interesting..

Because they love you.
Yes it is.
Are you sure you really pray in your room while others are in church? What really is stoping you from going to church?
These pastors are those representing Christ here on earth to help spread the gospel. They are otherwise known as MEN OF GOD. If you don't want to live by the doctrines of a human being, then I guess your husband (or you) will be in some real mess.

IAH claims to be a christian, she claims to read her Bible and yet doesn't believe in going to church?! Very ridiculous indeed! I guess vexxy has said it all. There's no point wasting our time..


_{P.S. Incase y'all don't know, Wesley too doesn't believe in the existence of God.}