Do You Have to Go to Church to Be a Christian?

[Jack]

Does salvation depend on faith alone or faith plus participation in church life?

1. What the New Testament says about salvation​

Every passage that directly explains how a person is saved points to one thing:

Faith in the Son and His resurrection.

Examples:

• Romans 10:9–10 — believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead
• John 3:16 — believing in the Son
• Ephesians 2:8–9 — grace through faith, “not of works”
• John 5:24 — hearing and believing
• Acts 16:31 — “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved”

None of these add:

• church attendance
• participation in church programs
• membership
• sacraments
• rituals
• denominational involvement

Salvation is faith, not faith plus anything.

2. What the New Testament says about church life​

Church life is described as:

• fellowship
• encouragement
• mutual strengthening
• sharing burdens
• building one another up
• gathering in various forms

These things are good, healthy, and beneficial — but they are never listed as conditions for salvation.

They are fruits of faith, not prerequisites for salvation.

3. The early church proves the point​

For the first 300 years:

• no church buildings
• no weekly “services” as we know them
• believers met in homes, courtyards, and small groups

If salvation or Christian living required participation in a modern church structure, then the entire early church failed the requirement.

4. Hebrews 10:25 is about avoiding isolation, not earning salvation​

“Do not forsake assembling” means:

• don’t isolate yourself
• stay connected to other believers
• encourage one another

It does not say:

• “Attend a weekly service or you’re not saved”
• “Church participation is part of salvation”

The verse is about spiritual health, not salvation requirements.

5. The biblical distinction​

Salvation: Faith in the Son, believing God raised Him from the dead.

Christian growth: Fellowship, community, encouragement, walking in the Spirit.

These are related, but not the same.

Final answer​

Salvation = faith in Christ alone. Church life = beneficial for growth, but not a salvation requirement.

What is the MOST important doctrine in the NT Matt?

 

[David Lamb]

I get what you’re trying to separate — salvation vs. Christian living — but I think you’re still adding a requirement the New Testament never actually makes.

You said:


The issue is that Scripture never says that either.

1. “Iron sharpens iron” isn’t a church‑attendance command. Proverbs 27:17 describes relationships, not a building or weekly service. Fellowship is absolutely part of Christian life — but fellowship ≠ institutional church attendance.

Two believers sharpening each other in a living room fulfills that verse just as much as a Sunday service.

2. The New Testament never defines Christian maturity as “attending church.” It defines it as:

• walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:16)
• loving one another (John 13:35)
• living in alignment with Christ’s teachings (John 14:15)
• carrying each other’s burdens (Gal 6:2)
• building one another up (1 Thess 5:11)

All of these can happen in homes, friendships, small groups, or any gathering of believers. None of them require a modern church structure.

3. The early church didn’t have church buildings for 300 years. Yet they lived the Christian life fully. They met:

• in homes
• in courtyards
• in small groups
• in daily fellowship

If “living the Christian life requires church attendance,” then the entire early church failed the requirement.

But that is the problem. English uses the same word "church" both for the Christians who are church members, and for the building where some Christians meet. In the bible, "church" never means a physical building. So "the entire early church" did meet together to worship God and hear His word preached. We find Christians meeting together in such a way in the New Testament, The fact that they didn't meet in buildings set aside for the purpose, but in homes or in the open air makes no difference. We have reference to such meetings together in the Bible. Just two examples:

(1Co 11:18) For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

(Act 11:25) Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.
(Act 11:26) And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

 

[MatthewG]

But that is the problem. English uses the same word "church" both for the Christians who are church members, and for the building where some Christians meet. In the bible, "church" never means a physical building. So "the entire early church" did meet together to worship God and hear His word preached. We find Christians meeting together in such a way in the New Testament, The fact that they didn't meet in buildings set aside for the purpose, but in homes or in the open air makes no difference. We have reference to such meetings together in the Bible. Just two examples:

(1Co 11:18) For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

(Act 11:25) Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.
(Act 11:26) And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

I understand what you’re saying, and I agree that the English word church gets used in two different ways. But that’s exactly the issue I’m pointing out. In Scripture, ekklesia never refers to a building or an institution — only to the people themselves.

When Paul says “when you come together as a church” (1 Cor 11:18), he isn’t describing a weekly service in a designated location. He’s describing believers gathering as the people of God, not attending something at a specific place. The same is true in Acts 11 — Barnabas and Saul met with the believers in Antioch, but the text doesn’t describe a structured service or a formalized system. It simply says they assembled with the believers and taught them.

The early gatherings were flexible, relational, and centered on Christ, not on a model or a building. Homes, courtyards, open spaces — wherever believers were together, that was the ekklesia. The location didn’t define the gathering; the people did.

So yes, the early believers met together. But they didn’t meet in anything resembling the modern church system, nor did they treat a building or a weekly ritual as the defining mark of Christian life. The New Testament emphasis is always on the people, the fellowship, and the shared life in Christ — not on a place or a format.

That’s the distinction I’m trying to make.

 

[rockytopva]

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 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.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, - Hebrews 10

Church people not good? You can at least go and set an example.

 

[MatthewG]

I’m not against assembling with believers — Hebrews 10:24–25 is about encouraging one another, not about attending a modern church service. The early believers met in homes, shared meals, prayed together, and supported each other daily. That’s the kind of assembling the passage is talking about.

What it isn’t talking about is joining an institution or sitting in a building once a week.

And the warning in verse 26 isn’t about “missing church.” It’s about people who willfully rejected Christ after receiving the truth — a very specific first‑century context tied to the Day that was approaching for them.

As for “church people not good? You can at least go and set an example” — the issue isn’t whether people are good or bad. It’s about priorities. My priority is following Yeshua, walking in love, and living in the kingdom He calls us into. That doesn’t require a building or a religious system. It requires sincerity, transformation, and truth.

I’m not avoiding believers. I’m avoiding the idea that Christianity is defined by attending a service instead of living a life shaped by the Spirit.

 

[MatthewG]

Hebrews 10:24–26 Is One of the Most Misused Passages in Modern Church Culture​

Hebrews 10:24–26 says:

“Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together… For if we sin wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins.”

This passage gets weaponized more than almost any other. People use it to guilt others into attending a building, to keep numbers up, or to pressure believers with fear about Jesus returning and sending them to hell if they aren’t “right with God” according to that church’s standards. But that is not what the writer of Hebrews is talking about.

1. “Assembling” is about mutual encouragement, not mandatory attendance​

The text says to “consider one another” and “provoke to love and good works.” The focus is on believers supporting each other, not on maintaining a weekly attendance record. The early believers met in homes, fields, riversides, and wherever they could. The point was fellowship, not a building.

Yeshua never commanded church attendance. What He did command was to believe on the Son of God and to love your neighbor as yourself. That’s the heart of the Kingdom.

2. The warning is about rejecting Christ, not missing a service​

Verse 26 is often twisted into a threat: “If you don’t come to church, you’re sinning willfully and there’s no more sacrifice for you.” That is spiritual manipulation.

The actual context of Hebrews is about people abandoning Christ entirely and returning to the old sacrificial system. The “willful sin” is rejecting the only sacrifice that saves. It is not about missing a Sunday morning.

3. Fear‑based preaching is not the gospel​

Some use this passage to keep people afraid:

“Jesus is coming back any minute, and if you’re not in church, you’re in danger.”

That’s not scripture. That’s control.

Yahavah does not operate through fear tactics. Perfect love casts out fear. The gospel is not “Come to our building or God hates you.” The gospel is that Yeshua has opened the way to the Father, and those who trust Him walk in freedom, not bondage.

4. Abuse happens when people use scripture to maintain power​

You’re right to call out that some leaders either misunderstand this passage or understand it and still use it to keep people dependent on the institution. When someone adds man‑made requirements to the gospel, they place burdens on others that God never commanded.

Jesus came to set people free from the bondage others place on them. He confronted religious leaders who used fear, guilt, and tradition to control people. Nothing has changed.

5. The real purpose of this passage is encouragement, not coercion​

The writer of Hebrews is saying:

Let’s encourage each other. Let’s stay strong in the faith. Let’s not abandon Christ for something else. Let’s walk together in love and good works.

That’s it. No threats. No manipulation. No attendance quotas.

6. And yes—debate threads attract people who want to fight​

One of the reasons to post this in a debate thread is because that’s where people who love to argue gather. But the point isn’t to fight. It’s to clarify truth and warn about the damage caused when scripture is misused to control others.

You’re not attacking the faith. You’re defending it from distortion. You’re warning about the dangerous impact that fear‑based religion can have on people’s minds, hearts, and freedom.

 

[rockytopva]

Hebrews 10:24–26 Is One of the Most Misused Passages in Modern Church Culture​

Hebrews 10:24–26 says:

“Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together… For if we sin wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins.”

This passage gets weaponized more than almost any other. People use it to guilt others into attending a building, to keep numbers up, or to pressure believers with fear about Jesus returning and sending them to hell if they aren’t “right with God” according to that church’s standards. But that is not what the writer of Hebrews is talking about.

1. “Assembling” is about mutual encouragement, not mandatory attendance​

The text says to “consider one another” and “provoke to love and good works.” The focus is on believers supporting each other, not on maintaining a weekly attendance record. The early believers met in homes, fields, riversides, and wherever they could. The point was fellowship, not a building.

Yeshua never commanded church attendance. What He did command was to believe on the Son of God and to love your neighbor as yourself. That’s the heart of the Kingdom.

2. The warning is about rejecting Christ, not missing a service​

Verse 26 is often twisted into a threat: “If you don’t come to church, you’re sinning willfully and there’s no more sacrifice for you.” That is spiritual manipulation.

The actual context of Hebrews is about people abandoning Christ entirely and returning to the old sacrificial system. The “willful sin” is rejecting the only sacrifice that saves. It is not about missing a Sunday morning.

3. Fear‑based preaching is not the gospel​

Some use this passage to keep people afraid:

“Jesus is coming back any minute, and if you’re not in church, you’re in danger.”

That’s not scripture. That’s control.

Yahavah does not operate through fear tactics. Perfect love casts out fear. The gospel is not “Come to our building or God hates you.” The gospel is that Yeshua has opened the way to the Father, and those who trust Him walk in freedom, not bondage.

4. Abuse happens when people use scripture to maintain power​

You’re right to call out that some leaders either misunderstand this passage or understand it and still use it to keep people dependent on the institution. When someone adds man‑made requirements to the gospel, they place burdens on others that God never commanded.

Jesus came to set people free from the bondage others place on them. He confronted religious leaders who used fear, guilt, and tradition to control people. Nothing has changed.

5. The real purpose of this passage is encouragement, not coercion​

The writer of Hebrews is saying:

Let’s encourage each other. Let’s stay strong in the faith. Let’s not abandon Christ for something else. Let’s walk together in love and good works.

That’s it. No threats. No manipulation. No attendance quotas.

6. And yes—debate threads attract people who want to fight​

One of the reasons to post this in a debate thread is because that’s where people who love to argue gather. But the point isn’t to fight. It’s to clarify truth and warn about the damage caused when scripture is misused to control others.

You’re not attacking the faith. You’re defending it from distortion. You’re warning about the dangerous impact that fear‑based religion can have on people’s minds, hearts, and freedom.

Will you get an "atta boy" after living a life like that?

 

[MatthewG]

Will you get an "atta boy" after living a life like that?

???

 

[MatthewG]

Hebrews 10:24–26 Is One of the Most Misused Passages in Modern Church Culture​

Hebrews 10:24–26 says:

“Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together… For if we sin wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins.”

This passage gets weaponized more than almost any other. People use it to guilt others into attending a building, to keep numbers up, or to pressure believers with fear about Jesus returning and sending them to hell if they aren’t “right with God” according to that church’s standards. But that is not what the writer of Hebrews is talking about.

1. “Assembling” is about mutual encouragement, not mandatory attendance​

The text says to “consider one another” and “provoke to love and good works.” The focus is on believers supporting each other, not on maintaining a weekly attendance record. The early believers met in homes, fields, riversides, and wherever they could. The point was fellowship, not a building.

Yeshua never commanded church attendance. What He did command was to believe on the Son of God and to love your neighbor as yourself. That’s the heart of the Kingdom.

2. The warning is about rejecting Christ, not missing a service​

Verse 26 is often twisted into a threat: “If you don’t come to church, you’re sinning willfully and there’s no more sacrifice for you.” That is spiritual manipulation.

The actual context of Hebrews is about people abandoning Christ entirely and returning to the old sacrificial system. The “willful sin” is rejecting the only sacrifice that saves. It is not about missing a Sunday morning.

3. Fear‑based preaching is not the gospel​

Some use this passage to keep people afraid:

“Jesus is coming back any minute, and if you’re not in church, you’re in danger.”

That’s not scripture. That’s control.

Yahavah does not operate through fear tactics. Perfect love casts out fear. The gospel is not “Come to our building or God hates you.” The gospel is that Yeshua has opened the way to the Father, and those who trust Him walk in freedom, not bondage.

4. Abuse happens when people use scripture to maintain power​

You’re right to call out that some leaders either misunderstand this passage or understand it and still use it to keep people dependent on the institution. When someone adds man‑made requirements to the gospel, they place burdens on others that God never commanded.

Jesus came to set people free from the bondage others place on them. He confronted religious leaders who used fear, guilt, and tradition to control people. Nothing has changed.

5. The real purpose of this passage is encouragement, not coercion​

The writer of Hebrews is saying:

Let’s encourage each other. Let’s stay strong in the faith. Let’s not abandon Christ for something else. Let’s walk together in love and good works.

That’s it. No threats. No manipulation. No attendance quotas.

6. And yes—debate threads attract people who want to fight​

One of the reasons to post this in a debate thread is because that’s where people who love to argue gather. But the point isn’t to fight. It’s to clarify truth and warn about the damage caused when scripture is misused to control others.

You’re not attacking the faith. You’re defending it from distortion. You’re warning about the dangerous impact that fear‑based religion can have on people’s minds, hearts, and freedom.

This information is true… I worry for people. And don’t want them to be spiritually abused or mistreated.

 

[Grailhunter]

Hey there @MatthewG

If someone said that you cannot be a Christian if you do not go to church, I would disagree.
If someone said that it is not important to go to church, I would disagree.
If someone said that scriptures do not tell us to go to church. I would disagree.
“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?" Luke 6:46

As people have pointed out, in the NT the word church means congregation. No church buildings in the biblical era. No church buildings until the 4th century. Back then they meet in people's homes---called house churches or in the catacombs or out in the wilderness. And they risked their lives to gather and worship the Lord. Now a days you need a cattle prod to get people to go to church. During Yeshua's ministry He attended the synagogues and the Temple and so did the Apostle Paul. Paul attended synagogues and with congregations.

Now a days we have churches everywhere. Certainly a serious Christian can take 2 hours to gather with Christians and worship the Lord.

Some people go to people's homes to hold church or hold church in their homes which is ok. And some people are disabled and cannot go often. For them they can watch church services on their television. Then some people say they are too busy to go to church. On judgment Day they will be explaining that to a God that was horribly tortured and crucified for them....and see how that goes over.

But to say there is no need to go to church or the Bible does not say we should go to church, that is false. For one thing you have tradition, it has always been Christian tradition to go to church. In the scriptures the Apostle Paul talked about going to church and the conduct when you do. In Paul's letters to churches he talked about meeting with them. The storyline and history of the church was never to hear the word and go on your own.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. Luke 4:16

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
Acts 20:7

There is an old saying----You are not what you say you are, you are what you do. People do what is important to them and God sees that.

 

[Lambano]

But that is the problem. English uses the same word "church" both for the Christians who are church members, and for the building where some Christians meet. In the bible, "church" never means a physical building.

I have seen newer Bible translations that translate the Greek word "ekklesia" as "assembly" rather than "church".

That's linguistically more accurate and also ties in with the Old Testament better.

 

[Lambano]

I've found that being a member of the institutional church (or a church that ought to be institutionalized) has given me opportunities to serve that I might not have otherwise. However, even though I am an active member of a brick-and-mortar church, right now I don't feel connected to the church. I remember those times when I did feel that connection to the Body of Christ, and I miss it.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Feelings don't count. Nevertheless, it is what is.

 

[MatthewG]

Hey there @MatthewG

If someone said that you cannot be a Christian if you do not go to church, I would disagree.
If someone said that it is not important to go to church, I would disagree.
If someone said that scriptures do not tell us to go to church. I would disagree.
“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?" Luke 6:46

As people have pointed out, in the NT the word church means congregation. No church buildings in the biblical era. No church buildings until the 4th century. Back then they meet in people's homes---called house churches or in the catacombs or out in the wilderness. And they risked their lives to gather and worship the Lord. Now a days you need a cattle prod to get people to go to church. During Yeshua's ministry He attended the synagogues and the Temple and so did the Apostle Paul. Paul attended synagogues and with congregations.

Now a days we have churches everywhere. Certainly a serious Christian can take 2 hours to gather with Christians and worship the Lord.

Some people go to people's homes to hold church or hold church in their homes which is ok. And some people are disabled and cannot go often. For them they can watch church services on their television. Then some people say they are too busy to go to church. On judgment Day they will be explaining that to a God that was horribly tortured and crucified for them....and see how that goes over.

But to say there is no need to go to church or the Bible does not say we should go to church, that is false. For one thing you have tradition, it has always been Christian tradition to go to church. In the scriptures the Apostle Paul talked about going to church and the conduct when you do. In Paul's letters to churches he talked about meeting with them. The storyline and history of the church was never to hear the word and go on your own.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. Luke 4:16

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
Acts 20:7

There is an old saying----You are not what you say you are, you are what you do. People do what is important to them and God sees that.

Hey friend, I appreciate the heart behind what you’re saying. You’re clearly trying to honor God, and I respect that. I also agree with you on several points — fellowship matters, gathering matters, and the early believers absolutely met together. No disagreement there.

Where I think we may be talking past each other is this: There’s a difference between saying gathering is good and saying it is a requirement for salvation or a measure of whether someone is truly a Christian.

That’s the part I can’t agree with, because Scripture doesn’t teach that.

You mentioned tradition, and you’re right — Christians have gathered for centuries. But tradition is not the same thing as command. The early church gathered in homes, courtyards, fields, and wherever they could. They didn’t have a “church service” model like we do today, and the Bible never equates salvation with attending a weekly meeting.

Hebrews 10:25 encourages believers not to abandon fellowship — absolutely. But it doesn’t say, “You must attend a modern church building every Sunday or you’re disobedient.” It says don’t isolate yourself. That can happen in a home, online, in a small group, or with two or three gathered in His name.

Yeshua attended synagogues — yes. But He also taught on mountains, in boats, in homes, and in fields. He never commanded, “You must attend a weekly service to be My disciple.”

Paul met with believers — yes. But he also said:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith… not of works.” (Eph. 2:8–9) Church attendance is a work. A good one — but still a work.

So when someone says:

• “You’re not a Christian if you don’t go to church,” or
• “The Bible commands weekly church attendance,”

that’s where I have to gently say: that’s not what Scripture teaches.

Gathering is good. Fellowship is good. Encouraging one another is good. But salvation is in Christ alone, not in a building, a schedule, or a tradition.

And you’re right — people do what’s important to them. But God looks at the heart, not the attendance sheet. Some people gather in homes. Some gather online. Some gather in small groups. Some are disabled. Some are persecuted. Some are alone in their faith. God sees all of that.

I’m not arguing against gathering. I’m simply saying what the Bible says: Gathering is beneficial, but it is not the requirement for being a Christian. Faith in the Son of God is.

Much love and respect to you. I appreciate the conversation and your desire to point people toward Christ.

 

[MatthewG]

Besides, most people would say I’m not a Christian anyway since I believe Jesus already returned and gathered the Bride. That’s fine — I’m used to people disagreeing with me.

Let’s be real: if I walked into most churches and started talking about these things, people would look at me like I’m speaking another language. Some would even condemn me or assume I’m trying to stir up trouble.

“Get that guy out of here, he’s a lost cause.” I’ve heard that kind of attitude before.

I’ve been in churches. I know how it goes. And honestly, I don’t care for the church system anymore — but I still care about people. Deeply. My issue isn’t with individuals; it’s with environments where certain beliefs get shut down before anyone even listens, or where people start putting burdens on others that Jesus never put on them.

Things like making tithing a requirement, or acting like you’re less spiritual if you don’t follow their checklist — that’s exactly the kind of weight Jesus spoke against. He called out the Pharisees for tying heavy loads onto people’s backs while not lifting a finger to help.

And then there are churches that require membership contracts. If you don’t go along with their procedures, their rules, their structure — you’re out. Some places will literally remove you from the membership roll or tell you not to come back if you don’t fit their mold. That’s not the freedom Christ talked about. That’s a system protecting itself.

I’m not against fellowship or community. I’m not against believers gathering. I’m just not going to pretend that every church is a safe place for honest conversation, or for people who see Scripture differently, or for people who refuse to live under man‑made burdens.

I care about people. I just don’t care for systems that crush them.

 

[MatthewG]

I've found that being a member of the institutional church (or a church that ought to be institutionalized) has given me opportunities to serve that I might not have otherwise. However, even though I am an active member of a brick-and-mortar church, right now I don't feel connected to the church. I remember those times when I did feel that connection to the Body of Christ, and I miss it.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Feelings don't count. Nevertheless, it is what is.

I hear you, Lambano. What you shared is honest, and honestly, a lot of people feel the same way but don’t say it out loud. Being part of a church can definitely open doors to serve and bless others — that’s a beautiful thing. But that doesn’t automatically guarantee that sense of connection to the Body of Christ.

And you’re right: feelings aren’t the foundation of faith. But they do tell us something about where we are and what we’re longing for. Missing that sense of connection doesn’t make you weak or unspiritual — it just means you’re human, and you remember what real fellowship feels like.

Sometimes people can be active in a church and still feel alone. Other times, people outside the institutional structure feel more connected to Christ than they ever did inside it. Seasons shift. Hearts shift. And God meets us in all of it.

The fact that you want that connection again says a lot. It shows your heart is alive, paying attention, and still longing for the things of God. That’s not something to dismiss. That’s something to pay attention to.

You’re not failing. You’re not “less than.” You’re just being honest about where you are — and that’s a good place to start. God knows how to reconnect His people in ways that go deeper than buildings, programs, or routines.

You’re not alone in this, and you’re not off track. Sometimes the feeling of disconnection is actually the beginning of a deeper connection forming in a new way.

 

[David Lamb]

I understand what you’re saying, and I agree that the English word church gets used in two different ways. But that’s exactly the issue I’m pointing out. In Scripture, ekklesia never refers to a building or an institution — only to the people themselves.

When Paul says “when you come together as a church” (1 Cor 11:18), he isn’t describing a weekly service in a designated location. He’s describing believers gathering as the people of God, not attending something at a specific place. The same is true in Acts 11 — Barnabas and Saul met with the believers in Antioch, but the text doesn’t describe a structured service or a formalized system. It simply says they assembled with the believers and taught them.

The early gatherings were flexible, relational, and centered on Christ, not on a model or a building. Homes, courtyards, open spaces — wherever believers were together, that was the ekklesia. The location didn’t define the gathering; the people did.

So yes, the early believers met together. But they didn’t meet in anything resembling the modern church system, nor did they treat a building or a weekly ritual as the defining mark of Christian life. The New Testament emphasis is always on the people, the fellowship, and the shared life in Christ — not on a place or a format.

That’s the distinction I’m trying to make.

I see what you mean, but whether they met in a home or in the open air, they all had to know where they we going to meet, so it that sense, it was "designated." Thanks for the reply.

 

[Grailhunter]

Where I think we may be talking past each other is this: There’s a difference between saying gathering is good and saying it is a requirement for salvation or a measure of whether someone is truly a Christian.

I would never say that. I did more or less say that it is something for you to settle between you and Yeshua.

Things like making tithing a requirement, or acting like you’re less spiritual if you don’t follow their checklist — that’s exactly the kind of weight Jesus spoke against. He called out the Pharisees for tying heavy loads onto people’s backs while not lifting a finger to help.

And then there are churches that require membership contracts. If you don’t go along with their procedures, their rules, their structure — you’re out. Some places will literally remove you from the membership roll or tell you not to come back if you don’t fit their mold. That’s not the freedom Christ talked about. That’s a system protecting itself.

What your saying here does occur in some churches. I worship with several denominations, here in the states and in England and Scotland and Spain and in Italy and I can say I have not seen it in too many churches. The environment in most churches is a blessing. It is up to you to find one to your liking.

 

[MatthewG]

I see what you mean, but whether they met in a home or in the open air, they all had to know where they we going to meet, so it that sense, it was "designated." Thanks for the reply.

No problem. I recently thought about visiting about 10 churches around here just to see what they teach…

One time I went into one and dude was old as you are and said “Don’t forget to pay your tithes for this church you wanted built.”

Threw me for a loop.

All the best.

 

[MatthewG]

I would never say that. I did more or less say that it is something for you to settle between you and Yeshua.



What your saying here does occur in some churches. I worship with several denominations, here in the states and in England and Scotland and Spain and in Italy and I can say I have not seen it in too many churches. The environment in most churches is a blessing. It is up to you to find one to your liking.

I hear you, and I appreciate the perspective you’re bringing. You’ve had the blessing of seeing healthy environments in many places, and that’s a gift. I don’t doubt that there are churches—many of them—where the atmosphere is sincere, welcoming, and free from the kinds of pressures I described.

My point isn’t that every church is like that. It’s simply that these things do happen, and for some people they happen often enough that it shapes how they approach organized gatherings. Not everyone has the same experience, and not everyone lands in a place that fits them spiritually or emotionally.

And you’re right—each person ultimately has to settle these things between themselves and Yeshua. That’s really the heart of it. Finding a place that aligns with your conscience, your walk, and your peace is important. But at the same time, we shouldn’t assume that someone who hasn’t found that place yet is doing something wrong or resisting God.

Some people thrive in structured church settings. Others don’t. And that’s okay. What matters is the sincerity of the walk, not the building they walk into.

 

[MatthewG]

As I was reading this morning, Yeshua says, ‘Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… My yoke is easy.’

That’s where everyone who belongs to Yeshua should be—at rest in Him.
Not worn out from trying to perform, not trapped in religious pressure, not feeling like they have to keep proving themselves.

Life in Him isn’t about constant religious doing.
It’s about resting in what He already finished.