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CHURCH
Can't
you be a Christian and not go to Church ?
The Above question really has two parts:
a. Is the church "boring and stuffy"?
b. Can't you be a Christian and not go to church?
Our word ‘church’ means essentially " an assembly" or "a calling out of a group of people". A church is not defined by a building, or by a particular ritual, or even by a time of the week but it is a group of people who share a common experience and set of beliefs. The aim of the church is to bring recognition to God and provide an environment where the Eternal Creator and Reconciler of the Universe can touch the lives of people like us.
The way that a church chooses to conduct it's meetings depends just as much on culture and personal preferences as on anything inherent within Christianity. If those who lead the church and decide what happens in it's meetings are boring and stuffy people then the service will be boring and stuffy; if they have some experience of what it means to live in the presence of the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe then that will impact how they lead the meetings.
This is also the essential answer to the second part of the question. Asking the question, "Can you be a Christian and never go to Church?" is like asking if you can be a Biker and never ride a motorcycle or a swimmer who never goes near a swimming pool. Can you be a musician and never play an instrument or sing?
The answer is that it is possible in theory but never seems to work in practice!
Becoming a Christian is certainly something that happens on an individual level but being a Christian is a corporate activity that happens in the context of a local group of believing and worshipping Christians.
I go to Church for the following reasons:
· In Church I connect with the my Lord and Saviour, I hear him speak to me as I sing about Him, pray to Him and hear what His Word has to say.
· Being a Christian means being God's servant. My aims and objectives are not to get rich or be successful in my job but to do His Will and extend His Rule. What I can do on my own is extremely limited, if I work with others my life can have an impact which goes way beyond my personal abilities.
· I may be a child of God but I am not Superman! I need unconditional love, friendship and support. The friendship and love that I have received in the local church is far more satisfying and "real" then I have ever found anywhere else.
The Local church is God's family and whilst families sometimes need re-evaluation, communication and changes - blood is still thicker than water!
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