Is it wrong for me to not want to go to church?
436346
I completely agree with you.  I am the same way.  I believe and I even pray, but I don't think I should have to go to church to prove anything to anyone else.  What you know and feel in your heart is all that matters.
1047715
when they start demanding you go by their rules or else.  Do this, do that, God says you should be this way.  If it is against the moral of the bible (do unto others) it is a cult.  When they start telling you who you can and can't see, what you can and can't do, all in the name of God and the bible.  Be true to yourself, be good always, God knows your heart.  Religion is a way to make you feel bad and do what the religion of choice says to do.  When you go to church on Sunday you are only proving to other 'people' your faith, when it is God you need to prove it too, no one else.\nEnd Rant : )
1115201
Yes you can. Your belief is strong in fact, because you know you don' t need to be seen in church to feel more spiritual.\n\nChurch will only deaden your spirituality. And according to the work of Christ, you don't have to believe in Him either. He died for that act too. \n\nSo believe as you wish. It is your heart and your life. You cannot escape God. He is you. Religion will only teach you seperation.
168349
YES....  I think church is just a big party for god, and that is ok!  I do not attend church, and I believe.  It's just ya have to goto church or your a  bad type person.  I never will understand that.  I always hear, if you don't attend church then your not doing anything good, you don't believe,  and I say ya know I have enough bills to pay without donations to the church!  That collection thing gets to me?  Why?  Everyone is in a daze?  TAKE MONEY!!!!!
532588
its an excuse not to go to church.
1078734
Probably not...I'm not Catholic, but from what I understand, the point of Lent is to give up something you love for the sake of connecting with God. I guess it would be similar to turning off the cell phone for a day to spend more time with your family...excuse the cheesy example. But going back to the point; Unless church distracts you from your relationship with God, I'm pretty sure it's off-limits as a Lent sacrifice.
145660
You cannot love and worship the Lord and not go to church. God created the church to carry out His mission. Also the church is God's family in a small unit. There is no way a Christian can function properly apart from the church. Jesus is the head of the church. We are expected to be apart of it.\n\nChristianity is about relationships. Your relationship with God, your relationships with your brother and sisters in Chirst, and the outside world. We are referred to as His children. We belong to one another and are expected to serve one another. \n\nIf you are not part of a church you are not functioning the way God designed you to function. You have a spiritual gift that is to be used to minister to your brothers and sisters.\n\nHebrews 10:24-25 (NASB)\n\nAnd let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.\n \nYou have a responsibility to help your brothers and sisters grown in Christ. \n\nEphesians 4:11-16 (NASB)\n\nAnd He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for  the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which  belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no  longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. \n\nGod has given you a gift to be used to help your brothers and sisters grow. You need to around them so you can minister to them. There are no lone ranger Christians you are called to be apart of the body. You are called to be apart of a church.
1146595
Sure, plenty of non-believers go to church for social reasons.\n\nI once had a teacher who told me that a church isn't about the building, the sacrements, the preaching, or even the dogma, its about the people.  A church is a congregation of people, if you want to go to church simply to enjoy the company of the people there, and so that they can in turn enjoy your company, where's the harm?\n\nYou are bringing light into the lives of others, and that's what really matters, not belief in a set of laws or ideas.  It doesn't matter what you believe, what matters are the lives you touch.\n\nA person who spends his entire life in a dark building praying is as useless as a pile of dust, but a person who spends his life in the company of others, making their lives better, is more usefull than anything else on this earth.
983639
Do you go to church?  Most Church's will take up money for people who are in situations like yours.  The questions is; how did you get yourself into such a fix, or are you really in a fix.  I see people standing on the street with signs that say "will work for food" and they walk around the corner and drive off in their Mercedes.  If you are truly in this kind of a jam, then someone will help you, but you are on a computer, on the Internet, asking for money, and I don't think this will get you anywhere since no one is going to believe you.  I don't believe you, and I'm not above helping anyone, but you just don't seem poor to me.  Go talk to a minister, and if they feel like you are sincere in your needs, they will help you, if not no one will on here.  Good Luck!!!
1155684
That is your decision. I'm sorry to hear you felt brainwashed at your church - I've been to some of those. I'm Catholic, and for a time I wandered to other churches, 'bible-believing' churches with charismatic ministers who, after a service, would order me to leave "the romish lies" or some bigoted thoughts like that. I like Catholic Mass, there's the connection to Christ, there's the connection to the community, there's the worship and the Word. \n\nGo wherever you are fed. If you find yourself hungry, come to the table.
469290
I know I am going to get alot of hate mail, but here goes.\nThe Bible teaches in Matthew 24 that the chruch age has ended.  We therefore do not need to go to church to worship God.  We can do it from the comfort of our own house.  When we fellowship, one has to remember that he is fellowshiping first and foremost with God.\nLog onto www.familyradio.com for more info.\nTo answer your question, just let them know that you are exploring your options by looking at other churches now, or you are still thinking about it, or you don't have time any more.  But of course, don't go to any because the church age has ended.
883810
Sounds like you are a kid still living at home?\nIf so.. you have no choices until you are emotionally maturely financially able to take care of yourself with your own place\nPeople will mock unusual or out of the norm religions ( Wicca I presume?)\n\nIf you are living on your own.. \nnot to sure how you are forced to go to parents house, and are hog tied to get you into church
82933
Going to church does not make you a christian. Christianty is a belief to begin with. What gets you into heaven is accepting and believing in Jesus Christ. Yes, there are some that believe "once saved always saved", but remeber this, you will be judged when your time comes. The judge will be God himself and if you do not have Jesus as your attorney than you might as well hang it up. As a true Christian accpeting Jesus you will turn from your ways and follow his. Sometime we show this by attending a local church and being among fellow christians so that we do not stray from our Lord, or we enter in with study groups. Either way, church will not get you into heaven, only through Jesus can this be achieved. Being a good person will not get you there either nor good works, but if you are truly a Christian these things will come naturally to you. I suggest you pick up the Bible and read Gods' word for yourself.
336674
Wow that's a bit "abnormal" for a pastor... \n\nIf that dosn't settle with you, then by all means find a church you are overall comfortable in!\n\nSimply put!
491091
I don't feel that you have to.  But i think some people need some type of structure and assurance that they aren't alone in their journey.  I think it is definitely up to you as a person as to whether or not you need to belong to a church.  But going to church does not make you a christian.  That happens by asking Jesus Christ to be your saviour.  Just my opinion!
1151890
If you are sincere member of the church you go to, you shouldn't take a vacation from it. If you just go to church because you don't have anything else to do, then you could take a vacation from it.
431788
I'm not sure which denomination of church you'd be visiting, but I'm sure that wherever you go, any true Christian would welcome you and be accepting.  \n\nHowever, not all black churches "get into the singing" anymore than all white churches don't sing.\n\nBut if you would like to experience a different style of worship, that's great that you are willing to step out of what I'm guessing is your comfort zone.  So just go, keep an open mind, and if you feel a little shy or uncomfortable, just remember that the purpose is to worship God.  And God most likely doesn't care about the color of your skin.  I'm sure the people there won't either.