Is Not Going To Church A Sin?

Question:

I was reading an answer to someone’s question and at one point you said that not going to church was a sin. I beg to differ. There are many reasons why a person would not attend a church but it does not make it a sin. Now days, most churches are either fake or just a house of good intentions. In my personal opinion, I have been through a lot in my life and I I rarely even go out anymore. The reason, well I just don’t trust people anymore. But I trust God. If a person stays close to Him and stays on the right path, would it matter if that person went to church? I would also like to point out that a church isn’t just some public building up on the square. Put two people in a living room on a Sunday talking about God and that’s church.Continue reading

Are Women Permitted to Speak in the Church?

Question:

Referencing the Bible, “Are women permitted to speak in the church?”

Answer:

The Bible says in I Corinthians 14:34-37, “LET YOUR WOMEN KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCHES: FOR IT IS NOT PERMITTED UNTO THEM TO SPEAK; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”Continue reading

Should churches sell things to raise money for needs?

Question:

Our congregation ,of which I am an elder , wants to have a barn sale to help pay off our large mortgage. does scripture teach that it is wrong for congregations to sell things or services to raise funds for church work?

Answer:

The Bible only speaks of God’s people bringing offerings willingly to provide for the needs of God’s house. When God wanted the children of Israel to make a tabernacle, this is what He told them, “Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass…” (Exodus 35:5).Continue reading

Are women supposed to be preachers/teachers?

Question:

WOMEN TEACHERS/PREACHERS.  MANY SAY THAT THAT WAS FOR THAT TIME ALONE BECAUSE THE PLACE THAT HE WAS WRITING TO HAD LAWS OF MEN BEING OVER THE WOMEN IN CHURCH. CAN THIS BE TRUE? AND DIDN’T WOMEN TEACH NICODEMUS??? AND WEREN’T THERE MANY DIFFERENT PROPHETESS, AND GALATIANS TELLS US THAT FOR ALL THAT ARE IN CHRIST JESUS THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALE OR FEMALE.Continue reading

Is the church local, universal, or both?

Question:

What is your belief about the church; local, or universal, or both?

Answer:

The Bible speaks both of “churches,” meaning “local churches;” and of the “church” as “a whole.” The word “churches” appears a total of 37 times in the New Testament, and refers to “local churches.”Continue reading

Are the “church” and the “kingdom” the same?

Question:

Can you explain for me from the Bible what relationship, if any does the church and the kingdom sustain. Are they one and the same, or different? Does one precede the other, or stand in until the other, greater is given, or does one become the other or is the kingdom primarily for other such as the now non-believing Jews? Your answer would be appreciated. Thank you.

Answer:

There are two phrases which are used of “the kingdom,” and they seem to be used interchangeably, “the kingdom of God,” and “the kingdom of heaven.”Continue reading

How do you discipline Christians in the church?

Question:

How do you discipline Christians at you church? What are the basic rules ? I am a deacon in a Baptist church in BRAZIL. Please answer my questions. God bless you all.

Answer:

The first thing that we must realize is that church discipline is for the purpose of restoring the wayward Christian — not just getting rid of him or her. If a Christian will not repent of sin, then he or she should be removed from the church membership, but that is not what we should desire. We should desire restoration. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, RESTORE such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”  Matthew 18:15 says, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”Continue reading