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.
Answer:
You said, “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.”
Adam, it does not matter what I say, and it does not matter what you say. What matters, in eternity, is what God says in His Word. This is what He says in Hebrews 10:24-26, “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.” Let us look at those three verses in order.
Hebrews 10:24 says, “24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” God is telling us that He wants us to provoke one another to love and to good works. How are we going to do that, if we refuse to get out and meet with other believers? Can you see how you are disobeying the Lord’s instructions to us?
This is what you said, “In my personal opinion, I have been through a lot in my life and I rarely even go out anymore. The reason, well I just don’t trust people anymore. But I trust God.”
Wait a minute, you said that you trust God. God says to get out and get together with His people and provoke them to love and to good works, but you are saying that you cannot, because people are not trustworthy. If you truly trust God, then you will do what He tells us to do. You will not worry about people and their reactions toward you. If you truly trust God, then you will obey Him. John 14:15 says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Now let us look at the second verse: Hebrews 10:25, “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.” God commands us, as His children, to assemble together. That is what the Greek word for “church” means, “a called out assembly.”
Look at the second part of Hebrews 10:25, “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.” The problem with some people not assembling with the church is not a new problem. It was already a problem when the Book of Hebrews was being written. “As the manner of some is” is referring to some who were not assembling together with the church. So God tells His people to not forsake assembling together. In fact, He was not just talking about “one service” or “one day” a week. Hebrews 10:25 says, “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.” What does that mean?
Do you think that the Lord’s coming seems close? I do not know of any Christian that does not think that His coming could be very soon (it could be at any moment). With all of the tattooing that is going on, the world is being prepared to accept but another mark on their flesh, the mark of the antichrist. Revelation 13:16-18 says, “16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number isSix hundred threescore and six.” Along with tattooing, sodomy is also rising up again all over the world. Luke 17:28-30 says, “28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”
Considering all that, Hebrews 10:25 says, “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.” God says that He wants His people to be assembling together all the more as they see the day of His coming approaching. Are you obeying that command?
Now look at the third verse. Hebrews 10:26, “26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” Is it not significant that God tells us to assemble together, and then in the next verse says, “If we sin willfully…” Look at the context again. Hebrews 10:24-26, “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.”
God clearly tells us to not forsake assembling together. If we do forsake doing that, then we are willfully sinning. Hebrews 10:26, “26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth…” James 4:17 says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
You said, “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.”
Do you see, now, how that your opinion is contrary to what God clearly says?
You said, “I would also like to point out that a church isn’t just some public building up on the square.”
A building is not “the church.” People who have repented of their sins and received the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior are the body of Christ, “the church.” 1 Corinthians 3:9 says, “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” And God tells His “church” (saved people), to assemble together. The “church building” is where the “church assembles” (where His people assemble).
You said, “Put two people in a living room on a Sunday talking about God and that’s church.”
Two Christians meeting some place does not necessarily make that a “church assembly.” A New Testament church consists of an assembly that has men filling two offices. The first is the office of a “bishop” (overseer) or “pastor” (under-shepherd). 1 Timothy 3:1-7 says, “1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
The second office of a functioning church is that of “deacon.” 1 Timothy 3:8-13 says, “8 Likewise must the deacons begrave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
So Christians meeting together and praying and studying the Bible is not necessarily a functioning “church.” That is a “Bible Study” or a “Prayer Time,” but that does not make it a church. A true church will have the office of Pastor and the office of deacon functioning.
If you just read on, you see, once again, the Lord telling the church to assemble together. 1 Timothy 3:15 says, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.“ That is clearly referring to the church assembled together, and how people are to behave wherever the church is meeting.
You said, “Now days, most churches are either fake or just a house of good intentions.”
Yes, my heart is also grieved with the behavior that is going on in many churches. They are not obeying 1 Timothy 3:15, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.“ They are assembling together and playing Christian rock music, and dressing lewdly and dancing around. They have fallen for the multitude of Bible translations that have been corrupted through omissions and faulty translations. There seems to be little rebuke of sin, and mostly a desire to be “cool” in the eyes of the world and carnal Christians (read Exodus chapter 32). That kind of contemporary, mega church often seems to be doing very well financially, but do not let that fool you as to how things really are spiritually. Revelation 3:14-22 says, “14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
If you have to drive an hour to get to a Scriptural church, then do it. Obey the Lord.
If there are no Scriptural churches within driving distance, then pray that God would send a man to start a church in your area. God may lead you to move to a different area. Be faithful reading your Bible and praying, and God will show you what to do.