Confused Christian

[walela]

I was born and raised a catholic. I left the catholic church very young, moved on to becoming a baptist, then on to be come a penticostal.
Now here I am I have never enjoyed going to church. I accepted the lord as a child. I accepted the Lord as my savior in 1983. Question do I have to attend a church to be saved.:help:

[GodSeeker]

You don't have to attend a church to be saved. Being saved comes from accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. People don't have to go to church to do that. However, attending church gives you a chance to meet with others who share your love for God and an opportunity to learn more about God.

[walela]

I hear from everyone that you have to go to church, does the bible say you have to go?

[Vhayes]

Hebrews 10

24 - and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 - 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.

Yes, we should assemble together with those who love the Lord. Not just to hear the sermon and song a few hymns. Look at what Hebrews says - to stimulate one another to love and good deeds and to be an encouragement.

I hope this helps a little.
V

[markdrums]

I was born and raised a catholic. I left the catholic church very young, moved on to becoming a baptist, then on to be come a penticostal.
Now here I am I have never enjoyed going to church. I accepted the lord as a child. I accepted the Lord as my savior in 1983. Question do I have to attend a church to be saved.:help:

Oh my!! You are definitely in the "right place, at the right time!!!"
;)

I have a similar background as you.... (minus the Catholic background.) I remember some of my earliest memories as a child were being at church. Different ones over the first few years... & then my parents settled into one they felt comfortable with.

As I got older & went out on my own, I attended church less & less.... and eventually started to question the validity of the Bible, or at least started to think that "some things were intentionally changed or left out..." (etc.)

But, about 2 yrs. ago, I came face to face with a HUGE personal dilemma... & I had a "chat" with God. (Needless to say, he proved to me the next morning, just how little I knew! LOLOL!) So, I realized he had something in mind for me... some "plan" for my life, & I said, "OK. It's YOUR way; because the way I've been doing it hasn't been working."

- Here's the thing, MY WAY, was "solo". On my own; just me; no help; etc...
After I ( just like, the prodigal son) came back home to my Father, I realized just how much I needed the guidance & help of a FAMILY. That being, a family of God. Even though I was born-again, AGAIN- I had SOOOO many questions, & started to face even more obstacles. I had very little knowledge of what's REALLY IN THE BIBLE... only what I remembered being told. So I had to start reading it for myself.
That brought up EVEN MORE questions.... & re-inforced the fact that I couldn't be a "Lone-Ranger". I needed support, & guidance. I needed help. I needed that "FAMILY".

SO, all-in-all; do you "HAVE TO" go to church for salvation? NOPE. Remember this;
Believing upon Jesus as your substitute sacrifice for YOUR PERSONAL sins, is THE ONLY THING required for salvation. Faith in HIM ALONE. (Think about the thief on the cross next to Jesus... He was told that he would "Be with Jesus in Paradise".. because he knew & believed that Jesus WAS the promised Messiah.)

But I believe having that group, or family of people in a church IS important. Not for salvation, but for fellowship.
You've heard the phrase, "There is strength in numbers"? Well, that's even MORE powerful when it involves JESUS!!!

:D

Anyway, I've rambled on long enough.
Welcome to the board! Consider us your extended family!!!! We're glad you're here!!!


God Bless,
-Mark

[threebigrocks]

walela, can you tell me about your accepting Christ as a child? A sort of mini-testimony if you would care to share?

[Knowlife]

The real question is have you truly been born again? What I mean is that when a person becomes a true Believer they want to go to church, not have too. They desire to be with like minded people who love God and are going through the same things. They are there to help each other and love one another. The bible says to not forsake assembling together. This means we should not give up meeting together, in order to build each other up in love and encouraging each other on to good works.

[livingwaters]

Walela, maybe you just haven't found the right church....maybe you were not truly born-again, if it makes you nervous to go to church...I know, before I was saved, it made me very nervous to go to church. When I was saved and indwelled with the HOLY SPIRIT, I could hardly wait for the church doors to be opened. I felt like I wanted to sleep there!!!Amen.

See, I was baptized Catholic as an infant. I went to church with my grandmother on Sundays, lived with alcoholic parents MON-SAT, had to go to the bars with them when they insisted, so......No one ever taught me that I had to invite Jesus into my heart to be saved. That HE had to be my LORD and SAVIOR. That was never told to me..as a Catholic. It was just be a good person. Don't do anything wrong. Yea, right!!!!!:hmm:

But one beautiful day, the lowest point in my life, I said, JESUS, JESUS, I can't live this way anymore(all kinds of addictions, two failed marriages, no job--my fault). I need YOUR help. Well, I'm here to SHOUT about JESUS. HE came into my life then, and my life has been for HIS glory ever since. It will always be about HIM, ONLY HIM.

Oh, my!!!! See, that's what I mean...I just can't stop talking about MY JESUS!!!!:pp:pp:pp

[RoadWarrior]

Hi Walela,

Welcome to New in Christ (NiC). I hope that we will be able to help you find the answers to your questions.

I would encourage you to prayerfully read the first post in this thread http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?t=31342
which is stickied at the top of the NiC forum.

Then let us know if you have questions about your own salvation, or what would be the next step for you.

:hug: