do you think you have to go to church to go to heaven?

United States
September 4, 2008 3:23pm CST
i was wanting to know how many people thought you have to go to church to go to heaven.
2 people like this
17 responses
• United States
6 Sep 08
although going to church is important, it is not essential. Belief in Jesus saves us right, not on good deeds or on our own effort. but going to church is important, not for the service or the words from the pulpit... church is the community of believers and it is important to surround yourself with people on fire for their faith. it's easier to live a Christian life if you surround yourself with people who do so to provide you encouragement when you need it and support when you're down. the bond is important to keep you in faith.
• United States
7 Sep 08
i agree it is good to surround yourself with people who have faith and give you encouragement but i try to do that even though i don't go to church all the time...thanks for the response
@adoremay (2065)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
It is through God's mercy that we can go to heaven. If we have a perfect church attendance it is never an assurance that we can go to heaven. However, I think God is looking and always observing people who right fully deserves to be in heaven.
• United States
5 Sep 08
i agree can't steal,lie,or cheat on saturday and sunday go to church and think we are going to heaven.thanks for the response
@Essie119 (673)
• Canada
5 Sep 08
Salvation, and subsequently going to heaven has nothing to do with going to church. While attending church is a great way to learn more about God it does nothing in the long run in getting you to heaven. In Ephesians 2:8,9 it says "For be grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." It is faith in Jesus Christ that saves us.
• United States
5 Sep 08
thnaks alot for your response
@heaven11 (1159)
• United States
5 Sep 08
i have always been told no taht as long as 2 or more people are whorshiping it is consider gods house no matter where you are
• United States
5 Sep 08
true i agree church is just about people coming together to worship and praise god no matter where,because most churches start in peoples houses.thanks
@crabboy28 (153)
• United States
4 Sep 08
You don't have to go to church to go to heaven. You can celebrate god in your own way at home or in a cult. Going to church just solidifies your passage into heaven.
• United States
5 Sep 08
what do you mean by solidfies??thanks
• Philippines
4 Sep 08
nope even if you go to church daily but still you commit sins you wont go to heaven and we have to wait for the judgement day for us to know if where will go to heaven or not.
• United States
5 Sep 08
i agree thanks
@annjilena (5618)
• United States
4 Sep 08
i don,t think so what about the people who are sick and can not go to church.
• United States
5 Sep 08
i agree thanks for your response
@sk66rc (4250)
• United States
4 Sep 08
"Acts 8:3 ... But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison." "Romans 16:5 ...Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia." "1 Corinthians 11:18 ...In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it." I believe church isn't some building or place you goto in a sense... Like the first phrase in acts 8:3, bible implies that when saul was destroying churches, he was destroying people's houses... In roman 16:5, bible tells us to "greet the church that meets at their house" implying that church is people... From what I understand, Church is nothing more that a place where faith of Jesus Christ & his holy spirit reside... ANY PLACE that a true belivers gather, that's a church... Matter in fact, if true faith & the holy ghost & spirit reside in your heart, you represent the church & in fact, YOU ARE the church... It's not that you have to GO to a church, church comes to you...
• United States
4 Sep 08
great response appreciate it.i agree with you 100%
@RevSkull (271)
• Tokelau
4 Sep 08
Well since most of the people who live on our planet don't go to church but DO believe in some form of god, the answer for those who believe is definitely no.
• United States
4 Sep 08
thanks for the response
@insulin (2479)
• Philippines
4 Sep 08
I really don't believe that going to church is going to heaven because church is only one of the mega structures of humans.As long that your a good person,praying,having faith,not killing anybody or hurting somebody then there will be no reason at all to go in hell but yeah I consider the earth as hell because almost all crimes and bad things are already here.If you believe in God in many ways then you will go to heaven.GOd bless and have a nice day.:-0
• United States
5 Sep 08
i agree sometimes i think if we really or living in hell because it seems that way.thnaks for the response
@razor123 (979)
• India
4 Sep 08
I don't thin yo have to go to church to go to heaven but its an obligation to go at least once a week. I have heard that if you don't go to church on a Saturday or Sunday purposely its a Mortal Sin. That's what the priests said I guess. Going to church is a good habit. God gives us everything we need. Spending an hour for mass once a week is not all that dig. I make it a point to always go to church. Only if I am sick and not able to go then I don't.
• United States
4 Sep 08
well my opinion on that is you can worship god in your own house with your family the same way you do at church i think as long as you devote sabbath day to read and worship his word you are dedicating your life to him.thanks fior the response
@lilcee (2703)
• United States
4 Sep 08
No, you don't have to go to church to go to Heaven. Church is for people to gather together and to worship. You can go to church and not go to Heaven tho. Going to church doesn't make you saved.
• United States
4 Sep 08
thanks for your response
@BlinkMe64 (150)
• United States
4 Sep 08
Nope you dont have to go to church to go to Heaven, I mean the last time i went to church was probley around easter time, I only go to church on the main holidays that alot of people go to, but other then that I dont go to church.
• United States
4 Sep 08
thats me i will go sometimes but not regularly.thanks for the response
@Zawisza (63)
• United States
4 Sep 08
I don't think so. I really think that how you act to people and how you lead your life is more important than if you go to church every week. Someone can go to church every day of their life, but be a horrible person not caring about others the rest of the time, and I don't think someone like that would get into heaven. Besides, if you look in the Bible, it says "where two or more of you gather in my name, I am there" (note that that isn't the exact wording) but basically it meant that where two or more people gathered in God's name they would be in the presence of God. The Bible says that we should keep holy the sabbath, but it doesn't say that we're supposed to go to church every week. I think that that is just one way of keeping the sabbath holy, but if you don't go but spend your life being a good person, then you have just as good a shot of getting into heaven as someone who'd gone to church every week of their lives.
• United States
4 Sep 08
you know i agree not judging anyone but thats why i don't enjoy church is because of hypocrites i know i am not going for them but it still stands in my mind when i know what they do.thanks alot
• Ireland
4 Sep 08
Years ago, I used to think that if I didn't go to church then I would never get to heaven. Now that I am older and wiser (I think), I know that I can talk to God no matter where I am and he can hear me. A lot of people I know are in agreement with this and I hope we are all right...or else!
• United States
4 Sep 08
well thats what i think.as long as i take time for gods word and live by it i will go to heaven.thanks
@icegermany (2524)
• India
4 Sep 08
i dont think that you need to go to church to go to heaven. i think its all about the trust and the truth within your heart and your real prayers which is needed. everytime when we pray we need to pray from deep within our heart which god likes it and should not pray only for namesake or to perform your duty. good likes our good deeds which will lead us to go to heaven.
• United States
4 Sep 08
i agree thanks alot its nice getting other opinions
• United States
7 Sep 08
You know thats a good question to ask Because you know in my opinion i dont think you need to go to church just to go to heaven. I dont go to church and i know i'll go to heaven. Just because someone doesnt go to church dont mean they wont go to heaven or they are bad people. There is many other ways to do good other than going to church. Not to mention i know a lot of people that do go to church and say "praise God" on sundays then every other day in the week they are doing things they shouldnt be doing so nope dont have to go to church jsut to go to heaven.