It is from my observation that there have been comments of members on this board that affiliate themselves to be Christians but said that they don't go to church, not often, or not been to church for a while. My question is this: Is there a particular reason that you don't go to church as often? Is there an actual reason that you thought of, or is it something personal? Or is there no reason at all and you just don't?

I personally am expecting certain answers to show up but I would like to hear from you.

(Those of you who are not Christians, please don't say that you don't go to church because you are not a Christian. That is like an obvious "Duh" and would be a useless post)

Well I haven't gone for a while...reason being is that I encountered a lot of two faced individuals, and I just don't know how to deal with that in my walk right now.

One reason why I don't go to church is I look weird to them (I tend to wear lot of black), I have satanic tattoos on me, yeah that just would not feel right attending a church. Many of them dress up I suppose and yeah it would be like me walking into a business meeting with wrong attire

Also, I HATE crowds I cannot stand being around lots of people.

And main reason why I don't go, is because I don't follow religion or gods. I like the option of an open book instead of a closed one. So I make it what it is. If I believe Jesus is an alien then I believe Jesus is an alien I like thinking on my own and making my own conclusions to things, even though I'm not christian there is one lesson to be learned from Jesus whether you believe him or not and that is you are your own god (metaphorically speaking).

JigSaw : Uh, hate to burst your bubble, but Jesus teaches strictly the opposite of that; His message is rely on God, NOT yourself, not treat yourself like God .

bigNATE : I didn't mean it in that way I meant it in bigger picture of things and the concept of Jesus. Someone can claim to be a god and start a religion and people would follow or they can claim someone else to be a god (who really is not a god, making them the god since its their creation). It also doesn't have to apply to just religion either its used in varies ways through products, government, and celebrities. Theres a slight difference in storyline between them but the concept is the same. Simply put, if you have a following your a god in of some sort (maybe not a god to the entire universe but a god to your own creation).

Anyway, this isnt about what Jesus taught just giving reasons why I dont attend

I go to church. But when I was living with my moma I didn't go to church, but now that I live with my grandma I go to church.

I'd suggest that I should go to church...I think church is categorized as either a house for saints, or a hospital for sinners. I'm going with the latter. However, it doesn't mean that I'm any less of a Christian because I'm not going currently, just that my life is probably harder to deal with because I'm not.

I have to admit that I don't go to church often anymore.

There are a couple of reasons:
-it's too early and I prefer to sleep
-most of people are dressing in a bit different way than I do (e.g. I don't like wearing a skirt), and because of that they're looking me in a bit weird way (maybe it's my imagination though)
-and I do prefer praying alone in my home (I can't focus so much on my praying, while I'm with others)

I think I should go more often though, maybe I'll try it in the future

I don't know. I mean, the atmosphere is nice (at least where I grew up going) but I just never make it. Maybe I'll go back sometime.

Speaking in all honesty I haven't been to church in a while. It's because I am an unusual person who often isolates himself, I have struggled with my relationship with God and I have not made time to seek Him inside of a church because I have convinced myself that I do not belong there. Again, speaking in all honesty, I know I need to do something about this as it's only to my detriment. I know that there's a church out there where I belong and I do need to make some effort to find it. If I don't, I know that I'll be one very lonely Christian and it will probably invite temptation into my life.

I go to chuch all the time. But if I was to give a reason why I wouldn't attend, it would be because of some two-faced adults, and arrogant teenagers.

When i miss church it is either because I have to work or it is my only day off that week and i want to sleep in. Not the greatest reason not to go. I also feel i dont need to go every Sunday. I can worship in my home, outside, anywhere i might go, and I do.

Where as I believe in god I don't go church because I just haven't taken the time to find the right one :/. Maybe someday I'll find a nice church to go to and visit it.

I am a former Christian (now atheist) so I can answer this question.

I never went to church, because I didn't see it essential to being a Christian. Just as there are multiple religions, there are multiple ways to show your beliefs. When I was a Christian, I went three times, and none of those times did I feel any different than practice at home.

i believe that i don't need 4 walls to connect me with God
my faith is my own and i don't lead a typical Christian life
we are sinners and i sin but i know there is forgiveness in prayer
that being said most churches offend me anyways

It should be noted that going to church is not a requirement for a Christian, but it is highly recommended to grow in Christ. It should also be noted that church is made for Christians. One of the ways a person grows in Christ is through a community of Christians who love God and love brothers and sisters in Christ. It is in this community that people can share about what God has been showing them in their lives, encourage one another, confess sins to one another and help each other fight sin, not on their own. It is a blessing to be with like minded Christians and help each other grow. I have even heard a well-known pastor that said that one cannot grow in Christ without community and God designed it to be for a community of Christians, not singular.

It should also be noted that there is no such thing as a perfect church, but one must also be careful not to go to bad churches that are not Christ-centered and whether they don't love God nor love other Christians. Everyone should try to find a good church. Don't avoid a church because the message is not pleasing to your heart or because the facilities are not up-to-date. One should go to a church that values truth and cares about everyone's lives

I'm not going to make excuses...the reason I don't go to church is because I don't want to. Yes, I do believe in GOD, but no I am not a deeply religious person. I do read the bible for comfort and have a few deeply religious friends that I enjoy being around. Me not going to church to praise GOD doesn't make me a bad person, although I should.

Well even though I was brought up to be Christian/ catholic I found church ridiculously boring and after a while I found science and disproved all the theories of god I had in my head and so I didn't deem it necessary to go to church anymore and my parents put up a fight at first but then I said I didn't really believe in god anymore so to prevent arguments and debates we decided that as long as I don't try to convert them away (which I wouldn't of anyway) or like say why god inst real I'm allowed to not go to church, no biggie really it just means we don't have convo's about god which we never really did anyway

i go almost every week only when we don't feel good or we don't get up in time