Are religious communities necessary?

[bploveart]

Is it necessary to be part of a religious community in order to fully experience a relationship with God?

[karin]

Short answer: Yes and No.

Long Answer:
Many people enjoy a very close relationship with God outside of the "religious" community. Altho I do not really call it religious. That word more reminds me of rituals rather than true fellowship.

Many people also experience God much fuller by being a part of a christian home church. We must not forget that many of God's blessings of grace, mercy, forgivness and the list goes on and on is experienced through people. God uses many people from all walks of life to bring you something that he knows you need in your life.

To seperate ourselves from that we may end up experience some very frusterating experiences with God so yes its important to fellowship with others.

God created us for relationships. Not just relationship with our spouses, but relatinships of all kinds. He said in Genisus that "its not good for man to be alone". He just didn't create eve so that adam has a spouse. He created us so that we can have each other.

There are times God does things for us that are direct from without the intervention of others. However more often than not, he uses his children to bring blessings and change to those he loves through people. This is found through fellowship in our churches.

[bploveart]

These are some really good points. After I posted this I went to the bookstore and got a book called "Delusion of Disbelief". It touched on this subject very well. The way David Aikman proposed this question was from a different direction than I have heard before. check it out at www.isanyoneupthere.com

Just thought I should let ya know :-)

[Daral]

Just remember what Hebrews says: Let us not give up meeting together... (10:25).