Can I be a Christian and not go to church?
Question:
Is it wrong to feel like as long as you keep God in your head, and you do right, and all you listen to is Christian music, and you talk to Him on a regular basis, to not go to church? It's just that church is a place I don't feel like I fit in. All those people staring at me and stuff. It just bothers me. I feel like I can keep God in my heart here where I'm at. But I don't want to be doing wrong by not going to church. I've gone to church before and seen those people and just left. It's like I can't stay.
Answer:
When a person becomes a Christian, it isn't just an individual thing to do. He also becomes a part of the family. "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19). Wouldn't you think it strange if a young child doesn't want to be at home with his family?
God understands that people can't make it to heaven on their own. Every one of us needs help. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:23-25). A true church has people there to help you learn God's word better than you could do it on your own. There are people there who watch your back and encourage you to be good. There are people there who will be there when you need a shoulder to cry on or to help you get through a rough time in your life. I value the people where I attend because they are my friends. And at the root of it all, I can trust them because we have the same love for God and a desire to serve God.
Perhaps you don't fit in because you have the wrong expectation of what a church and worship service is about. Not to be picking on you, but notice that you listed the things you are willing to give to God, but you don't ask about what God wants from you. "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (I John 5:1-3). Learn to love the brethren and become a part of the family.
