What if I can't go to church?

"Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." —Hebrews 10:24-25

The Bible does tell us that all believers ought to attend church so that we can worship God, be taught from His Word (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25), use our spiritual gifts to serve, and have relationships with other believers. These are all important parts of growing closer to God and learning to live your life for Him. It gives you a structure that can help keep you focused on serving Him and serving others.

That said, the (big C) Church is not about a building, but rather, it's about participating in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). This means learning, growing, and serving as believers together. We don't HAVE to do this only around a church worship service. In fact, we should definitely do this outside of Sunday morning (or whenever church is). But the important part is finding a community of believers that can support you and that you can, in turn, support as well.

"From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." —Ephesians 4:16

Is church attendance required for salvation?

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." —Ephesians 2:8-9

Quick answer: NO. Church attendance is NOT a requirement for salvation. Even tithing or making any sort of donations to Christian organizations is NOT a requirement for salvation. Giving money toward God's work is a good thing, but it doesn't save us.

If you have accepted that Jesus is your Savior, who died on the cross to pay the price for your sins, then you are promised eternal life in Heaven—no matter what you do or don't do from this point on (John 3:16-17; Romans 8:1).

In Acts 16:30, the apostle Paul and his friend Silas are in jail, and the guard is curious about what they've been talking about. He asks, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" The answer is the same for us today: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).

So while church attendance isn't "required," it will help you grow spiritually as a Christian.

DIY Church

If you just can't find a church, GotQuestions.org has a Church Finder that may help you find one in your area. But what can you do if the rest of your family doesn't go to church? Or you don't have transportation? Or you have to work on Sundays? Or it's illegal for you to be a Christian where you live? How can you grow spiritually or find Christian community?

These are all difficult circumstances, and you are not alone in your dilemma. Be assured that other Christians around the world are facing similar problems. Here are a few suggestions if you find yourself in one of these situations...

If transportation is an issue:

Talk to your parents. Let them know that you want to go to church. If they don't care either way, maybe they can figure out a way to drop you off and pick you up on Sunday or even a Saturday night service. Either way, have that conversation about how going to church is important to you and get the discussion started.

Go with a friend! Do you have any friends or other nearby family members who go to church? Ask your parents for permission to go with a friend, and maybe your friend or their parents can take you.

If it's illegal to attend church:

Find other believers. The main point of church is to get believers together to encourage one another in their faith. You could start a quiet, underground group that meets regularly—off the grid. Avoid putting meeting dates or locations on the internet or on printed paper. Keep it as a word-of-mouth spread of info only.

If it's illegal to own a Bible, but you have internet access, there are lots of websites that provide free access to the entire Bible. (We like BibleGateway, BibleRef, and Biblia.) You can even see if there are apps available to download so you can have an offline Bible right on your mobile device.

These are hard times for many Christians in restricted countries, but the eternal benefits are worth the hardships we have to deal with in this life on earth (Colossians 1:11-14).

You don't need a church to have Church.

Worship doesn't have to take place at a church building to happen. You can worship God anywhere (Psalm 150:1-6; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 13:15; Romans 12:1). Try to develop friendships with other believers in your circles and/or your family. You can still have community and accountability with other believers—even if you don't attend a church. It's just going to take a bit more effort.

If you absolutely cannot attend church for whatever reason, then it is absolutely vital that you read the Bible and pray regularly. Take time every day to study His Word, talk to God, and ask Him to connect you with other believers in your area or even online. (Psst...we have a 412teens Discord.) Ask Him to help you learn His will your life and for the strength to do it.

If nothing else can be done, prayer is the most important thing you have control over. No one can limit you or stop you from what goes on in your mind. Keep praying and studying His Word on your own as much as you are able.

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