Is it a sin for protestants to skip church on Sundays and why do they feel it is okay.

[awantz]

I know there was a similar thread as this but I would like to ask this from a different perspective. I have several protestant friends and frequently they just skip church like it is no big deal or it is fun or it’s a right because of how hard they have worked and now they need the rest on Sundays or maybe they might miss a sporting event. These are not kids, they are in their 40’s. There are several different people who have said things like to me. One protestant acquaintance stated they do not go to church on Sundays but go on Wednesdays instead. They like sleeping in on Sundays.

Do protestants churches consider missing Sunday “services” wrong or a sin for their members or is it okay for them to skip. I am not talking about serious reasons for missing, like an illness. I mean just because they do not feel like going. If it is considered a sin should they maybe be encourage to attend. I usually don’t know how to respond when they tell me, "well, I’m not going to church Sunday, because…
I just kind of, probably look dumbfounded, why they would just miss on purpose.

Yes, your friends are in the wrong. I know Catholics and Protestants who skip church for selfish reasons and act like it is no big deal. It is not OK for them to skip. Yes, they should be encouraged to attend church.

 

[ProPro]

I’m a Protestant. No we do not look at missing a Sunday service as a sin, like the catholic church does.

From my understanding, the catholic church says they are abiding by the 10 commandments that says, remember the sabbath and keep it holy. The problem is, the sabbath is saturday. So the catholic church is trying to follow the Law, it isn’t getting it right!

Jesus fulfilled the Law. He said “take up your cross and follow me DAILY”

Luke 9:23
And he said to all: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross DAILY, and follow me.

The apostle Paul said it didn’t matter what day you worship.

Bottomline, according to Jesus, the apostles and scripture, it doesn’t matter what day you worship.

2 Timothy 2:15
Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

FOLLOW THE TEACHING OF THE LORD AND THE APOSTLES

 

[jmcrae]

Getting out of the sack and going to church makes one no more a Christian than standing in their garage makes them a car. Peace.

A car that doesn’t go to the garage regularly for oil changes and upkeep won’t remain a car for very long; it will turn into a heap of scrap metal - and a Christian who doesn’t go to Church won’t remain a Christian for very long, either.

 

[RonTheNewJew]

Since one of the cardinal beliefs of all Protestants, since the time of Martin Luther, is the universal priesthood of the believer, the issue of what the Church does in each person’s life, and what Christ does not allow it to do (such as making sure religious practices having nothing to do with the moral behavior of each believer toward other members of his community and society are followed), the whole idea of kicking someone out of a denomination for such non-interactional reasons is theologically out of character becaus it robs believers of the decision to follow the Everlasting Covenant (Exodus 20-23, 34, etc.), or not to follow it. No post-ascension church council could change any aspect of that Covenant. So, the idea I’m supporting is that whether, and on what day, a person attends religious and spiritual services is each person’s own personal concern.

 

[soflochristmas]

This is pretty general though. One could take it to mean we should observe the Sabbath like Jews.

If you’re a religious Jew…while yes. What’s so difficult?

 

[soflochristmas]

CCC
2175 Sunday is expressly distinguished from the sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the sabbath. In Christ’s Passover, Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish sabbath and announces man’s eternal rest in God. For worship under the Law prepared for the mystery of Christ, and what was done there prefigured some aspects of Christ: (see note 107) Those who lived according to the old order of things have come to a new hope, no longer keeping the sabbath, but the Lord’s Day, in which our life is blessed by him and by his death. (see note 108) [R] +]

2176 The celebration of Sunday observes the moral commandment inscribed by nature in the human heart to render to God an outward, visible, public, and regular worship “as a sign of his universal beneficence to all.” (see note 109) Sunday worship fulfills the moral command of the Old Covenant, taking up its rhythm and spirit in the weekly celebration of the Creator and Redeemer of his people. [R] +]

The Sunday Eucharist +]
2177 The Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life. “Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church.” (see note 110) “Also to be observed are the day of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension of Christ, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christi, the feast of Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, the feast of Saint Joseph, the feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, and the feast of All Saints.” (see note 111) [R] +]

2178 This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age. (see note 112) The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful “not to neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but to encourage one another.” (see note 113) Tradition preserves the memory of an ever-timely exhortation: Come to Church early, approach the Lord, and confess your sins, repent in prayer. . . . Be present at the sacred and divine liturgy, conclude its prayer and do not leave before the dismissal. . . . We have often said: “This day is given to you for prayer and rest. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (see note 114)

 

[soflochristmas]

How can a balance be struck?

Perplexedly,
Mick

This is the balance to me…we know what the Church teaches…we know many disagree…so God will be the judge.

Did you have something more important to do on the Lord’s Day…the day most Christians gather in communal worship and prayer, and most importantly, to receive as Christ commanded, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, offered once and for all at Calvary?

 

[soflochristmas]

If you think God throws people into Hell just for missing church on Sunday you have a dim view of God.

“If you think God throws people in Hell” for far more difficult things to control but gives a pass for failing to comply with the easy stuff…like attending Church on Sunday, I would say YOU have a dim view of God. Wouldn’t a just God be more inclined to judge if little was asked and even less was given versus if much was asked and a little was given?

Isn’t that in part the lesson to be learned by the midows mite?

 

[soflochristmas]

Thanks for sharing your judgment of who is Christian… Christ does not make it as black and white as you do in regard to attendance.

Well “thanks for sharing your judgement” on what Christ makes black and white. Only problem is, I see proof for the former “judgement” and it meets the reasonable test, but your judgement does not?

 

[soflochristmas]

OK only those folks are told they can’t come forth and receive Christ.

Wouldn’t the Church be guilty of a greater sin if it in fact let people who didn’t believe in the real presence in the Eucharist come forward and receive Holy Communion? Especially in light of 1 Cor 11:27

"Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord

 

[soflochristmas]

Apparently, completely lying about and ridiculing Protestants is not a sin according to most Catholics here. Make such an inflammatory statement against homosexuals, and legions of PC Catholics will come to their defense. But very few Catholics seem to have problems making ludicrous statements against Protestants.

“completely lying”? who has done that? The quote you mentioned in your post is, “…nothing appears to be a sin in the protestant churchs…”.

So I ask, is there a single sin/bad/immoral behavior, that you can’t find some “protestant church” which says it is not a sin? John Pascendi didn’t say “nothing appears to be a sin in a protestant church”…of course some things are a sin. But the point being…if you don’t like the list of sins in your protestant church…simply start a new one.

 

[soflochristmas]

I’m a Protestant. No we do not look at missing a Sunday service as a sin, like the catholic church does.

From my understanding, the catholic church says they are abiding by the 10 commandments that says, remember the sabbath and keep it holy.

ProPro…it’s much more than that. Please see my earlier post from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

 

[Mikeoffaith]

As for motivation by fear, sometimes that’s what it takes people to adhere until they’ve developed enough spiritual maturity to start being motivated by love.

I’m not sure if I agree with that kind of reasoning. It seems to me that people shouldn’t have to be “conditioned” to come to the right conclusion like a dog learning that every time a bell rings he’s going to get food. This same reasoning would apply that if I beat my wife often enough she will learn to love me more.

If this is something that is truly to be done, then teach me rightly and the only conclusion I will be able to come to is that this is something that needs to be done.

 

[Mikeoffaith]

Christ said “Do this in memory of Me” and Catholics have been doing it ever since. The “this” is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as found in the Catholic Church and is the ONLY worship which is pleasing to God since it’s an offering of His Son to Himself. All other so called protestant “worship” is an abomination to God as it’s a fake imitation of the one worship that He commanded. God did not command that we eat crackers and drink grape juice - He commanded that we eat the Body of Blood of Jesus Christ. As Catholics we worship the way God revealed and not the way we decide to do it.

This being said it’s not a sin that protestants skip their prayer service on Sunday since Christ did not ask for that.

Interesting, how do you explain when a Roman church only communes under one species?

 

[RonTheNewJew]

The Catholic Church was not established by Yeshua (Jesus). The word, “catholic” is a Latin word that simply means, universal. It had (and as a consequence of the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Yeshua Ha-Maschiach (Jesus, the Messiah) who was the testator while here on earth, no longer is here. Thus, His statements to His followers as recorded in Matthew 23 are permanent. He said:
“When they (the teachers and scribes) sit in Moses’ seat/bench in some translations, and teach (they were bound by oath only read the Moses-written Torah when seated on Moses’ bench in the synagogues) and read, listen to them and DO what they say. Do not do as they do, for they say but do not do.”

This was only a very short time before today’s Catholic Church tries to say that Jesus did and thus ended the need to keep the seventh day Sabbath (Shabbat). The “Testator” died, but made no changes to His immutable moral law contained on Tables of Stone, and the statutes and judgements which God gave to Moses. They are not “Jewish,” or “Israelite,” etc. The New Covenant was given to Moses as recorded in Exodus 34, which then contained not only the Ten Commandments, but it also contained what God called “My feasts.” Jesus never spoke of any changing of the Shabbat (Sabbaton is the Greek for the seventh-day Sabbath as found in Colosaens 2, 13 through 17.

In that text, it says that the handwriting of the chierogrogriphonus dogmassen (the hand-wirtten list of our transgressions. NOT the moral laws as outlined in Exoduis 20-23, Exodus 34, Deuteronomy, etc… Each of the statutes and judgements and civil ordinances and laws are the very moral law, according to the prophet, Ezekiel in Ezekiel 36, vs 26 and 27, will be written "on their hearts of flesh, so that they will keep My statutes and My judgements and DO them. The prophet was saying that the Gospel of Love is found in th loving requirements for those who wish to, as Jesus said, “become of Abraham’s seed.”

Jesus created no new religion other than to extend, by His life of obedience to the Law He gave Moses, who was transfigured to Heaven, the Everlasting Covenant (Exodus 34, vs. 10 and forward), to the whole world. Not just the ethnic but not truly Torah-observant “Jews” who said people had to be blood-Jews and had to only come to the Temple in Jerualem to celebrate the annual pilgrim festivals. Jesus changed that part of it because the animal sacrifices were to end, and He knew who He was, indeed.

The fall thematic festivals (each one with it’s separate theme from Christ’s plan of salvation) are coming up.

Shalom

 

[NoAvailableName]

“completely lying”? who has done that? The quote you mentioned in your post is, “…nothing appears to be a sin in the protestant churchs…”.

So I ask, is there a single sin/bad/immoral behavior, that you can’t find some “protestant church” which says it is not a sin? John Pascendi didn’t say “nothing appears to be a sin in a protestant church”…of course some things are a sin. But the point being…if you don’t like the list of sins in your protestant church…simply start a new one.

Here is the original quote:

nothing appears to be a sin in the protestant churchs cept maybe treating Mary ,Jesus’ mom in a nice way etc etc.

It is just condescending nonsense.

soflochristmas, John, and others like them are why nearly every day that I come to this site, my respect for the Catholic church and Catholics in general diminishes.

 

[jmcrae]

The Catholic Church was not established by Yeshua (Jesus).

See Matthew 16:18-19, and John 21:15-19. Who is Peter? His name is at the top of the list of Catholic Popes. We find his name no where else. Therefore, the Catholic Church is that which Jesus gave to Peter, and which Peter in turn passed on to his successors, our Popes.

The word, “catholic” is a Latin word that simply means, universal.

Actually, it’s Greek. It’s the word used by Christ in Matthew 28:18-20

18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (katholikos), baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

It had (and as a consequence of the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Yeshua Ha-Maschiach (Jesus, the Messiah) who was the testator while here on earth, no longer is here.

He rose from the dead on the first day, thus becoming a New Creation, with a new Creation Day - Sunday.

 

[VBoone]

Hi All,
jumping here to bring my two cents in. I was raised I.F. Baptist…deep south, Not coming to church was considered sinful, said person was considered a “backslider” If you missed a sunday or two, you were immediately visited to find out what was going on. When our family went out of town, we would usually attend a sunday service provided we could find an approriate church. But showing my age, that was back in the 70’s/80’s…'pears standards have changed dramatically. And commenting on a previous post, if one has a close relationship with the Lord, why in the world would you want to miss sunday service/Mass???: Sunday is a special day set aside…it is biblical, it has been taught by the early church fathers…any other day is okay, but Sunday has always been a bit more special,

Peace to all, great thread to discuss and explore:thumbsup:

 

[Publisher]

See Matthew 16:18-19, and John 21:15-19. Who is Peter? His name is at the top of the list of Catholic Popes. We find his name no where else. Therefore, the Catholic Church is that which Jesus gave to Peter, and which Peter in turn passed on to his successors, our Popes.

Actually, it’s Greek. It’s the word used by Christ in Matthew 28:18-20

18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (katholikos), baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

He rose from the dead on the first day, thus becoming a New Creation, with a new Creation Day - Sunday.

And this “New Creation Day” is the first and last…Christ is now our True Sabbath Rest…not a single day…but every day is holy…every day is the same now under the New Covenant…every day is holy.

 

[jmcrae]

Publisher:
And this “New Creation Day” is the first and last…Christ is now our True Sabbath Rest…not a single day…but every day is holy…every day is the same now under the New Covenant…every day is holy.

Which is why we have Mass every day of the week, instead of only on Sundays.

But Sunday is still His day, and it is very fitting to meet together in His name on Sundays.