This is the claim of many people and certainly the converse is true – one can go to church without being a Christian. However the bible does not speak of church as somewhere we go, but as something that we are.
The word ‘church’ was initially a word referring to any gathering of people. Therefore we don’t technically ‘go to church’. We are either part of the church or, if we are not part of it, we visit it.
Those who are part of the church are also called the ‘body of Christ’ in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. God gives us a desire to meet with each other and so anyone who lacks that desire is probably not part of the body, just as my arm cannot decide not to be part of my own body.
It is possible to do good works without being part of the church but not possible to be a Christian without being part of the church and, if anyone is part of the church, then they will want to meet with others who are part of it.
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