Can a Christian be saved without going to church?
This is somewhat of a loaded question. First of all, going to church doesn’t save anyone. The Bible encourages in many ways the importance of coming together, whether it be in a church, synagogue, in one another’s homes, down by the riverside or anyplace where two or three could gather, thus invoking the presence of the Lord. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Meeting together will also be needful as we near the coming of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:25 reminds us, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
One of the key Greek words for coming together is “Koinonia,” meaning fellowship, communion and sharing with one another, which makes gathering together essential.
Another aspect of the church is that the building is not the church. We believers are the church or the body of Christ. Christ died for the church, meaning he died for sinners, not for a building. Salvation is within and was made possible by Christ’s death on the cross. Romans 10:9 tells us, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Once you are saved you will desire to be with, fellowship with and worship with fellow believers.
Finally, there may be occasion where God saves someone in an obscure place in the world where no one else is available, but if others are reached eventually by the message of salvation, I believe they would seek fellowship.
Pastor Jake Stirnemann