I was sitting in my local coffee shop on Sunday morning and I noticed something curious.
One group of smartly-dressed people hurrying their way to church, while everyone around me was lazily sipping their lattes and scrolling on the phones. It struck me that many might identify as Christian (at least one person I knew in the coffee shop definitely identifies as Christian) but their Sunday rituals couldn’t look more different.
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This observation isn’t trivial. The question of who qualifies as a true Christian has divided families and launched entire revolutions.
What even is a ‘true’ Christian anyway? Is it the righteous dude who turns up at church every week in his Sunday Best? What about Barbara from across the street who receives Holy Communion twice a week, wafer and wine at the ready? Or elderly George, who spends most of his time at the bar, has never set foot in a church, never muttered a word of prayer or joined a worship session? He believes in God, so could he be called a Christian?
I’m not just splitting theological hairs here (although I do like doing that sometimes). This question cuts through to the very core of Christianity and has been squabbled about since the time of His crucifixion.
The Case For Worship: “Of course, George isn’t a real Christian… right?”
For many Christians, worship is right up there, front and centre. It is how they connect with God, strengthen their beliefs and experience fellowship with others. Some insist that you cannot be a true Christian without worship, and it’s not negotiable. And they have some evidence from the Bible to back them up:
📢 Jesus promised to be there when the crew are hanging together: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them”. (Matthew 18:20)
📢 Saint Paul urged Christians not to ghost their church group: “Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing”. (Hebrews 10:25)
And then there’s Communion. It originates from the Latin “communio,” meaning “sharing in common” or “mutual participation,”. You literally can’t do it alone.
Going to church shows you connect and associate with other Christians and signals that your faith is genuine. In meeting up, Christians encourage each other, learn more about the faith and strengthen their relationship with God. Being together prevents people from drifting away.
Of course, it all makes perfect sense…until it doesn’t.
What about faith alone?
But what if worship isn’t the be-all and end-all? What if you can be a perfectly true Christian, able to receive salvation without ever worshipping? Enter Sola Fide – Latin for ‘Faith Alone’. We have Martin Luther to thank for making this term famous, but he didn’t make it up. Like the churchgoers above, he backed it up with Bible verses:
📢 Saint Paul: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
And this next one was Luther’s go-to:
📢 Saint Paul: “Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law”. (Romans 3:28)
Many Christians think worship isn’t necessary for salvation. They might think it is important and still do it, but ultimately, they don’t believe it’s a deal-breaker. And that’s the crux of the theological question.
So the debate topic – “You Need to Take Part in Worship to be a True Christian.”
It’s not a black-and-white issue, and like many verses in the Bible, it is often the case that one verse can seem to contradict another. With such holes in the plot, it’s down to who is deciding on the meaning – and who has the authority to define the meaning in the first place.
Is it up to you to decide which interpretation is correct?
Or does the Church decide?
And who decides whether it’s up to you or the church to decide?
Ahh, the squabbling continues.
So, where does this leave us? Let’s try putting it to the test.
If Sola Fide is true, then an evil, autocratic tech bro could still be a Christian just by believing in Jesus, even if he never lifts a finger to help anyone. Or worse, he makes the lives of millions miserable.
Meanwhile, the atheist who spends his evenings at the soup kitchen? Sorry, mate, but no. You’re not coming in.
And what about George? He believes in God, he’s a kind man, always tips extra and would do anything for anyone. But he doesn’t pray, or worship, or go to church. If it’s about worship, he’s out. If it’s about faith, he’s in. And if being a Christian is living like Jesus…well maybe he is doing better than some churchgoers?
But back to the debate. Who decides? There are certain rules of thumb, but no single denomination is a monolith. However, generalising, here are a few examples:
If you’re Catholic, Orthodox, or in a high-church tradition—worship is central to faith. No squabbles.
If you’re Evangelical or Protestant—worship is important, but faith matters more. So it’s not an essential act of faith, but it’s good to do.
If you’re Quaker or in a liberal Christian tradition—worship is personal—God is everywhere, not just in church.
If you hold to Sola Fide—worship isn’t required at all—faith is what counts.
Sp, do you need to take part in worship to be a true Christian?
Let me know in the comments. And, if Jesus turned up today, who do you think he’d want to sit next to? (Assuming we didn’t deport him first).