So it’s not mandatory, it’s just necessary? Okay got it thanks.
I think you misunderstand the context. It is necessary if one desires the relationship to grow and deepen in certain meaningful ways. Ways that often aren’t apparent until after the growth has already taken shape.
Going to a church service just to say you went and sacrificed an hour and a half of your time on Sunday like a good person should, is useless to that end and likely does little.
Meanwhile, the act of not regularly going to church does not remove a person from the love of God, nor is that person excommunicated from the community of believers. We are still His children whether we go to church or not.