So how do I find a good church, then? Thankfully, God's Word comes to the rescue, as always.
"But the Bible is the reason we have all these denominations and churches out there!" someone objects. Maybe, in a sense, yes it is - but it is also clear from the Word that there will be groups of people who disobey it and form congregations that call themselves "Christians" but are in reality apostates and heretics. The Apostle Paul says, "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). So, from the Word it is clear that there will be divisions.
It is not my intent to launch into a huge discourse, as I did in the previous couple entries, but simply to list some sound qualities to consider when choosing a church to worship in.
1. Find a church that holds solidly to the fundamentals of the faith. Doctrine, far from being divisive and hairsplitting, is the very foundation and lifeblood of Christianity. (For example, the doctrine of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 is presented as essential to the Christian faith) What are these fundamentals? I consider the following page to be a good overview: http://www.carm.org/doctrine/grid.htm. You will see that certain deviant groups are listed on the left side of the grid - these are the churches one must avoid if he wishes to contend for the faith delivered once for all unto the saints (i.e. Jude 3). They are problematic because they deny at least one fundamental of the faith.
Check out the statement of faith of every church you go to and make sure it clearly states the essentials. Be cautious of generality and vagueness (I.e. "The Bible is inspired of God" - this statement still allows for errors in Scripture), but also steer clear of obvious hairsplitting statements (I.e., "The King James version is the only true English translation")
2. The church must be a place where Christ's love shines, first among the believers, then out to the unbelievers in the surrounding community. Doctrine is essential, but without love it is nothing. One can intellectually believe doctrine, but be as hell-bound as the vilest sinner. Doctrine and right living go together. The famous chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 shows it:
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing" (13:1-3).
This is why it is important to not only check the doctrinal statement, but also to observe the life of the congregation. Is there thoughtful, heartfelt passion in worship? Is the pastor obviously moved by the truths he is presenting to the congregation? Is the church ministering in diverse ways? The letters of Paul always formed a clear pattern: the first halves were devoted to doctrinal teaching, and the second halves concerned the practical implications of these truths. The book of James heavily emphasizes the evidence of true faith as being good works, which are the true fruit of love.
3. A word about denominations. Most churches tend to follow one tradition or another (my own church, Grace, is a Baptist congregation). Even the churches that call themselves "Bible" or "Community" still tend to lean in certain directions. The most important things to consider, whether you happen to be Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, etc, are the above two points and the necessity for unity in the primary matters, while agreeing to differ over secondary issues. It is true that God's Word is difficult to comprehend in some places, and there will be differences of opinion - but only over the nonessentials. Examples would be: the style of church government; the debate over when and what the Millennium will be; Calvinism vs. Arminianism; dispensationalism vs. covenant theology; the retaining of the sign gifts (healing, tongues, etc) vs. their ceasing to occur; infant baptism (not for salvation) vs. baptism upon a confession of faith; and the color of the church carpeting. We are free to have our own opinions concerning these matters, even to the point of saying that our brothers and sisters in Christ might have the wrong interpretation of these matters, but we are not called to reject them as Christians due to difference over the nonessentials. However, since these differences do affect the way we worship, that is why we have denominations and separate church groups. If I am a Baptist, I will not be a member of a church that practices infant baptism, since it goes against my Biblical conviction - yet it does not affect the fact that this church may still be comprised of genuine believers in Christ. The point is - use discernment when considering denominations.
4. If possible, find a church within reasonable driving/walking distance so that you can make the most of your time and money, as well as opportunities to be with other believers who are part of that local body. In the New Testament, the local churches were always in the cities, within easy walking distance of believers' homes. Obviously times have changed, but it is still a good principle to follow that the church be located near home. Perhaps the best way to do it would be if you were moving into the area - check up on the apartments/houses nearest the place of worship. Even an apartment a little pricier could still make a tremendous difference in your spiritual life, if you are that much closer to where things are happening. Of course, there are always the exceptions, and sometimes longer travel is required. But my point is that it does make a difference to be closer to the local body of believers, not just spiritually but physically.
5. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is Jesus Christ's command to His disciples, and by extension to the church, to evangelize the world and bring the great news of salvation for sinners, thus bringing them into fellowship with God. It is one of the key reasons why the church exists. Baptism, a part of the Commission, is practiced especially by the local church; allusions in Scripture to this are common, particularly where Paul specifically says that he did not come to baptize but to preach Christ (1 Corinthians 1:17). If Paul, an apostle, was not entrusted solely with the office of baptism, then it follows that the church must have been practicing this ordinance for its new members.
Is the church you're looking for passionate about the Great Commission? Is it aware that its mission on earth is to glorify God by spreading the knowledge of Him into every place, preaching His great love, forgiveness, sovereignty, and justice, welcoming new believers into its midst, baptizing them, and teaching them the glorious truths about following Christ? Congregations who are zealous for the Lord will have this command of Jesus Christ foremost in their hearts and in their efforts. When you attend the service, observe everything carefully and see if the Great Commission, although not necessarily uttered specifically, is the foundation of what the church does.
6. The mood of worship in a church is also crucial to how sound it is. Of course, there are many different styles and practices that churches all across the world follow, due to culture, experience, and the makeup of the congregation. But I want to call attention to the way in which worship is conducted. It is not a frivolous matter to approach the Holy and Awesome God in adoration. The Bible has several passages in which people were judged for improper worship of God. In Leviticus 10, Aaron's 2 sons were burned alive because they did not offer sacrifices in the right manner. King Uzziah of Judah was stricken with leprosy when he tried to perform the duties of a priest in contrary to God's Law. In the New Testament, certain Corinthian believers died because they were eating the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner. I am not trying to say that worship should be conducted in slavish fear and trembling, but I am urging that proper balance be followed when approaching God to adore Him.
The right church will take worship seriously. It will not seek to rack up an emotional fervor that is focused solely on "feeling good." Instead, it will seek to engage the whole person - the thoughts, the emotions, and the body, in focused adoration of God. Songs will be sung that helps us think about who God is and what He has done to glorify Himself. We will express our heartfelt thanks to Him for saving us. The sermon will be preached in a way that has us warmly submit to what the Lord has to say about Himself through the pastor. Sermons are not preached to satisfy our felt needs. They are preached to exhort and encourage us to keep going on in the faith and to continue to make Christ the focus of our attention (i.e. Hebrews 12). Keep all this in mind when attending services.
These are the main points you can remind yourselves of when seeking to find that right church for the worship of God. In some places, these churches are few and far apart, often "hidden." In other locations, God has blessed the area with a beautiful open witness of Himself. It's all about Him, and that is what church is supposed to be. We are a community of saints dedicated to praising and proclaiming our King, Lord, and Savior.
May God bless you with a loving congregation, a faithful pastor, and an outlet for ministry that will be used greatly by Him!
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