Question:  Dear Greg,

            What do I need to look for or consider when deciding on a church to attend?  Are there certain warning signs I should be aware of?

            Ronald

Answer:  Dear Ronald,

            Here are some issues to be considered when looking for a church home:

1.      Christ centered.  A church should be centered in Christ.  Jesus should not be an afterthought or some tacked on “nice thing to say”, but his first and second comings, his sufficient work on the cross and his resurrection should be the absolute foundation of all that is said and done.

2.      A healthy church identifies with the core teachings of historic Christianity— for the last 2000 years.  A healthy church will not pit itself against the historic faith and decide that basic doctrinal teachings that Christ led the church to believe and to grow in for the past 2000 years were in error until that particular church and its founder/pastor came along.  Such a teaching is a sign of spiritual dysfunction and perhaps even of a cult.

3.      A healthy church is centered on the gospel, not on glitz, entertainment or excitement.  A healthy church can be fun and interesting, but that does not make a church healthy.  The gospel of Jesus Christ gives life and health.

4.      A healthy church will not claim to have superior teaching or understanding, “more” knowledge, “better” doctrines—and will not claim to be the “only true church” as opposed to all other churches.  A foundational teaching of the historic church is that the body of Christ is united and that no one denomination or physically incorporated entity owns God here on earth.

5.      Preaching in a healthy, well-balanced church is centered in and on the Bible— not co-equally with the teachings and writings of some religious leader or some revelation given equal status with the Bible (i.e. the Book of Mormon, for example).

6.      A healthy, well-balanced church will understand the difference between religion—which always leads to legalism (the idea that we can gain God’s favor by what we do and perform), over against the grace of God.  A healthy church teaches that salvation is by faith alone, by Christ alone and by grace alone.

            With those specifics in mind, some more general attributes:

1.      Look for a church where God is worshipped.

2.      Look for a church where the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper/communion

3.      Look for a church where fellowship, discipleship and outreach are emphasized.  That is, where Christians befriend and serve others, where Christians are prepared and trained to further help others spiritually and where there is genuine outreach beyond the walls and denominational boundaries of that church.  Church is not an end in itself; church should not stop at the parking exit or with church activities and picnics.  Church should not simply be a holy huddle where Christians flock together, never reflecting the light of Jesus Christ beyond their own environment.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht