"The entrance of thy words giveth light (Psalm 119:130)."
How to Select a Church.
"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV)."
For those new to Christianity, selecting the right church to attend can be confusing at best. And selecting the wrong church can be a disaster.
Here are some guidelines for selecting a church.
Bible: The church must use an accurate version of the Bible. The Bibles I recommend are the most commonly used by legitimate churches. Every Bible quoted on this website is a legitimate Bible.
Some large churches that use illegitimate Bibles include the Catholic Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (i.e. Mormons).
Source of Truth: The church should recognize the Bible as the only objective source of truth. Not church traditions, historical literature or the pronouncements of some church leader or group of elders.
If the church does not believe this, go somewhere else.
If the church teaches that anything else is equally inspired, go somewhere else.
The Bible should be viewed by the church as inerrant. The Bible is without error in all of its claims about the nature of the world and the nature of God.
The church's understanding and interpretation of Scripture should be consistent with other conservative Protestant churches and ministries. Examples of sound biblical teachings are found in the Videos section of this website.
If what you are hearing is markedly different, you are being taught by someone who is untrained, incompetent or who is a false prophet.
Salvation: The church should believe and teach that the only way to salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. The church should recognize and teach that each individual must accept salvation for himself/herself.
Allowable Differences: Legitimate churches may have differing viewpoints on non-central issues.
Some examples follow:
- Whether or not it is possible to lose your salvation.
- Speaking in tongues.
- Consumption of alcohol.
- Future prophetic events mentioned in the Book of Revelation and other Scriptures.
This is to be expected.
Cults: The church should not teach that it is the only "true" or legitimate church. The church should not discourage you from associating with family and friends. Nor should the church encourage you to turn all your worldly wealth over to the church. If any of these occur, leave immediately and never return.
Pastor: The pastor(s) should be a good example: “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer (pastor), he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap (1 Timothy 3:1-7 NIV).”
Fellowship: Active homosexuals and heterosexuals having sex outside of marriage must be excluded from fellowship (1 Corinthians 5:9-13, Romans 1:24-32). These individuals, if they are unsaved, may be invited to church to hear the gospel—and should be. However, once they become saved, they must abstain from sexual immorality in order to become church members. Others with prohibited lifestyles (Examples: extortioners, revilers) should also be excluded (1 Corinthians 5:11).
Teaching: The sermons should be helpful to you personally. If you’re not learning anything useful, you probably should look for another church.
Church Size: If you're having major problems with anxiety and/or depression, you should probably choose a larger church. This way, you can go to church without socializing more than you want to. Many Christians have not experienced these problems and some may react negatively—especially if they misinterpret what is going on. If you do go to a smaller church, take someone with you. Wherever you go to church, do not avoid anyone no matter how nervous/depressed you are. Otherwise, you will develop big problems very quickly!
Also, consider attending church online, when you're having problems with your emotions.
Belonging to a church that defies biblical standards is a sin. So is contributing money to such a church. Any willful sin will impede the willingness of God to answer your prayers. And you may not be successful in overcoming your mental health challenges.
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