Choosing a Church

by John Waddey⁽⁴³⁾
firstcenturychristian

This morning I received a call from a man who was looking for a church with which to worship. His one question was, what kind of youth program do you have? In a land with a multiplicity of different denominations and in most towns several congregations of the Church of Christ, people have lots of choices when it comes to choosing a church. In my half century of preaching I have observed the following reasons for making the choice where one will worship.

* For some, they are looking for the largest church in the community. Somewhere in their subconscious mind is the thought that bigger must be better. If lots of people attend there, then I need to be there.

* Some choose their church on the basis of convenience. Is it close to my home? Is the parking convenient? Do the hours of worship suit me? Are the pews comfortable? Is the temperature kept at a comfortable level?

* Some select a church for social reasons. Do my friends attend there? Will I find new friends there? Are they a friendly church?

* Some parents look for a church that has an active youth program to meet the social and spiritual needs of their children.

* Some pick a church for financial and business reasons. Are their professional people there who can be of help to me? Are their potential customers or clients in the membership? Some politicians fall into this category.

* A few choose a church in hope of finding a source of monetary assistance. There are professional moochers in our society who eschew working for a living. They find churches to be a generally easy mark for a sad story. So they find a naive church with a fat purse and proceed with their plan.

* Others choose a church for romantic reasons. A young person might be enticed to a particular church because a certain boy or girl attends there. To be near the object of their affection, they attend that church. Some adults select a church because it offers a large field of prospects for matrimony. Active " singles programs " often attract these seekers.

* Some folks choose a certain church for reasons of ethnicity. They are more comfortable worshiping with folks of their own race and culture.

* Some select a church for esthetic reasons. They are impressed with beauty of architecture and furnishings. Priests in gorgeous array, and fine works of art appeal to their taste. The thunderous peels of the pipe organ and a professional choir stir their worshipful instincts.

* Some look for a church that will provide them with free entertainment. A funny preacher who tells lots of jokes, singers and musicians to present free concerts on a weekly basis appeal to them. A church with lots of social activities such as fellowship meals, sports activities, etc. will be their choice.

* Some select a church because of its preacher. I have not in mind a man that is a faithful teacher of God’s word. They want a man of charismatic personality, one that can entertain and charm them, one that knows how to stroke people and make them happy. His sermons and classes need not be strongly biblical, so long as they are entertaining and interesting.

* For some, their choice is one of denominational loyalty. They set out to find a particular kind of Baptist or Presbyterian church, etc. Nothing else will do them. Often they will not worship at all if they cannot find " their kind of denomination. "

* For others any kind of church will do. They are not the least concerned with the faith or worship so long as they can say, I am a member of.... or I worship at......church.

* There are some whose choice is a family matter. They grew up in a family that was Catholic, or Methodist, etc. That is their only consideration. They want a church like the one in which their family holds membership.

Since we choose a church and attend its services in order to worship and serve God, it seems our choice of a church or congregation should be based primarily on " Which church would God would have me attend? " Christ built His church (Matt. 16:18). In his painful death, he purchased the church with His blood (Acts 20:28). He is the head over all things to his church (Eph. 1:22). The church is His spiritual family on earth (I Tim. 3:15). He is the savior of his church (Eph. 5:23). He said, if you love me you will keep my commandments (John 14:15). The determining factor in choosing a church is, " Is this Christ’s church? " If it is a church founded by man and operated on some man’s ideas, it does not deserve our consideration. Do this church worship as Christ has directed in His word (Matt. 28:20)? Does it teach his gospel without addition or subtraction? Do they serve as He has directed them to serve? Will this church help me to know and do God’s will? The size of the church, the esthetical beauty of its facility, the social aspects really should not matter at all. Does the preacher declare the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Does he preach the truth in love (Eph. 4:15)? Will this church help me and my family get to heaven? These are the things that should weigh heavily when you choose a church.

Article submitted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 & read 43 times.

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