Guidelines for finding a healthy church
This will be a pinned post- I may add points and feel free to make suggestions, but it is my guide to a good church using Biblical principles.
1. The Gospel is preached- never go to a church that doesn't regularly preach the Gospel- Christ (God the Son) died on the cross, shed his blood on the cross for our sins and bore God's wrath on the cross, so that all who come to him and accept his sacrifice can be saved from an eternity in Hell. Don't forget his resurrection after three days!
2. The Bible is preached as God's word- very important as the words of the living God do not contain errors and are spiritually refreshing, indeed the Bible is the only book we can read everyday and not get bored by as it's His divine revelation to us and how we are to live our life. The Trinity, the Resurrection, the Crucifixion and all the core doctrines of the faith are preached.
3. Approach to charity- reading the book of James as part of my daily reading this morning, it is great when churches get involved in charity, however there is a very sensitive matter- sometimes churches get so obsessed with the community, they forget their own and they forget the Gospel, even forming LONG TERM partnerships with charities that are not Christian, which we are told to not have these partnerships.
4. The pastor is a biblically qualified MAN who cares for HIS flock- read the Biblical qualifications for being a pastor, it's not rocket science. If you noticed individuals who are absolutely not qualified to be pastors preaching dry sermons this shouldn't be a surprise- their attitude is essentially "I know I shouldn't be a pastor according to Your Word but we're in the 21st Century now and I'm so much smarter than You are".
5. The worship music- the music is about God- not people dressed up, showing off instruments and acting like a secular rock concert or singing with a "look at me" mindset, etc. Worship songs should lead us to reverence and worship and we should sing wholeheartedly- you're out of tune voice still sounds sweet to God if it's worship of Him.
6. You come out as spiritually refreshed and don't have a "we're not in church anymore" mindset during the week- the sermon should spiritually refresh you and remind you of God's holiness and sovereignty . The sermon must never be seeker sensitive, non Christians are welcome but sermons should never be for their comfort. No stupid gimmicks either- i.e. cringy performances of "Halloween house party". Church by the Glades, I'm talking to you!
7. Good Fellowship- one of the many ways Church give a tiny glimpse of Heaven is fellowship with other believers- if the congregation talk to other members as if they share a football team or they are at work, there is a issue. Non Christians should be made to feel welcome too.
8. Church discipline- how it works in my church is not overly harsh- unrepentant behaviour would get your membership revoked but we don't practice exclusion- you'd just not receive communion and you'd lose voting rights, but you'd still be welcome in fellowship, you'd just have to bare good fruit for membership to be open again. Non attendance- again not overly harsh, your membership would only be called into question if you attended infrequently for six months without a valid reason.
1. The Gospel is preached- never go to a church that doesn't regularly preach the Gospel- Christ (God the Son) died on the cross, shed his blood on the cross for our sins and bore God's wrath on the cross, so that all who come to him and accept his sacrifice can be saved from an eternity in Hell. Don't forget his resurrection after three days!
2. The Bible is preached as God's word- very important as the words of the living God do not contain errors and are spiritually refreshing, indeed the Bible is the only book we can read everyday and not get bored by as it's His divine revelation to us and how we are to live our life. The Trinity, the Resurrection, the Crucifixion and all the core doctrines of the faith are preached.
3. Approach to charity- reading the book of James as part of my daily reading this morning, it is great when churches get involved in charity, however there is a very sensitive matter- sometimes churches get so obsessed with the community, they forget their own and they forget the Gospel, even forming LONG TERM partnerships with charities that are not Christian, which we are told to not have these partnerships.
4. The pastor is a biblically qualified MAN who cares for HIS flock- read the Biblical qualifications for being a pastor, it's not rocket science. If you noticed individuals who are absolutely not qualified to be pastors preaching dry sermons this shouldn't be a surprise- their attitude is essentially "I know I shouldn't be a pastor according to Your Word but we're in the 21st Century now and I'm so much smarter than You are".
5. The worship music- the music is about God- not people dressed up, showing off instruments and acting like a secular rock concert or singing with a "look at me" mindset, etc. Worship songs should lead us to reverence and worship and we should sing wholeheartedly- you're out of tune voice still sounds sweet to God if it's worship of Him.
6. You come out as spiritually refreshed and don't have a "we're not in church anymore" mindset during the week- the sermon should spiritually refresh you and remind you of God's holiness and sovereignty . The sermon must never be seeker sensitive, non Christians are welcome but sermons should never be for their comfort. No stupid gimmicks either- i.e. cringy performances of "Halloween house party". Church by the Glades, I'm talking to you!
7. Good Fellowship- one of the many ways Church give a tiny glimpse of Heaven is fellowship with other believers- if the congregation talk to other members as if they share a football team or they are at work, there is a issue. Non Christians should be made to feel welcome too.
8. Church discipline- how it works in my church is not overly harsh- unrepentant behaviour would get your membership revoked but we don't practice exclusion- you'd just not receive communion and you'd lose voting rights, but you'd still be welcome in fellowship, you'd just have to bare good fruit for membership to be open again. Non attendance- again not overly harsh, your membership would only be called into question if you attended infrequently for six months without a valid reason.
