Making new friends at church?

It's no problem if you have friends you grew up with in your hometown and you never left. Living in your hometown can crush your soul.

But you move away. Your mom tells you, "Find a good church. You'll find lifetime friends there."

The opportunity cost: you have to march in step. Take upon yourself a certain system of beliefs.

Contemporary Christian singer Michael W Smith sang, "...friends are friends forever if the Lord is Lord of them." If your understanding of God evolves differently from their understanding of God, the deal is off. You lose your friends if you change your religion.

Don't make those kind of friends.

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powernap · 56-60, M

First of all, I don't put much stock in Michael W. Smith. If you like him, fine, but personally, I think he's overrated. The song is called "Friends," and the lines are kind of catchy. Back in the early 80's, he and Amy Grant were the talk of the town, musically. They got married and then divorced, for whatever reason, and that made headlines as well.

Love (unconditional) is one of the signs of s true believer. If you go to any church and they start saying "you must believe... In order to be considered a part of our family" turn the other direction and run. 1 John chapter 4,verses 7 and 8 say "Beloved, let us love one another ; for love is of God, and he who loves and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love."

I remember coming across a lady on the web who is quite knowledgeable when it comes to knowing what scriptures have to say about theology and beliefs. She has a sound "checklist" she will go through before committing to a church or pastor. I encourage you to put together a "checklist" of your own. This could include you belief regarding the trinity, baptism in the Holy Spirit, the rapture, etc.