Are you looking for a church home?
How will you decide which church to pick?
Based on which church has the best building, the most entertaining pastor, the most friendly members, the best children’s program, the closest to your home, or the hymnal you like best. This isn’t like picking out a car or even a doctor. It isn’t about which external ‘features’ you like best because “the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”(I Samuel 16:7)
So how are you to decide which to join? Based on external things like how big or small the church is, how the church is organized, how the singing is, or how many programs they have? No. You are to decide based on the features God wants. God cares about what’s inside. God cares about Doctrinal purity.
This is the feature that God wants you to be looking for in a church. God wants you to be in fellowship only with people who believe, teach, and practice what the Bible teaches. 1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. Romans 16:17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
The Lord wants us to be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) who examined the scripture to see if what Paul was teaching was true. We are not to join a church without checking to see if everything they teach is in agreement with God’s word.
Now many say that it is all a matter of interpretation. That each church has its own interpretation of Scripture and each is valid. This idea however is contrary to Scripture.
2 Peter 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
When God says something it has only one true meaning. God meant it one way. He did not leave it for man to interpret how it suits him. And it is the same with picking a church. You are not to pick the one that suits you. You are not to look for the features you want as if you were buying a car. You are to look for the features God wants- Doctrinal purity.
God’s Word is our great heritage And shall be ours forever; To spread Its light from age to age Shall be our chief endeavor. Through life it guides our way, In death it is our stay. Lord, grant, while worlds endure, We keep its teachings pure Throughout all generations.