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How to Find a Good Church (All
scriptural references are given in full following this article) It should be readily apparent that, in light of the generally, confused
and even apostate condition of so much of modern day, “Evangelicalism”, it
is not an easy task to find a good, God-fearing Church. (1
Timothy 4:1), (2 Timothy 4:3) Churches
that humbly, soberly, and faithfully, embrace everything God wishes to reveal
to them and bless them with by His Word and by His Holy Spirit. Churches whose shepherd (pastor), leaders and
prominent figures (elders, deacons and their wives) and laity are wholly after
holiness, “agape” love, and an unbreakable addiction to the pure Gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ. (1
Timothy 3:1-13) Churches that truly hate mammon (money) and
give their lives and substance in the service of their Master instead. Churches that expect God to move in
miraculous ways on their behalf and for His Glory. Again the Pastor and other leaders especially,
should be sincere and sober; that is with gravity or seriousness especially in
the things of God. (1
Timothy 3:1-13) (Titus 1:6-8) The leaders should not be negligent to enforce the
same, sober attitude and behavior in the church body. (1 Timothy 3:15)
In short, a
“normal” New Testament Church. (Acts
2:42-47) Not a perfected
Church but a normal Church!
For a Church fellowship that is faithful to God, will
certainly be on the pathway to Perfection. Surely, this is
not too much to ask!
Please notice: A good church will be marked by the following
characteristics and in this specific order with regards to its position on 3
key areas: Doctrine, its Devotional Life and its Deeds. 1. Doctrine - Faithfulness
to the Truth as it is revealed in the Bible Preach that the high standard in the New Testament which
demands that Love, Faith and Hope should be sought after in increasing measure
by all believers. The good or true church will never partake in any ecumenical
movement nor form worldly alliances but rather will never allow itself to
get into a position where it may be compelled to compromise the gospel. In
the devotion to God, the flock will be taught how to be sober and grave in
these last days as the Lord commands us.
3. Deeds
- A life of loving and all-consuming service
to the Living God, The church should carefully, biblically,
prayerfully select all leaders and office holders in the church; not just give
offices to persons with charisma, money or influence. (1
Timothy 3:1-13) (Titus 1:6-8) The Shepherd or Pastor should always know the state
of his flock and train them in righteousness but also protect them from wolves.
He cannot say that he didn’t know wolves would come into his pulpit
without his knowledge when he is pastor of that church. The church should evangelize first by living right (their
testimony of a holy life)and then by preaching the Gospel with a great compassion
for the lost. There needs to be special programs for
the youth also (especially in this most wicked generation that easily
victimizes them), so as to help them in their godly, sober walk with Jesus.
They should be able to see and experience joy
in the church and not silliness and joke playing and worldliness that
characterizes so many weak churches which stoop down to the standard of worldly
youth in the church instead of bringing them up to a higher, spiritual
level. (Titus
2:13) Acts
13:52 And the disciples were filled
with joy, and with the Holy
Ghost. The
church should be missions oriented, here and abroad. (Matthew 28:19,
20)
A true and good church would minister to the
believers suffering for Jesus’ sake and also to the immediate community of
unbelievers; first and foremost spiritually and then materially as need and
supply present themselves. A good church will not sap the faith of the believers
by spreading unbelief and foolish traditions of man (most “denominational”
distinctives). Nor will carnal manifestations or self-exalting
testimonies be allowed. Rather, a good church will be a believing church;
ever asking and expecting God to do the miraculous in their local church as
well as in the Church Universal on the earth.
All within the cautions and guidelines set forth in the Scriptures of
course. If you have a hard time finding a good church like
this, then pray and God will surely direct you to one. In the meantime, you may have to go to a fellowship
that most closely resembles this. There
you can use the opportunity to speak to
individuals about spiritual things. Don’t be discouraged though it may be a bit painful
to see people sometimes take God for granted and, “do their own thing.” Very important: wherever you go, you ought to pray before attending
the church that God would indeed use the pastor or other speaker as a
mouthpiece with a specific Word for you.
This can happen even by just the Word being read from the pulpit
also. God can do all these things for
us when we are truly thirsty and believing and seeking His face first and
foremost when attending a church. God
can therefore minister to you still in this way in the interim while He
prepares you for a better place. Please read the scriptural support for
above article. Romans 16:17 Now I beseech
you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the
doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to
reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and
unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save
thyself, and them that hear thee. Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write
unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and
exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints. 1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide
still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some
that they teach no other doctrine, 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap
to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 1 Timothy
4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh
expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed
to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of
good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 1
Timothy 3:1-13
1 ¶ This is a true saying, If a man desire the office
of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop
then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good
behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; {of good…: or, modest} 3 Not given
to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler,
not covetous; {given…: or, ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as one in wine} 4 One that
ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a
man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of
God?) 6 Not a
novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the
devil. {a novice: or, one newly come to the faith} 7 Moreover he
must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach
and the snare of the devil. 8 ¶ Likewise must the deacons be grave, not
doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the
mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let
these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being
found blameless. 11 Even so
must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the
deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses
well. 13 For they
that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good
degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. Titus
1:6-8
6 ¶ If any be blameless, the husband of one wife,
having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a
bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon
angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover
of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 1 ¶ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his
kingdom; 2 Preach the
word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own
lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,
and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions,
do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 2 Timothy 4:
1-4 1
Timothy 3:15
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