Pastor Buddy’s Blog

How do you find a good church …

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Journal,

On our ‘Ask the Pastor’ site I often receive inquiries? about how to find a good family church to attend. This can be a difficult issue? since there are all kinds of churches, all kinds of denominations,? all kinds of sectarian groups, not to mention groups that are cultic in nature.

This does not mean that there aren’t many good family churches around. Actually there are a great many more good churches around than there are the not-so-good churches.?

When I speak of a not-so-good churches, I am not addressing groups that are known cults.? In every denomination and in? every non-denominational setting you will find good churches and? not-so-good churches.? Often what determines the difference in these two groups will be the pulpit ministry of the group.?

Here is? a short? list on what to look for? in finding a good church home:

(1) Avoid? churches that carry in them an elitist? or superior attitude towards other? Christians. These? churches are? often sectarian in nature. (Sectarians are? intolerant of the views of others.)

(2) Avoid? denominations that speak of their denomination as God’s? true church in the earth. Jesus said that His kingdom is not of this world. Jesus did not come to give us a better religion. He came to give us Hmself. You will find true Christians in all Christ-honoring churches, including those who are not-so-good.

(3) Look for a church that is generous in heart towards other Christians, who rejoice when other Church groups prosper, and who see? their own church as only one part of the greater body of Christ.

Why is this important? Because Jesus gave us a sign that will always be the mark of His people — “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn13:35) Christian love is not sectarian. It is? shared by all true believers.

(4)? Avoid churches where the pulpit dominates the conscience of? members.? Fear preaching? and pulpit intimidation are trademarks of not-so-good churches. This is where the? pastor is pretty much the? sole prophet-spokesman for God, never to be questioned.

(5) Seek that? healthy church where? Bible believing, Bible-teaching,? and? being able to question and discuss doctrinal teachings in a open manner are? important to that church. Open and honest dialogue? is a key to spiritual growth.

(6) Avoid churches that are excessively emotional? in nature. Emotionalism should never be seen as? a? sign of spirituality or of maturity. Oftentime? it is? just the opposite. While we do? rejoice in our emotions, the greater sign of spiritual depth will? be a? quietness of spirit.

When Peter spoke of our spiritual adornment he said it was, “the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” (1Pe3:4)

Then we hear this from the prophet Isaiah, “And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.” (Is32:17)

(7) Find a church where respect of? personal family life is? central to the leadership.? No pastor should become over-familiar with any family in the church.? This being over-familiar can cause the? break down of a? family.? (Nuff said.)

While the above seven? points are generic, they are good things to consider.

Perhaps I should go to say that the nature of a local church is pretty much set by the tone of the pulpit ministry. Where you find a humble, Spirit-led pastor in the pulpit, you will find those kinds of folk in the pews. When you find arrogance in the pulpit, guess what?

Let’s move on a bit. In my devotion this morning, one Scripture? caught my eye. It was where David said, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Ps11:3)

I? immediately thought of what the? Paul said about our foundation in Christ. What he said can be applied to both good and not-so-good church groups. Listen to the apostle:

“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will be become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.

“If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1Co3:11-15)

Paul is? addressing teachers of God’s word. Gold, silver, and precious stones, represent the? wonderful doctrines of Christ that build up our faith walk with Him.? Wood, hay and straw represent those? teachings that are not true to the doctrines of Christ, and will not stand up under the fires of life or under the judgment of God.

Notice carefully where Paul places the salvation of these teachers. Their salvation is based on one central factor — The foundation of Jesus Christ and the work of the cross.

This is where we need to see a Messianic prophecy — God says through Isaiah, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.” (Is28:16)

The foundation of Jesus Christ is firmly placed. How we build up our lives on the foundation is another manner. God’s people need to make sure they are building their lives on the? ‘gold, silver, and precious stones’ doctrines of Christ.

Need I say more?

Well, where do I go from here. Not a whole lot on the home front. Nathan came by yesterday afternoon to spend time with us. He is one busy fellow. In fact Nathan and Jeff are leaving today for a seminar in Baton Rouge. David Stellwagon is our minister for this evening.

I really need to brag (in an humble way) on David and Kathy. I married this couple quite a few years ago. As a young couple they spent twelve years on the? mission fields in Japan where the Lord gave them three fine sons.

David is an ordained minister with Christian Challenge. He is an excellent Bible teacher. But it wasn’t always that way. When Nathan first met David it was at Louisiana College. David was in his days of rebellion, wore black, and gave Nathan the jibbies.

Of course the Lord had a plan for his life that David wasn’t aware of at the time. The short side is that David returned to the Lord with a true heart of faith and has continued his journey of life as a true disciple of Jesus. As one of his rewards, the Lord God gave David a beautiful wife.

How do I know that Kathy came from the Lord? Glad you asked. Proverbs 19:14 says, “House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.”

Kathy is a good wife. She was willing to leave her people to travel as a young bride to a land that would be totally foreign to anything she had ever known. Yes, Kathy is a good wife.

But we have lots of families like that at Christian Challenge. Every church has them. These kind of folk are the heart of any ministry.

Looking forward to this evening’s service. I’ve never heard David teach anything without it going right to the heart of Bible faith.?

Time to close out.

Talk with you later.

? Buddy

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