What Kind Of
Church Should I Be Looking For?
Dr. Belanger, I am presently
looking for a Church. What should I look
for in a church to determine if God
wants me and my family there?
Answer: This is a very
important question.
Belonging to a church is essential for
one's spiritual growth. No Christian
will thrive without fostering their
responsibility to a New Testament
Church.
Finding a godly church may not be as
difficult as some might assume. There is
a
difference between a worldly/carnal
church and a biblical/spiritual church.
For this obvious reason, the essentials
for knowing God's will in this regard
are clear.
First and foremost: It must be
doctrinally sound concerning the
fundamentals.
It must be in possession of the King
James Bible. This must not just be a
matter of preference only, but
principle.
Observe their concerns. Their paramount
concern must be the Glory of God by
virtue of the furtherance of the Gospel
of Christ by the power of the Holy
Spirit and characterized as a separated
body from ecumenicalism/evangelicalism
and worldliness.
Note their leadership. Be sure that the
pastor and deacons are men and godly.
Very importantly, make sure it is not a
deacon or elder run church. The pastor
and his pulpit ministry should reflect
and foster the direction of the church.
What should you do in seeking a
biblical church?
First, Determine that the Holy Spirit
will decide this matter for you..
Lastly, when you have discerned God's
will in this matter, member yourself
with the church of God's choice and
become faithful and fruitful in that
ministry.
Sadly, there are many areas where a
biblical church cannot be realized.
If this is the case for you, God may be
telling you to move or begin a new
church in your community. Obviously,
prayer and a proper knowledge of
scripture and sound godly counsel will
help to determine God's will in this
regard.
Very importantly. Once God identifies
His will concerning a church for you and
your family... Don't just go to
church... go WITH the church in serving
the Lord Jesus Christ.
The local New Testament Church has an
obligation to foster an atmosphere of
authority and authenticity.
Unfortunately, many believers are moved
by aspirations that have no biblical
basis. The result has been to seek
membership in the non-obligatory
invisible church. Only on their terms
will they visit around, and they will
be careful to ignore any church where
the pastor is giving the charge.
Often, the issue at hand is authority
(Heb. 13:7). Pastoral authority does not
lord over us... it leads us with
absolute resolve in the Word of God.
Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger
