How to find a good Church
By Don Koenig
With all I have said about apostasy in the church you might wonder how to find a good Church:
- Find a church that teaches that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone
- Find a church that regularly teaches a salvation message
- Find a church that believes the Bible is the word of God
- Find a church that teaches the Bible
- Find a church that has one or more good teachers whose teaching lines up with scriptural truths.
- Find a church that has a full time shepherd over the flock
- Find a church that will protect the sheep and will not let wolves speak from their pulpit
- Find a church that disciples new Christians
- Try to find a church that has small home groups for lay evangelism, discipleship and fellowship
- Find a praying church
- Find a worshiping church
- Find a church that evangelizes the lost
- Find a missionary church
When you find a church that you think has the qualities listed above also avoid those that have attributes listed below:
- Avoid churches that allow those who live in a known sinful lifestyle to have leadership positions in their church
- Avoid churches that add works, obedience, or keeping rules of their church as a requirement for salvation
- Avoid churches that go beyond what scripture teaches to new "truths", doctrines and experiences
- Avoid churches that primarily have seeker-friendly worship services orientated to attract unbelievers
- Avoid churches that say unfulfilled prophetic scripture to Israel is now spiritualized to the Church
- Avoid churches that avoid teaching certain parts of the Bible
- Avoid churches that primarily have Bible studies out of books and magazines instead of the Bible
- Avoid churches that have a woman as head pastor
- Avoid churches that say tradition is as important or more important than what is written in scripture
- Avoid churches that think Christian fellowship means fellowship only one or two hours on Sunday
- Avoid churches whose leaders manipulate you or coerce you to do things you do not feel God wants you to do or has gifted you to do
- Avoid churches whose leaders think they have a special anointing and who always have a new word from the Lord
- Avoid churches that believe the gifts of prophecy and tongues can be learned
- Avoid churches where prayer is by rote
- Avoid churches that say other books besides the Bible are also the word of God
- Avoid churches where salvation only comes from following their methodology of baptism
- Especially avoid churches that do not hold to any of the foundations of the faith as found in the apostle's creed given below.
MODERN ENGLISH VERSION
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy *catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. AMEN.*(catholic in this creed means the one universal church, not just the Roman or Orthodox Catholic denominations)
Here is a real working model of a good church