How To Pick The Right Church

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT CHURCH

I have a sister in Christ whom I was talking to one day, and though she's a believer, she has not found a church to go to.  As a matter of fact, she felt a bit leary of trying to go out and pick one.  So I got the compulsion to lay out a plan for her and anyone else who might be wanting to either start going to a church, or maybe change churches or even denominations, and probably for good reasons!
To start with, Christ meant for a formation of a church, and for Christians to attend to it; "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18)  He did not mean for us to stay at home and guess at what Scripture passages mean; some Scriptural misinterpretations could be downright disastrous, and the devil would love for you to fall for one!  Additionally, how can you obey God regarding tithing?  "Will a man rob God?  Yet ye have robbed me.  But ye say, 'Wherein have we robbed Thee?'  In tithes and offerings.  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation.  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Mal. 3:8 - 10)

Now that it is established we all need to go to a church, the next step is encumbersome, because there are so many wrong churches to attend.  Some of those megachurches on TV are the tip of the iceberg for churches not to attend.  You may have been withdrawn from selecting one because you've seen on the news how this megachurch pastor and that megachurch pastor fell, and how far was his fall!  "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." (James 3:1) (Let the reader understand "masters" is meant for "teachers")

Each church you pick to attend for judgment whether to join the congregation will have many facets to observe, one being conduct; "Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.  For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.  For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.  For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.   Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.  For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.  Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.  For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.  Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?  Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.  But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." (1 Cor. 11:2 - 16)

Let's narrow this down to judging for yourself if the people act like Christians.  Do they act like family to you right away, and do they dress appropriately?  Do they gossip of one another, even of the pastor?  Does the pastor puff himself up, or is he closeminded to things that are within biblically acceptable parameters?  Does he preach from an open bible, or from notes beside one that is open/available?  Take time to make these observations, as they will not immediately become apparent, but also do not immediately commit to becoming a member, or it will be hard to extract yourself to go find a more suitable congregation.  A plus is a church that has bible study available, for both adults and children alike.  Many adults have not been raised in the way to go, so they need teaching at a later age; we all do!  Once in a while even an old pastor may be surprised that he can learn something!

"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself." (Luke 24:27)  As Christ gave example, every pastor should be giving the congregation messages and bible study from the pulpit!  Additionally, the messages he preaches to the congregation should not only match his behavior, but also the bible as well!  "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." (1 Tim. 3:1 - 7)  There are some pastors out there who test the congregation on being forgiving, whether they mean to, or not.  Pastors are no more perfect than you are, so you might forgive a situational happenstance or minor thing.  However, if they are not teaching the truth from the bible, and their teaching doesn't match Scripture, de-select THAT church!  Any good pastor always has to do their homework for whatever they're preaching, so their messages should always be true to what is written in the bible.

So picking the right church is like shopping for a marriage partner; you're picking the right one for the lifetime of living in that community.  Being equally yoked to a marriage partner isn't much different to being a member of a church; just like you date around until you believe you have the right partner for life, so you want to pick your church the same way.  How is being afraid of picking the wrong marriage partner any different than being afraid of picking the wrong church?  If you have all the facets in mind when observing a potential choice of what you want, and you have a match, then you probably have picked the right church!

Another facet is their doctrine.  Do they believe Christ is the Son of God, came in the flesh, and died for ALL our sins, and rose again on the third day?  Do they believe He sits on the right hand of the Father?  Do they believe in being baptized after accepting Christ as their Savior, and do they believe in repenting their old carnal lifestyles for walking in the Spirit?  Do they believe Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and nobody comes to the Father except through Him?  Do they believe Christ will come again and set up His millenial reign?  Do they believe homosexuality is a sinful lifestyle that cannot continue after accepting Christ?  You need to know the answers to all these questions, and others I may not have written here!

One last thing; don't leave God out of your choice; ask Him first in prayer, both before starting your search and at the time you think you have the right one.  Remember the mistake of Joshua; "And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.  And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them." (Josh. 9:14 - 15)  Joshua made peace with a strain of heathens, and that bore consequences to the Israelites even to this day!  God bless your search, those who seek!