My husband and I have been married for 14yrs. We have attended numerous churches over the years; partly because of our moves and partly because we never had roots in any church family. I was the one always going on the church hunt in whatever town we were in. Sometimes we attended church and sometimes we didn't. We would go years or months without attending. Our attendance was very sporadic. The way in which I chose a church did not have any rhyme or reason, just whatever felt good I suppose. Once I discovered the contemporary churches, I was hooked. The choosing process became much easier and was complete within the first 15 minutes of being inside. It was all about the music. If the church had any type of "Christian" in the name...I would try it. So once in the service, I was waiting for the band to take the stage. If I liked it and felt "moved" I would bring the family. If any type of "old-fashioned" music was played, I was outta there. If hymnals were taken out, I was immediately angry for being subjected to such a thing. The message meant nothing to me, nor did anything regarding doctrine or theology. So once a church was chosen, I looked forward to going in order to get my high. This was all done through the music which was either slow and sultry, or loud and rockin. Generally the lights were dimmed and all were encouraged to raise their hands and feel the presence of the Spirit etc. On the weeks that I did go, I left feeling uplifted and still on my spiritual high. I never had any convictions or need to leave that building and change or improve anything about my spiritual life. I mostly attended alone, but my husband would come with us here and there. We attended maybe twice a month or so. We never prayed together and a Bible was very rarely cracked in our home. I was living the life of an unsaved person and had a terrible testimony (that will be another blog). This contradicted what the Bible said should have been my behavior, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new." My idea of witnessing was wearing a "Jesus Saves" shirt or blasting my Christian rock music when pulled up to a stoplight. I would look for music for the kids that was exactly like secular music with Christian lyrics. Seriously, it was EXACTLY the same....We no longer listen to CCM as it's come to be known. Here's a really great page I found on music www.letusreason.org/Doct72.html. For some, it may not hinder their walk, for me and my family however, it did. Romans 12:2 says "And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God". I feel that music is NOT neutral and that CCM is indeed conforming to the worlds ways. Don't forget, Lucifer was in charge of music when he was in heaven still....don't think for a moment that he doesn't use it in the world today. I recently saw a bumper sticker that said, "Jesus rocks". It just made me shake my head. No....Jesus doesn't "rock" He is the creator of the WORLD. He deserves the most reverence and respect and honor. Anyways.....
About a year and a half ago, we moved back to Arizona. This time in with a friend of mine who attended another "Christian" church. Most of the contemporary churches do not claim a denomination and are commonly "non-denominational". This has come to mean to me personally that they don't like the hard questions. They don't want to take a stand on the things that the Bible says that people don't like to hear. I had this experience in a church that I attended in Portland, OR. I honestly can't recall the exact question that I asked the Pastor there, but I know that he told me that different people believe different things on that and that it doesn't affect our salvation either way. The Bible was never cracked and he would not elaborate or give any scriptures regarding the subject I had asked about. So I lived with this friend of mine for about a month and then moved across the street and next door to my now dear friend. Her children invited my children to youth group on Wednesday nights. Husband and I were only attending church maybe 2 to 3 times per month at this point. After the kids had been attending for a month or so, I inquired about going "soul winning" with them. Of course I had never heard of it and had no idea what it even was. I was basically told that it was only for members of the church and so I got the web address to check things out further. I was able to listen to the Pastor preach on the website and I knew that I wanted to check it out. It turned out to be different than any church my husband and I had ever attended together. Don't get me wrong, we were both a bit shocked because it's just not what we were used to. It was the kind of church that at first glance would seem "uptight" (as husband put it) and judgemental. The thing is.....we and sooo many are so accustomed to attending churches that tickle our ears and won't call a sin a sin, that the slightest hint of any of that and we shut down. We become offended, we want to go where they preach nothing but God is Love and don't ever preach the hard stuff...that we may need some actual GROWTH. 2 Timothy 4:1-4 says, "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. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 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; And they shall turn away their ears from truth unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work on an evangelist, make full proof of they ministry." This sounds much like the churches that I attended. Does it sound to you like doctrine is important? What does the Bible say about doctrine? John 7:16-17 says "Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself". Eph 4:14 says, "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of DOCTRINE, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" Boy was I 'tossed to and fro'. I didn't question anything that the Pastors of these churches taught in word or deed. I just assumed that they were teaching the Bible. You MUST study on your own. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth". I Timothy 4:6-7 says, "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good miinister of Jeus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good DOCTRINE, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise theyself rather unto godliness". Here is a small list of fundamental doctrines supported by scripture:
- God the uncreated brought into existance all things John 1:1-5
- Christ is the eternal God. Christ-God in the flesh John 10:30 and John 14:9 and John 1:1-2
- There is one God in 3 distinct persons; the Trinity 1 John 5:7
- The virgin birth Matt 1:18-25
- Death of Christ as only means of salvation Rom 6:23
- Universal sinfulness; imputed sin Rom 5:12
- Born again to be saved John 3:1-17
- Baptism by submersion Rom 6:1-7, Acts 8:35-40, Col 2:11-14
- Rapture of the church I Thess 4:13-18
There are many other important doctrines that I have probably left out, these are just a few. Check to see what your church believes on these things and if they are teaching what the scriptures teach. Does your church teach and believe that Jesus is fully God and fully man. Do they teach how to witness to other religions or do they think that everyone can pursue God however they want? Mark 16:15 says "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Do you think that this only applies to Pastors and missionaries? Nope. Does the church you attend have a soul winning program? Does your Pastor tell you that you need to be sharing the gospel with people? Our church meets twice a week to go door knocking and sharing the gospel, it's a wonderful blessing. What books does your church promote for their members to read? What organizations is the church affiliated with? Do you even know? If this information is not on your churches website, ask the Pastor. Years ago I had no idea that the church I was attending was actually Lutheran! I had been there for a month or so when they mentioned a baby baptism after service. I knew that was not scriptural and I asked and they said they were Lutheran. Many churches who simply have a name with no denomination are affiliated with a denomination and just don't want to put it in their name. In researching one church that I used to attend, this is what I found on their website in regards to their weekly message. It is described as "passionate and inspiring that is Biblically BASED...preaching is presented with great stories and lots of humor" See this is the thing....we want to go to church and be entertained, this was sooo me. Another church that I used to attend I just found out is affiliated with the "restoration movement". They believe that you must be baptized to be a Christian which contradicts Eph 2:8-9 that salvation is by faith and NOT by works. The restoration movement also believes that you can lose your salvation. This contradicts Rom 8:30 saved by God, and Eph 1:13-14 sealed by the Holy Spirit, and Eph 4:30 kept by God. A church that I heard of from someone else says on their website. "We recognize that differences exist concerning theological issues, worship styles and sacramental practices. But we believe that these differences are overcome through sharing a common life in Jesus Christ". This sounds very nice and everything, but does it give you pause at all? Have you ever heard of the "Ecumenical movement"? maybe your church is part of it and you don't even know. This movement is attempting to join the faiths and is disregarding what they feel are the less important doctrines in order to join us all together in love. Sounds nice right?
Check this link to learn about what they want. www.jeremiahproject.com/prophesy/ecumen01.html
If anyone discards doctrine for the sake of being united with others, they are directly going against all that Christ stands for. The clarion call today in unity of the world and unity of religion. This is the false unity that will be headed by the Antichrist. Rev 17-18 Uniteing under another gospel, even if it's slightly altered is what Paul spoke of to the Galations in 2 Cor 4:2-4 "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to ever man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them"
Another thing that I want to touch on is how is the church run? The Bible talks specifically about how the church is to be run and the qualifications of the leadership. How many times has your Pastor been married? How many times have your deacons been married? What is their behavior outside of church. I Tim 3:1-7 speaks of the "bishop" or Pastor and gives the qualifications. Does your church disregard these things? The same chapter speaks of the qualifications for deacons in vs 8-13. These are to be followed in the churches today.
And lastly.....who attends your church. What are they like? Do they live Christian lives? I can tell you that in other churches I was attending, I was not only going to church with those people, but I was also going to the bars with them as well. Is that who you're going to church with? Do you put on your Sunday face with the rest of the congragation but you know that they're all as hypocritical as you; including the Pastor? I'm not saying for a moment that anyone is without sin, or that anyone is "better" than another. But.....do you or the people who you go to church with walk the walk? Every week I attend church and find that I have so much growing to do. I am thankful that I feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit when I go to church, that I hear the things that are hard to hear. I'll tell you though. Two years ago, if you had told me that my husband and I would be faithfully attending church three times a week....I would have laughed. You need to see change, grow spiritually, and know that you are under sound doctrine and preaching of God's Word.....I pray that this can bless your hearts.
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