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Church
It’s difficult to walk the Christian life
alone. The challenges of living for God in a sinful world can often
overwhelm even the strongest believers. The scriptures tell us
to team up with other believers to:
Worship God together (Psalm 34:3)
Stir up and motivate one another to
love, do good works and to follow God (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Teach and admonish one another in
psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16)
Encourage one another to live in
righteousness daily (Hebrews 3:12-14)
Be refreshed through
fellowship together (1 Corinthians 16:18)
Rebuke in the fear of God
and in love for each other
Mutally submit to one another in
humility (Ephesians 5:21).
Pray for each other for healing (James
5:15-16)
Edify one another
through our spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8, 1
Corinthians 12:7-28)
Being "plugged in" to a church will help us
meet the above objectives and foster our spiritual growth. It will
help equip us for service in God's
kingdom.
If you are not involved with a church, we
encourage you to find one and get involved. If you are involved in a
church that you don't like, ask God what to do. Sometimes God places
us in situations we don't like so we'll make changes for His glory.
In other cases, we may simply be in the wrong place and God is calling us
to move.
What to look for in a church:
There are many different kinds of churches. Before you
start the church search, be sure to ask God to guide you in the
search. Ask Him to show you the right place to go. Be sure to
verify that a prospective church's doctrinal positions are in line with
what you believe. Some notable good things to look for include:
- Belief in Jesus Christ as the risen Son of
God for salvation; that salvation only comes through faith in Jesus
Christ
- Belief in the Bible as the inspired Word
of God
- People reflect God's love; an overall
atmosphere of love in the church
- Leadership is accountable to a real person
or group of persons (no "lone ranger" pastors)
- Balance in employment of the gifts of the
Holy Spirit; peaceful and orderly, not chaotic
- Ongoing training in Christian living
(Bible studies, Sunday School, Men's Ministry, Women's Ministry, Prayer
Meetings, etc..)
- Belief in the current healing and
delivering power of God: This will be helpful to the recovering sex
addict, as it encourages faith for healing.
- Active prayer ministry
- Active evangelism or outreach
ministries
- Multi-cultural, multi-racial,
multi-generational
- Sunday school and youth workers are
screened (ex. background checks)
- Church leadership is friendly / respectful
toward other churches in the area (as opposed to hostile, derisive,
competitive or condescending)
- Praise and worship of God is a priority
during services
Trouble signs: There are many possible deceptions that the enemy can
use to lead people astray from within a church. As you check out a
church, remember to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in truth and
discernment. He will help you see things that might otherwise go
unnoticed. Here are some examples of trouble signs in a church's
doctrine or teachings:
- Salvation requires membership in the
church or its denomination
- Salvation is not guaranteed through Jesus
Christ
- The Old Testament does not apply
today
- Homosexual lifestyle is acceptable for a
Christian
- Sex is not sinful between unmarried
people
- Restrictions on what kind of food you can
eat
- Instrumental music is not allowed in
worship
- Healing is not a part of today's church
ministry (ex. it died out with the Apostles)
- There is no absolute truth
- The Bible is outdated
- Worship or "excessive" veneration of
saints (like Virgin Mary), historical figures or church leaders
- Legalism (salvation by keeping the letter
of the law)
- Association with known Christian cult or
false religion: Scientology, Christian Science, Unitarianism,
Jehovah's Witness, Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS/Mormonism), Mind
Science, Metropolitan Church (gay/lesbian theology), Transcendental
Meditation, Unification Church, etc...
Granted, there are no perfect churches, but
hopefully you will find a good church that will best encourage you in your
living for Christ. As you search, ask God to show you where he wants
you to fellowship and what your role should be. Don't settle for TV
church, although it can make a good supplement to your spiritual
walk. We all need face-to-face interaction and encouragement in the
body of Christ!
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