Thoughts on Church Searching

According to a Pew Research report titled "Choosing a New Church or House of Worship"[1], released in August 2016, roughly 49% of American adults actively sought a new congregation or house of worship during their adult lives. We observe a similar situation globally and in our own Malaysian context.

There are occasions in life when church searching becomes necessary. For instance, individuals may need to relocate to a new area, hence necessitating a search for a new local church to settle in. At other times, issues within churches, whether justified or otherwise, can prompt a departure of congregants in search of what they believe to be a more fulfilling spiritual environment.

Whatever the situation might be, loyalty to the local church is often neglected. And certainly, even when it has to be done 'let all things be done decently and in order' 1 Corinthians 14:40.

Interestingly, nowhere in the Bible is the idea of church searching even suggested. This may be because the period of the New Testament covered only the first two generations of Christians, and as such most remained in the churches in which they were converted. When movement between churches occur in the New Testament period, (such as in Acts 11:25-26, Barnabas brings Paul from the church in Tarsus to the church in Antioch), we clearly see that these movements are expressly called by God.

Furthermore, it's undeniable that there is now wealth of church options available. Particularly in urban areas, numerous churches with varied practices, beliefs, and histories coexist within the same locality. This abundance paves the way for the "church hopping" we see today.

To be clear, the only biblical basis for leaving a church is if the church ceases to be a true church by embracing heresy or error, tolerating scandalous sin, or because the church member has changed his doctrinal views or providentially moved to another location far from the church.[2]

Nevertheless, whether for good or bad reasons, we do meet with quite a number of Christians who are in the process of searching for a local church which they may call home.

However, since much church searching begins for self-centered reasons, 'for all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus' Philippians 2:21. We therefore find that much church searching is conducted in a self-centered way.

How are these self centered attitudes displayed?

Convenience/comfort centered

The key way this often shows itself is when people look for churches in a community centered way.

• Community within the church - some churches consist mainly of a certain age group because it is easier to get along with people your age e.g. churches with mainly young people

• Christian fellowship and community are certainly important, however true fellowship is in Christ, and in the gospel. Many factors that make up a great community can be found in a social club as much as in a church

• The opposite can also happen, some look for big churches where they can maintain a level of anonymity and easily get out of further engagement with church without anyone noticing them

All too often, we hear comments praising churches that clearly show that convenience comes first

• “I love the music there!”

• “The sermon is short and sweet”

• “The sermons are just what I like to hear” (Proper preaching must both challenge and encourage)

• “It’s just what I’m used to”

• “The timing suits me, I have the rest of my Sunday free”

However, such attitudes stand in stark contrast to what the Bible calls us to: self-denial: ‘Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” Matthew 16:24

If convenience and comfort are first in our lives when searching for a church, not only are our priorities misplaced, we put ourselves at risk of losing our own life, even in the context of searching for a church ‘For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?’ Luke 9:24-25

Circumstance centered

Though not as often expressed, many friends have these thoughts in their mind when selecting a church:

• “Is this a good place where I can find my future husband/wife?”

• “Is there a good Sunday School/Youth programme for my children?”

• "If I go to this church, my parents/wife will be happy with me”

• “Maybe this church is what I need during this lonely period of my life”

Oftentimes, programmes and activities distract us from the authentic purpose of the church.

If we find ourselves in need of particular things, we should pray and trust God for them. Perhaps the Lord may choose to answer these needs through the church he is sending us to, but we should leave it up to God how to provide for us.

Career centered

By career oriented I mean church hopping in order to make progress within church circles, just as a professional might move from one job to another for their career advancement. More often the driver tends to be a case of being pushed to search for a different church because something did not go the way they want to in the previous one. This can be the hidden motive behind someone looking to settle in a particular church.

The person may look to see whether there is a path to leadership or influence for them in the church, or to think of themselves as the hero tasked with reforming the church (even when it is for good, if uninvited, it is inappropriate to seek for a new church just to influence it)

The person may look to see whether their gifts e.g. music, drama can be suitably recognised in the church. There can be that desire to be the center of attention.

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 6:1

Self-centered church searching is also quite prominent because it is not hard to find churches that suit our taste, because many churches have been changing in order to cater for these tastes, and to attract people to join them.

If we have these motives when searching for a church, perhaps the first thing that needs to be done is to search out our own motives. What is our purpose in looking for a church.

Instead of self-centeredness, we would suggest that most importantly, church searching should be Christ centered. Just as churches themselves should be Christ centered.

Christ centeredness understands what Christ is to the church. Christ is the head and savior of the church, which is his body. Christ is the savior of the church as he performs the threefold office of prophet, priest and king for his church.[3] Since these three offices are what Christ has given himself to for the church, these then form the basis of what we should be concerned about when we are searching for a church.

As we delve into what's been and will be discussed, you might feel we're getting into the nitty-gritty.

However, church searching, is indeed a solemn endeavor and not to be taken lightly for no decision likely affects our spiritual life than the church we are committed to.

The prophethood of Christ shows us that we should be concerned about the doctrine of the church we are committed to.

'but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.' 1 Timothy 3:15

A Christ centered church would then be concerned about the teaching of the church.

The priority of someone searching for a church should then be to hear the Word of God. Roman Catholics often say they go to church for mass, but an Evangelical ought to say that they are going to church to hear the Word of God.

The preaching in the church should be the first consideration in a church search. Not all preachers are equally gifted, however, there is no excuse for preaching to not be bible-based and edifying.

• The church searcher should be concerned to hear the pure gospel being preached, seeing as this is central to the Bible. 'For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.' 1 Corinthians 2:2

• The church searcher should be concerned to be profited by the preaching of the Word. The Scripture is 'profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.' 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Does the preaching of God's Word in a particular church equip you? Does it help you to grow spiritually, to be complete, to mature?

• The church searcher should be concerned to hear error and falsehood being rejected. Warning and correction are all too often neglected in teaching, because it is seen as divisive. However, faithfulness to God's Word and the ministry requires that warnings be given from the pulpit.

When it becomes clear that error is being taught, this is a clear indicator that this is not a suitable church.

Everything else in the church should flow from the teaching that is given. The Word of God preached must also be received and put into practice by the members of the church. When churches are not practicing what they preach, then the teaching of the church is undermined. It is possible to love doctrine, to be correct in doctrine, and yet lack submission to Christ as prophet. A full commitment to Christ's truth in a church requires obedience to His teaching in all matters of faith and practice.

Ideally, a church committed to being the pillar and ground of the truth should also be confessional. Many churches today have a short statement of faith, however churches of vastly different beliefs and character can hold to the same statement of faith. A church truly committed to a confession of faith (e.g. the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, the Westminster Confession of Faith etc.) is not ashamed of its teachings. Robust confessionalism has proven to be an antidote to the lack of theological clarity and has been the practice of churches committed to Christ's prophethood over the centuries.[4]

The church searcher must recognise that not all differences between churches are necessarily divisive. While each true church should hold to the fundamentals of the faith, each church can freely hold to their own distinctives. Historically, most differences between Protestant churches have to do with church government, hence most churches are named according what many consider a secondary issue e.g. Baptist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Methodist, Brethren. Christians who disagree on these issues can have personal fellowship and even a degree of church cooperation.

Nevertheless in church searching, the church searcher should be concerned to attend a church that is aligned with their own convictions. Although there are certain matters in which true Christians disagree, when it comes to our own convictions, it is best to go to a church that aligns to your beliefs, as informed by a serious study of Scripture. To make concessions for the sake of convenience ultimately goes against conscience and a commitment to the truth. Furthermore, a Christ centered commitment to the truth is not only for personal profit, but also to support and encourage those who do hold to the truth.

To conclude, we want to see that a commitment to Christ centered teaching is not searching for the church that is most intellectual, or most able to win a debate with others. The truth of God is living and is precious, as mentioned in the book of Proverbs, and should therefore be valued by Christians as such.

'How am I to ascertain whether or not a company of professing Christians will truly help or hinder me? In this way: Does their teaching and influence make my conscience more tender or more callous? Does it emphasize the loftiness of the holy standard God has set before me and make me realize how far, far short I come of it, or does it make me pleased with myself? Does it foster pride because my head is becoming full of prophecies, dispensations, doctrines, giving me so ‘much more light’ than many have? Or does it foster humiliation and shame because I realize what a sad failure I am in putting into practice the things of God!' Arthur Pink - Letter to Lowell Green, June 3 1934[5]

The priesthood of Christ shows us that we should be concerned about how the church worships.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. … But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. John 4:21,23

Just as the church's foundation is the truth of Christ, the church's primary duty is to worship Christ. The nation of Israel was built around worship in the tabernacle and temple. It is no coincidence that the church is spoken of as God's temple (Ephesians 2:21). While there are many other parts of church life, the center of church life should undoubtedly be to worship and to praise God. Christ himself ascended into heaven and acts as the great high priest (Hebrews 7-10). Central to Christ's death and resurrection is not just the accomplishment of salvation, but also to make true worship acceptable to God.

How then does the church searcher find Christ centered worship in a particular church?

Firstly, the Christ centered worship should be in truth should emphasize the primacy of preaching, and the primacy of God's Word. We find that when other parts of worship crowd out preaching, the word of God is being minimised. Even the singing of God's praise should be based on God's Word. 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.' Colossians 3:16

Secondly, Christ centered worship should be according to the regulative principle of worship.

The First London Baptist Confession describes the regulative principle worship in this way:

"The rule of this knowledge, faith, and obedience, concerning the worship and service of God, and all other Christian duties, is not man's inventions, opinions, devices, laws, constitutions, or traditions unwritten whatsoever, but only the word of God contained in the Canonical Scriptures."[6]

The Regulative Principle basically states that in the worship of God, whatever is commanded by the word of God must be followed while anything not commanded is to be rejected. As opposed to the Normative Principle, which states that whatever is not forbidden by the word of God is permissible. The regulative principle is based on the sufficiency of God's Word. Surely God has given us all we need to know about how to worship him.

This gives us a basis to assess whether an element of the worship service is biblical. We find many inventions used to worship God that are according to preference, or according to earthly wisdom. An example is using drama during worship. Aside from the dangers of trivializing the worship of God, and making it earthly (rather than spiritual), where do we find drama as an acceptable medium of worship in the Bible?

Thirdly, the church searcher should seek out reverent worship. The purpose of worship is to glorify God and to bring the worshipper to be in communion with Him. It is not for our own personal enjoyment. As such, it is to be participated in with the fear of God in the heart. Certainly there is joy in worship, just as there is much joy in the Psalms, but that is because we delight in being drawn close to the Lord.

The priesthood of Christ also shows us that a Christ centered church should be concerned about prayer. Aside from public worship, corporate prayer should be an essential element of church life.

Another aspect of the priesthood of Christ is pastoral care, having the heart of Christ for his people. This applies not just to Pastors and elders, but to all believers.

Too many believers are unclear about the importance of right worship. While it is true that it is of first importance for our hearts to be right before God in worship, are worship is not acceptable to God if it is not done in God's way. The church searcher may think that they can accept different styles of worship as long as their heart is sincere, however, to worship with a church that does so in an unbiblical way does not please the Lord. Our concern for Christ centered worship should cause us to search for what pleases God more than what pleases us.

The Kingship of Christ shows us that we should be concerned about how the church is submitted to Christ.

And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18

Like Melchizedek, Christ both priest and king. Like David, he is both king and prophet.

However, Christ's kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Rather, Christ's kingdom consists of his people, who know him and confess him, who are gathered in local congregations called churches. The church searcher should then expect churches to submit to Christ's authority.

The questions the church searcher may ask include:

Does the church have a concern for God's standards of holiness?

To be part of a church where moral virtue is neglected or despised to put oneself under corrupting and worldly influence. Where there is no concern for godliness, and where sin is treated lightly, the church soon becomes a synagogue of Satan.

Is church discipline exercised biblically?

A church that isn't too concerned about holiness will soon find cases of scandalous sin among its membership. Even churches that are watchful will encounter cases which need to be addressed.

1 Corinthians 5 outlines to us the importance of church discipline.

• To glorify God. 'such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles' 1 Corinthians 5:1 'For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's' 1 Corinthians 6:20 - referring to sexual immorality, the sin which Paul is concerned should be disciplined

• To maintain the purity of the church. 'Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened.' 1 Corinthians 5:6-7

• For the good of the sinner, 'that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus' 1 Corinthians 5:5

Church discipline is never easy, but should not be seen as unloving. It is in fact the evidence of a church that loves the Lord and loves the brethren in the truth of the gospel. Equally, Christians have a duty to separate from churches not willing to discipline an obvious case of sin. [7]

Is the church run in a Biblical way?

Church structures nowadays find little basis in the Bible, but rather in the organisational structures of the corporate world. Is the Pastor the CEO of the church? Are the Biblical forms of accountability present for leaders in the church? Oftentimes even when the need for accountability is recognised, it is implemented in a fashion more similar to a government regulator than what we find in the Bible, where the accountability of leaders is to the members of the church.

Are the elders of the church biblically qualified; we find many churches with female preachers. We appreciate the contribution that women make to churches, and it is an easily observable fact that most churches have more women than men, and that they are generally more dedicated. However, female leadership and teaching in the church goes against the express command of 1 Timothy 2:12. While there is spiritual equality between male and female, and we are one in Christ Jesus, the qualifications for elders clearly refer only to men.

Does the church serve the Lord and is it active in fulfilling the great commission that has been committed to all disciples?

Is the church actively involved in corporate outreach? Joining a church should not only be for worship, fellowship and discipleship. It should also be for serving the Lord. Are the people in the church truly concerned about giving up their time and energies for lost souls and the cause of Christ's kingdom? When outreach is done, is it done in a biblical way?

Conclusion

The Bible has clearly given us the principles by which we can rightly find a church.

The threefold office of Christ and their implications on the church are also outlined in what is known historically as the three marks of the true church.[8] These can be found in the first local church in Jerusalem in Acts 2:42

The marks by which the true Church is known are these: "If the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if it maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in punishing sin." (Belgic Confession, Article 29)[9]

We don’t want to search for, or compare churches with a spirit of arrogance. As in all things, let church searching be done with charity, and with much prayer. Nevertheless, the importance of the church to Christian life requires that we get our priorities right if we are required to search for a church.

We recognise that no church is perfect. There are often church issues in the background. This is true even of the churches in the New Testament, including those led by the apostles themselves.

Apart from what has been mentioned, there can be many other considerations in church searching.

Some of these are self-centered, and we have to be on guard against a desire for comfort, convenience, and using the church for self.

Sometimes considerations are not expressed, but are the driving force behind the final decision. Some people simply can't imagine being in a small church. I have been in some incredibly humble churches. Some with but a handful of believers and having to face many discouragements. Yet there can be more faithfulness there than can be found in some of the largest churches around. We must remember not to assess churches based on results, but rather on Christ centeredness.

Too often, even if unspoken, these concerns cause many to avoid joining themselves to a particular church.

It is a shame when faithful, biblical churches are neglected in favour of popular ones because the Lord's people are not discerning, or even self-centered. Surely this is a key factor contributing to the weakness of Evangelicalism today. Shouldn't the church searcher have these concerns also.

Christ centeredness helps us to put all these considerations in their proper place. If you were to be asked the question, "why did you end up choosing this particular church?" Would your response be Christ centered? Would your answer show that you have the same concerns that Christ himself has for his church?

Remember, in church searching, as in many other facets of life, the simple rule applies: 'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.' Matthew 6:33

References

[1] Pew Research Report (2016), Choosing a New Church or House of Worship. Available at: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/08/23/choosing-a-new-church-or-house-of-worship/

[2] For further guidance on when it might we should leave a local church, please refer to:

Masters, Peter, Steps for Guidance, Wakeman Trust: https://metropolitantabernacle.org/articles/guidance-and-loyalty-to-the-local-church/

Blackburn, Earl M (2010), Jesus loves the church and so should you: studies in Biblical Churchmanship. Solid Ground Christian Books

[3] Poh, Boon-Sing, (2017). Thoroughgoing Reformation. Good News Enterprise

[4] Poh, Boon-Sing, (2021). What is a Confessional Church? Good News Enterprise

[5] Pink, Arthur, (1934). Letters to Lowell Green. Available at: https://mikejeshurun.wordpress.com/category/letters-of-a-w-pink/

[6] First London Confession

[7] Poh, Boon-Sing, (1995, 2017). The Keys of the Kingdom. Good News Enterprise

[8] McMahon, CM. (2005) The Three Marks of the True Church. Available at: https://www.apuritansmind.com/pastors-study/the-three-marks-of-the-true-church-by-dr-c-matthew-mcmahon/

[9] Belgic Confession. Available at: https://prts.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Belgic-Confession-of-Faith-with-Intro.pdf