Three Things to consider about choosing what Christian Church to attend

Three Things to consider about choosing what Christian Church to attend:

1. A high view of Scripture

By high view of Scripture I mean that a church/person holds a very high, reverent, and biblical opinion about the Bible. Perhaps we automatically assume that if a Church is a Christian Church, then they reverence, honor, and respect the Bible. Sadly, this is not always the case. It is important when selecting a Church to know that the leaders of the Church hold the Bible to be what the Bible says it to be. Certainly we would want the Church we attend to hold the same view and estimation of Scripture that Jesus and the Apostles did!

So, what was their view of the Bible? Looking at the words of Jesus He constantly referenced the Scriptures as often being fulfilled and that they could not be broken. He taught His disciples from them showing that both the Law and the prophets spoke of Him, charged those who heard Him with error because they did not know the Scriptures, and regarded the Scriptures as the very speaking of God. Matt 21:42; 22:29; 26:56; Luke 24:27; John 2:22; 5:39; 10:35

The Apostle's own teaching also show the Bible to be the very speaking of God, without error or mixture of human thought (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). When someone then reads or hears the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments, they are hearing the very speaking and words of God Himself. This should cause us to approach the Bible with reverential fear and awe, recognizing that it is God who speaks to us and holds us accountable to what and how we hear.

This should be the primary concern when considering which Church to become a member of. We need to learn what that congregation's view of Scripture is and how they both reverence and obey the teaching of the Bible.

2. A high view of Jesus Christ.

If a Church is to ever go astray they go astray in two main areas: The Bible and Jesus. Churches may fall into gross error and sins by either leaving the plain teaching of Scripture or by losing their main focus on Christ Himself. The Bible specifically warns Christians of the craftiness and subtlety of Satan in corrupting the minds of people from the simplicity that is in Christ, or a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2-4

If a Church holds a proper and high view of the Bible, then the Church will hold Christ and Him crucified at the center of all they teach and do. When Jesus explained the Scriptures to two men as they walked with Him, the Bible says that "..beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:27 A Church that is following God according to the Bible will have a Christ-centered view of the Bible and church life. Jesus will be exalted and glorified in everything. True Christian churches are those in which the Holy Spirit of God dwells, and as Jesus said, "..when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me" John 15:26 and again in John 16:14 "He shall glorify me..."

We should then choose a Church that has a correct and high view of Jesus Christ.

3. A genuine fellowship and love on for another.

If a Church is truly made up of real Christians, true disciples of Jesus Christ, then they will have a true and genuine love for one another. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:34-35 See also, John 15:12, 17.

The Apostle's of our Lord Jesus also commanded and exhorted Christians to love one another and abound in it. Romans 12:10; 13:8; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 3:8.

Loving our brethren in Christ Jesus is the practical mark of a true Christian. The Apostle John's first epistle is about what a true Christian is and what a Christian is not. In 1 John 4:7 we learn of God, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." And again, "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." 1 John 4:12

God also said by John, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" 1 John 1:3,6

So then, in summary, when thinking about what Church we might join ourselves to let us be careful to see that the congregation holds a high and reverent view of Holy Scripture, a high and proper view of Jesus Christ, and that the Christians have a true and genuine love for one another. While this is not meant to be exhaustive in all things that one should consider when thinking about what Church he or she may join, these are three crucial things that must be present in any church we join ourselves to if we would be faithful to Christ Jesus and His Gospel.