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When you choose a church... [message #5828]

Tue, 26 May 2009 20:51

Abiding
Messages: 22
Registered: February 2006

Junior Member

(I'm not sure where to post this, so if there's a better place, feel free to move the discussion there.)

Let's say you are currently looking for a church so you can assemble together with other believers. You pray, trusting God to lead you, but so far, there has been no supernatural revelation or even quiet impression to tell you which one to choose. So you look through the yellow pages and begin to visit churches in your area.

If your area is anything like what we have run into around here, you might have the following selection:

1. Large charismatic non-denominational church with plenty of programs, a multi-million dollar children's building, pastor with probably other gifts besides teaching, but believes in healing and being a prayer warrior, believes in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but doesn't allow them to be spontaneously shared in case there are inappropriate displays or flesh or the enemy, etc., Believes in "Body Ministry" but defines it as working in the programs and before one can lead in any of these areas, they must be checked out to make sure they're giving at least 10% regularly (too bad for those who choose to give anonymously!).

2. Medium-sized charismatic non-denominational church with plenty of programs and that also tends to embrace a lot of far out things that come down the charismatic pipeline. Wild stuff! But very loving and family-like. Smile

Just not a whole lot of discernment.

3. Smaller charismatic churches that also tend to embrace a lot of wild stuff, too, including things like the Todd Bentley revival, sending busloads down to pick up the spirit (hope they have repudiated this!) Lots of young people who are enthusiastic, but not sure how much of the Word is taught.

4. House Church-type meetings that in the interest of being so anti-traditional churches, have fallen into their own mold of resisting all authority and leadership. (Except the "unspoken" type. You just know what is accepted and what is not. A subtle controlling influence is experienced!) Whoever feels led to teach, does, as well as whoever wants to sing songs, etc.,

OR

4b. House Church-type meetings that have a strong controlling leader who is pretty down on everyone else who isn't doing it the exact same way their group is experiencing church, believes in the gifts, but has become in-grown and suspicious of others. You have to prove yourself to be accepted as one of them.

5. Small church with pastor and people who truly seem to love God's Word --but don't have the light on the gifts of the Holy Spirit or healing (beyond "if it be Thy Will") being for today. But they are humble. Teachable. Loving. Good solid Bible teaching (except in the "charismatic areas" Wink

)

6. Denominational "Bible" churches --name your brand here! Lots of them everywhere with varying degrees of Biblical teaching. I'm talking about the ones who still carry a Bible and open it up and teach from it. Smile

Now, still assuming the Lord hasn't spoken to you yet about where to go Wink

, where do you begin? What issues can you overlook for now and what can you absolutely not overlook.

[Updated on: Tue, 26 May 2009 23:17]

Blessings,
Abiding

"I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."--Phil 3:12

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