In progress…
Many Churches listed here wear the Christian moniker even though some of them are completely at odds with each other with regards to their theology. Most churches have very good children’s programs. All of these churches (I’m guessing) would say they have biblical sermons. You might want to ask more questions…
1.) What is a biblical sermon? Is the pastor more of a “life coach” that reads a verse and then spends the rest of the sermon telling you how to live a successful, peaceful life in the world? Is the pastor a student of the bible that spends his week studying the verses he will be preaching on to expose details about the author, the culture of the time, how the audience would have understood the verse, what theological principles in the verse are corroborated in other books of the bible, your responsibility to act on the verse, how the verse points to the gospel message of Jesus Christ, and how to apply it today?
2.) What is the gospel message of Jesus Christ? Does the church preach all about God’s love, believing in Jesus and that if you love others, you’re going to heaven. I think all churches would agree about God’s love. Demons believe in Jesus, so do Muslims. Atheists love others. Apparently there must be more to the gospel message. Consider this, if the Gospel is good news, what’s the bad news? Is the bad news more than just the challenges of this life? What about when you fail to love others? What if you question your belief in Jesus at times? If God is love, why do bad things happen to good people? The gospel answers and addresses all of these things. If the gospel message you hear doesn’t include your responsibility for sinning, and Jesus responsibility for your sin, addressing hell as the consequences of sin, then you may not be hearing the same gospel the Apostles preached in the bible. Jesus paid it all and yet there’s still a hell, so someone isn’t included in the word all. If you’re unsure of your security in heaven, you may want to find a church that addresses this using the word of God — the Bible.
3.) Does the church address sin as “sin” and the consequences that result from sin, or just make light of them as mistakes that God can overlook? Hint: God cannot overlook even the smallest sin. Does the church say that Jesus died for your sin and then explain that you need to be a good person who helps others and does good deeds in order to go to heaven? Or does is say that Jesus paid it all and that unsaved people can do good works in the eyes of the world but not in the eyes of God who requires a perfect standard? And how might one achieve that perfect standard? How do our efforts play into salvation if Jesus paid the price in full?
4.) Is the church structure dictated by the pastor, tradition, or the Bible? The bible has some very clear instructions for the structure of the church, qualifications for those who preach, titles of church offices (hint: there are only two mentioned), and even the proper handling of discipline in the church that is designed to bring wayward believers back into the fold rather than push them away through punishment.
5.) Are there biblical roles of men that is different from women based on their differences, roles in the family, purpose and responsibility that do not demean one over the other? Does the church recognize that men and women are different in some ways and very much equal other ways in the eyes of God?
6.) Does the church teach that Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit are A) three different Gods? B) One God that manifests himself in three ways? C) Three co-equal persons in the same deity?
Sometimes we simply don’t know what we don’t know. Maybe some of these questions will help all of us question the church we want or the church we attend. Seek the truth for the rest of your life and don’t stop asking questions. It will set you free.