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WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Different times bring about different behaviors in
our society. At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, we lived in a virtual
immobile society. People were born, raised, lived and died in the same
community. In some ways that was a very simple life. But then as we became more
industrialized, we became more mobile. Trains became more prevalent, automobiles
came into common use, the airplane was born and we could move from place to
place more freely. Businesses began to grow larger with multiple locations
causing them to move employees from one location to another. This resulted in
people not living in the same community all their lives. People began to move
from community to community and from state to state. Sometimes the move was
international.
Any time people moved they went about establishing their lives in the new place
the way it was in the old place. They had to find a new home, new schools,
grocery stores, hair dressers, and they had to shop for a new Church. Most
people know what to look for in a school: good teachers, high test scores and a
safe environment for the children. But most don't have a good handle on what to
look for in a church. One reason is that many have not had to look for a church
before and they never had to really consider what a church is supposed to
deliver to its members.
What does one look for in a Christian church? Many look for external things.
Some look for a good preacher, a good choir, a good youth group, a pretty
building, stained glass windows, or the church closest to them. Some people
really think they need these things in a Christian church. This approach is
seriously flawed. All these things have some value; but none can forgive sins or
deliver eternal life.
What you need in a Christian church, you can only get in a relationship with
Jesus Christ. In choosing a Christian church, never choose form and appearances
over substance. You have to be concerned about the substance of the Christian
church and whether it is delivering what a church should be delivering. The
seeker must look for the real biblical marks of the Christian Church and not
outward appearances made by man. The marks of the true Christian church are
centered and ordered around the foundation of the Christian church, Jesus
Christ.
There are many things to consider in choosing a Christian church. Some are
negotiable and some are non-negotiable. I want to repeat parts of an article by
Rev. William M. Cwirla, entitled, "A Guide to Church Shopping."
The first thing you look for in a Christian church is the presence and
prominence of Jesus Christ. If it 's not about Jesus Christ, it isn't
particularly Christian. Some churches like to say they are "Bible- believing"
churches. But it wasn't the Bible that died on the cross for the forgiveness of
our sins. Christian churches are "Christ-believing" churches. Christ must be the
centerpiece and not just a tag-along appendage. Nothing is more biblical than
having Jesus at the center of the life of the church.
Determine if the church is confessional. Does it have a creed that is its formal
statement of what it believes, teaches and confesses. The Christian faith is
"the faith once delivered to the saints." What the true Christian church
believes is what Christians have always believed since Pentecost. The old creeds
keep us from re-inventing the faith as we like and as the culture changes. If a
church can't state what it believes and teaches, it may not believe anything.
Who would join a church and not what it believes?
There are other things to consider in choosing a Christian church including
whether its sacramental. Does it embrace the rituals established by God in which
he reveals Himself to us and uses the sacraments as a Means of Grace to give
gifts to us? Then, is the church liturgical? Liturgical churches use a fixed
order of worship that's generally repeated week after week. The liturgy wasn't
made up on the fly or made from scratch last Friday. The liturgy has lasted for
ages. The liturgy connects us to our apostolic past. Liturgical worship is
historic worship and biblical worship because almost every word is a
quotation from Scripture. Liturgical worship is also Christocentric worship.
Finally, make sure you understand what the church teaches concerning the Bible.
Does it teach that the bible contains the Word of God or the Bible is the word
of God. The Bible just doesn't become the Word of God when you believe it.
What should you look for in a Christian church? The bottom line is what a person
should look for in a Christian church is first, last and foremost, the
presence and prominence of the foundation of the Christian Church, Jesus Christ.
There is no Christian church without Christ. Without Christ there is no
salvation. So choose your church with an eye for does it deliver what a church
should and does it deliver what I need. If these marks are not found, keep
looking; for you likely have not found a true Christian church.I pray you find
my comments helpful and share them with people you know are looking for a
church. Better yet, invite them to Come and See the marks we have of a true
Christian church.
Pastor Porter
Who We Are
Created by the Father, redeemed by Jesus Christ, and
empowered by the Holy Spirit, we at First Lutheran Church gather around Jesus
Christ and the hope of His Gospel that teaches that all people are saved by
grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Locally, we have been worshipping
together since 1887. Nationally, we are members of the
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
What We Believe
We believe that we are called to
make, baptize, and teach disciples of all nations in the name of the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. We do this out of joyful thanks for the redemption
we find in Christ Jesus by the grace of His Gospel solely through faith in Him.
Honestly admitting that the task is beyond our own power to accomplish, we are
empowered by the Holy Spirit through the hearing of the Word, participation in
the Lord’s Supper, and the life imparted to us in our
baptism.
 Practically
speaking, as a church we seek to make everything we do Christ-centered and
gospel driven. We strive to be radically inclusive, realizing that we are
all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. But God showed his
love for us in this: while we were still sinners he died for us. Therefore
there is no condemnation for any who are in Christ. For if you confess
with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart God raised him from
the dead you will be saved. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve
done, each and every one of us has done wrong. But God reaches out to us
and wants a relationship with us. He accepts us where we are and guides us
on the path to righteousness.
Therefore, we endeavor to reach out to and care
for the whole family and share the good news of God’s grace so that through us,
Christ may be made known to all people.
What We Do
We come together
as a church to worship God; encourage one another in our relationship with Jesus
Christ; expand our faith through Bible studies, small groups, Sunday School and
family events; and to send Christians out into our community and world to reach
those who do not yet have a relationship with the Lord.
| Sunday Mornings |
9:00 AM |
Bible Study & Sunday School |
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10:15 am |
Worship |
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