Three Essentials When Choosing a Church.
Not all Churches are true churches and not all Churches should be joined, but you should join a church. Scripture assumes that if you’re a believer that you will do this; recognising God’s appointed servants, committing to a local fellowship, and living humbly and with accountability.
The bible assumes we will join a church when it speaks about those above us in the Lord who have been charged with watching over our souls, those who will give an account for us. Hebrews 13 requires us to submit to them in the Lord.
It assumes it when Jesus spoke in Matthew 18 of dispute resolution, instructing believers of how to ultimately handle unresolved disagreement.
It assumes it in the book of 1 Corinthians when Paul speaks of the Church’s collective judgement of unrepentant sinners, and also when he speaks of the operation of Spiritual gifts and how the church should act when gathered for worship.
Listen to what Peter says to elders, then to those who are younger in the Lord, in 1 Peter 5:
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Being humble means to submitting to those who are elders above us in the Lord. This isn’t speaking of natural age but of maturity in the Lord. In the spiritual world, more importantly in the Kingdom, age doesn’t qualify one to lead. It is the level of obedience and submission to God’s will. Jesus became obedient unto death, even death on a cross - therefor God highly exalted him (Philippians 2:8). Promotion comes to those who have stepped down and not up. We need these examples to teach us.
Elders are one of the key qualifications in scripture that turn a group of disciples into a church. So great that you’re in a home group, great that you meet with other Christians, but you’re not fulfilling the command to humble yourself until you willingly come under local appointed leadership. But don’t just come under any leadership. Here are three essentials:
1. Your leaders must preach, teach, and live the word - sometimes imperfectly but continually. Not bible-based teaching and witness but biblical teaching and witness there is a big difference.
2. Your leaders must be able to model repentance (this assumes that they will fail sometimes but they don’t double down when something is wrong, they deal with it), they show maturity in relationships, and have grown well in the Lord to meet the character requirements listed in 1st timothy 3 and Titus 1.
3. Your leaders must be dependant on the Holy Spirit themselves and encourage you to do the same. In other words, they don’t point you to themselves but encourage you to test everything and depend on the Lord. They’re not controlling but the lead with open hands. This is a place of safety. At that Church you’re not the church’s property, but they look after you because you belong to Jesus, and he wants you nourished and fed. They are good stewards.
The benefits of belonging to a fellowship are clear, these include but are not limited to: healing, safety, encouragement, feeding, nurturing, flourishing and maturing in the Lord. Our commitment to the local church is one of the key reasons why my wife and I survived several difficult years of marriage. People aren’t perfect - but God knows what he’s doing when He asks you to humble yourself in this way; acknowledging your need of it.
Remember, not all churches should be joined. But you should join a Church.
If you’re ever in Rangiora, New Zealand - we’d love to see you at Foundation Church.
