Good Question

The last post generated a great question that led me to some thinking and questioning... "Hey Rick... stopped by and saw this. I get where you are coming from, you made clear points about how to not go about "choosing" a church to attend. But how should we go about choosing a church to attend. No matter which one we attend, you are actually attend ONE church. That aside though, how should we go about choosing our "home base" if you will? I am asking not because I have a preset thought of this, I haven't really thought much about it at all and this blog got me thinking. So what are your thoughts?"

First, let me say that I wrote the last blog with the thought of how we currently attend a gathering of believers, I never really thought of the individual looking for a church. This has led me to these positions. First is this...Romans: 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
I see the first issue is the attitude we come into a relationship with the body with. On the micro (single believer) or macro (Larger body) we need to come into a relationship with humility, attitude of service, and grace. We cannot come to a person and expect them to meet our needs and evaluate if we will love them because they are funny or smart and on that outcome decide if we will enter into a brotherly relationship with them. So with a larger body we cannot be measuring it's performance and then concluding if it works for me. We often times evaluate with subjective measures that we value, not substantive measures like how many people are involved in ministry here. So what do we do? We attach ourselves as a limb to the body. Humility asks us to submit to the Theology and Practices of that church. The way the bible is taught is HUGE and how it is interpreted in the actions of the congregation and how they serve in their community is HUGE! If it is a charismatic church and you don't believe in the spiritual gifts, don't fight to change them, just because you like the people and the worship... find a Theological/ Philosophy of ministry fit (that said if God is asking you to stretch and learn and go to a place a bit different than you are used to- Shut up, Submit, learn and go with the vision). The bulletin tells the story, they want you to know what to do, so what is important to them will show up.

Second we go to church and ask the Lord what can I do here? Do they need help in setting chairs? Need help feeding the poor cleaning the Nursery? We need to use "sober judgment" about ourselves. We at our best think a little more of ourselves than we should. We often time come and say, but I can teach or lead worship that's my gift and I want to serve there, instead of waiting for the process and the affirmation from the body which confirms your call, beyond a "vetting" so to speak but an establishment of trust and bridge of relationship. It may very well be so, that you are gifted BUT to do those tasks you must first show yourself faithful there in the current church. We are all called to serve and it reveals your character; calling and character trump gifting every time!

Lastly - you must love and serve the people. Churches are made up of people and if you don't love them... well you won't really love the church. People are people and they will make mistakes. Can you give room for grace, and growth at the expense of your pain? Can you live with messy spirituality? Churches have a lot of great talkers and needs a lot of radical forgiver's. People that will boldly live out radical grace and radical forgiveness. Remember this too; you cannot be loyal to the church because they let you express your gifts. You use your gifts to serve those you love to impact a community with the Kingdom of God. I have heard people say that God has called them to a church; well if that is so then only God can call you away... NOT the failings of a program, Pastor, or person. If you are called out of a church... then, God, WILL call you into something else, not call you into limbo or church on your terms. It may take a bit of a process on your part to die to some of the things that may be toxic. In my experience, I had to stay away from church for a bit because my heart condition was not right and I would have hurt people in a body. Looking into my own heart was a great place for me to start.

He has a body, yes a huge global, a smaller congregation, and an even smaller group of people to do life with. He loves his bride deeply, and is preparing her, and in time will come for her. Church is NOT just you, for you, or operating on your own terms and expectations.

So happy hunting, and if you find the perfect church, well enter with a sacred, solemn care- you may very well be the one to ruin it!

Shalom