I wonder: how many Christians actually take a church’s doctrine into account when choosing a church home?
When it comes to things like that, I’m usually a pessimist. I’d go to Vegas on the wager that very, very few even give a moment’s thought to it.
Recently I had a conversation with a woman (she claimed to be Christian…I’ll take her word for it.) who was one of those in that category.
photo credit: bonitaopc.com
Upon finding out that she goes to a Methodist church, I began to probe (some Methodist churches are known for being off their onion when it comes to theology.).
“How did you choose that church?”
Her answer basically boiled down to one thing: its “feel.” Okaaaaay?
“Have you ever looked at your church’s beliefs and doctrine?”
No. Not really concerned about that.
The conversation continued in a more or less frustrating direction. For example, when I asked her “what beliefs are necessary for someone to be a Christian?” she answered by going on and on about not judging. GAH!
Let me pose this question to you: why should you care about a church’s doctrine and beliefs?
Now let me answer it for you: aside from the many biblical injunctions (“Watch your life and your doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Tim 4:16″ If you are supposed to watch your doctrine closely, doesn’t it stand to reason that you should give at least some thought to your church’s doctrine?), it boils down to one thing–ideas have consequences.
Have you ever realized that? That is one big reason why I’m studying philosophy.
As C.S Lewis once quipped, when you encounter a man dying of starvation and you sincerely believe he needs a big meal, you will kill him if you actually act on that belief. Your idea that he needs a steak dinner will mean his ruin.
When it comes to the spiritual realm, spiritual and religious ideas are either true or false. They are not merely a matter of personal taste or “belief.” Therefore, they have dire, sometimes eternal, outcomes.
For example, if a church teaches that there are many ways to heaven, they are putting its congregants on the wide path…and that path, though it is marked “to heaven,” does not lead there (Satan is not that stupid. He does not mark his paths “to hell.”). This belief has dire consequences.
If a church teaches that one does not need Jesus for salvation, it is giving false comfort to the lost. Its like a nurse telling a diabetic, “no, you don’t need insulin. Eat ice cream. Just be sure to pick a flavor you like!” This belief has dire consequences.
If a church teaches the idea that the biblical injunctions against homosexual behavior are just a bunch of ballyhoo and that the homosexual lifestyle is benign, it will leave a vast trail of wrecked lives in its wake. That belief has dire consequences.
What does your church teach about the Bible? Is it God’s word, or a man made flawed book?
What does your church teach about the nature of God? Nature of man? sin? salvation?
What about hell? Truth? Morality? Heck, what does your church teach about “The Church”?
Each of these are very important things to consider when choosing a church, for grand implications flow from whatever your church teaches about them. You want a church that holds to the faith once for all delivered to the saints, one that is on the narrow path.
I know that many consider the word “doctrine” a 4 letter word, but it is a matter of eternal destiny.
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I can’t remember the exact figures but a man I met once said he had once seen a piece of paper with some figures on it that a man had noted down at a conference from a speaker who said he’d read in the National Enquirer that a greater percentage of first-time church goers (that is, new Christians) rate doctrine as their highest priority in choosing a church than Christians who are changing church.
The figures I heard, if I remember right, are something like 90% of new Christians choose a church based on doctrine while only 50% of ‘old Christians’ base their decision on doctrine.
Ridiculous!
Thanks for the great post.
I’ve also heard of people choosing a church based on the music.
I would think knowing what you believe, why you believe it and worshiping with those who believe the same would the first measure of any congregation. Of course, there are also those out there who bounce around from church to church shopping for a church whose doctrine they like best or find the most convenient.
Contra,
Yes, this has been common in my experience too. That’s the first thing a lot of people mention about my church (“I go there for the awesome worship.”)….and its not for the lyrical content of the worship. Don’t have any stats on that, but I just hear that said a lot.
The “church shopping” mentality is a common mentality that needs to be combated. It’s all from the world and has nothing to do with the Bible.
Peter,
Your source is a bit of a mouthful. Reminds me of *SpaceBalls*: “you’re my cousins’ moms, aunt-in-laws third nephew.” “What does that make us?” “Absolutely nothing.”
We joined our Methodist church 12 years ago. If I knew then what I know now I wouldn’t have joined. The larger denomination does some rather grotesque things in the U.S., though churches in Africa and such are more sound.
Fortunately, we have evolved to where we have all Bible-believing pastors (I know that should be a redundancy, but here we are).
Doctrine counts for a lot. Here are a few verses on warnings of false teachings if you are interested — http://www.4simpsons.com/doctrine_counts.htm .
Thanks for the verse, Neil, they are very helpful reminders.
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