Which is the right church to join ?

Question

Which Christian congregation or denomination should I join if all claim to teach the truth, and they all support their doctrines and teachings with the Bible?. What would be your advice?. Please if you are not a Christian, refrain from answering and don't waist your time

Answer 1

I have three criteria I evaluate a church by. 1) Does the worship resonate with me 2) Is the teaching good 3) Are there ample opportunities for fellowship.

I don't agree with one aspect of your question though. On the big things, every protestant church believes the same way.

Answer 2

I go to web site: riveroflifefellowship.org. You can inquire if they know of a bible faith church in your area. Phone number = 253-859-0832. This is the church that God led me to & delivered me from a horrible breakdown about 15 years ago. The pastor preaches the Word of God. God is in the worship & praise service also.

Pray & ask God what church is the best for you. Many churches out there are good Christian churches.

Any christian church cannot add other doctrines that contradict with the Word of God. Mostly every denomination have some man made ideas in it, but that doesn't mean it isn't christian. Some have a different doctrine yet claim to be christian. Some examples are the Mormon church, Jehovahs witnesses, etc.

Salvation (eternal life) is the gift of God, through faith, etc. Is the most important foundational truth. There are religions out there that deny Jesus Christ the Son of God, deny that Jesus shed His blood for the remission of our sins. Deny the power of the cross or the power of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 3

Unfortunately that's kind of a hard one. I myself am wondering what I should do about church. I need to be in context of the church, of God loving people, but a lot of churches are not that way anymore. They're either business or religion. When I say religion I mean, let's sing a song and listen to this guy talk and help the community and go home and it's just a sunday morning ritual. A "good" thing to do. Best thing to do is go into a few different churches if you're looking for one, and feel if God's presence is there. Are they just singing for the sake of singing, or are they truly worshiping? Is he preaching out of the bible because that's what pastors do, or is he truly preaching the truth that is Jesus, that is God, and is it speaking to people? Is it speaking to you? Do you feel as though you are accepted no matter what? Non-denominational churches are the best bet. Maybe try a Vineyard church if you know of one. Even ask God, He'll tell you what to do. Don't be mad if an audible voice doesn't come to you one night though. He tends to whisper to your heart rather than shout over the loud speaker :)

Answer 4

The church or denomination is not nearly as important as you may think. I believe Christians should join a body of similar believers in order to be encouraged and to be an encouragement to others. But, which church or denomination? There is no simple answer, but the quick answer is you should connect with a church which demonstrates the love of Jesus in its worship, and in the way it treats others. As other answers have stated, "shop around " and pray, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to a Christ centered church, which teaches and practices the awesome love of God, and does not contradict the Bible in any of its teachings. Be sure to study your Bible so you will recognize when a church teaches or preaches anything contradictory to its teachings. I hope this helps you.

Answer 5

I'm a Seventh-Day Adventist, and I have been my whole life. I've done a lot of research on the other Christian denominations, but I believe that mine is the one that makes the most sense.

And my advice to you would be go to a different denominational church every 3-4 weeks... study as much as you can on each and then make your decision... I may be a bit biased because I am Seventh-Day, but I'd start at a Seventh-Day Adventist Church first.

PS: here's some more information about my church :)
http://www.adventist.org/

http://www.insightmagazine.org/

Good luck, and I hope you find the knowledge and understanding you were looking for.

Answer 6

Really it is an easy question.

First find one that teaches relationship with Jesus not religion, the most important thing is for you to have a relationship with God and you will not find the word religion in the Bible.

Man lost his relationship when he choose to disobey God but being a God of love he made it possible for us to rebuild it so that would be my first step.

Next the church must teach the Gospel as it is written in the Bible God’s Holy Word.
Some tend to make the words fit there use, the Bible was not given for us to use as we see fit it was given as a guideline for us live by.

Last make sure you are comfortable there some place do all the right thing but the people are shall we say comparable to the Pharisees of the days of Moses, this is not good.

So I wish you the best in your search and remember no matter what don’t give up on your search

Remember the story of the lost sheep in Luke

Luke 15:4-7
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.

You cold be that lost sheep

God Bless

Answer 7

I would look for one that has the following as it's statement of faith:

1. The Inspiration, Authority, and Sufficiency of the Scriptures;

2. The Existence of One God in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;

3. The Creation of the Human Race in the Image of God;

4. The Fall and Resultant Human Depravity;

5. The Deity of Christ, His Incarnation, Atoning Death, and Resurrection;

6. Salvation by the Grace of God through Faith by the Power of the Holy Spirit;

7. One Holy Christian Church, the Body of Christ;

8. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Consummation of All Things.

I would avoid any that add tradition or experience to that list.

Answer 8

Say you are just a "Christian" and do the round of all near you. The problem with this is that you will be the eternal outsider.

Someone once gave me a test - emailed it. Some pretty searching questions which I had to answer; about fifty faiths (not all Christian) were listed. I was given 100% for one very small Christian group (I'm not naming it - don't want to be a propagandist), then 98% Unitarian, about 82% Theravada Buddhism, followed by Hinduism, Judaism etc. The two largest and oldest Christian groups, and a recent, active group of Fundamentalists were at 18%.

There's a lesson here, dear. You dare not scoff at other religions - you didn't want them to respond. Much of religion is about outlook and temperament, as these results proved. You've got to peel off the public images of religions, get to the essence,

Where the test is to be found I don't know. I think it was called Belief o' matic. I myself will ask Google to search for it - your question makes me realise how important it is.
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P.S.

I've returned after reading some responses. Let me tell you that the computer did a pretty good job in assessing where my sympathies lie. Find a Christian group that is about 350 years old, that does not attempt to ram things down anyone's throat, where almost all are pacifists and committed to peacemaking, who gave the lead in abolishing slavery (but then could not fight on Lincoln's side 'cos they opposed War); who were persecuted and died in hundreds; who took the lead in reforming prisons, who have no creed, or prayers or hymns or sacraments - then you've got the group.

Much easier for me to name names! Yes, but I answered on various issues. I'd like you to think. That way you will seek for goodness.

How can you find truth, except in humble quietness.
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P.P.S.
Thanks for making me search. Yes, that website is Belief O' Matic, and designed for just your purpose. It's quite serious. Is it possible for you to find the meaning of life among "Answers". I know I can't.

Answer 9

"To the law,and to the testimony,if they speak not according to the word there is no light in them". God does have a true church. It is easy to find. Will not tell you which one it is. I will give you a clue. It is rather small,and the path is narrow.The big churches don't teach all the truth. If you go to one,and it doesn't stick to what the Bible says,hunt one that does. I must comment on answers already given. Although I love Mormons for being good people,they are not the one. Just check out how Joseph Smith died. He and his brother Hiram were killed by angry husbands that they were fooling with. They base their beliefs on The book of Mormon,supposedly written by Joseph. They think the Bible is wrong in many places. They are mistaken.

Answer 10

I go to a congragational church but it mainly depends on the pastor. you should try several to see where you are most comfortable and welcomed catholic and some anglican have a set service which follows the same patern every week. penticostal or evangelical are often more lively more praise so if you realy have no Idea try all the local churches even 2 in the same denomination may be very different