Christians What do we look for in a true Christian church?

Question

What do we look for in a true Christian church?


I have recently read some very bad experiences from new believers.

What would you look for in a church body that you can back up with scriptural references?

What are the marks of a true Christian church?
What does their doctrine look like and what do their services and activities include?

Can you describe your church and biblically support why you are attending your particular denomination of Christianity?

Answer 1

It is difficult to find a Biblical Church these days - but not impossible.
Firstly it should proclaim Christ as the only hope for mankind.
Secondly it should have a preaching ministry and a Bible centered life. A prayer and Bible study at least once a week.
It should have discipline with love. It should stress reverence and service to others over pop rock "music" which does not honor God.
I attend a Baptist Church which welcomes all people and has a broad representation of the society in which it is.
There are statements of faith which should be published. There should be no heavy shepherding and there should be elders and deacons in place. The pastor must not become a cult figure under any circumstances. He is a servant not a master. There should be no "resident prophet" as I have seen in the past. It is a hard journey to find a church which teaches and equips people's minds and where the preaching feeds the soul. But they do exist.

Here is our statement of faith which is available to the general public. Bible verses are referenced as you request.

Our Basis of Doctrine is as follows
We believe in:

The verbal and plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, as originally given; and their sole sufficiency and authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Titus 2:11-12).

The Unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit eternally in the Godhead. (John 17:3, 5, 21; Hebrews 9:14).

The Sovereignty of God in Redemption, Creation, Revelation and Final Judgement. (Colossians 1:12-20).

The full Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His Virgin Birth and His real and sinless humanity. (Matthew 16:16; Luke 1:26-35; Hebrews 7:26).

The personality of the Holy Spirit and His indwelling and work in the life of the believer. (John 16:7-15; Ephesians 1:13; Romans 8:9ff.)

The universal sinfulness and guilt of human nature since the Fall, rendering mankind subject to God's wrath and condemnation. (Isaiah 53:6; John 3:36; Romans 3:23).

The personality of the devil. (Zechariah 3:1-2).

Redemption from the guilt, power and penalty of sin and the dominion of Satan only through the sacrificial death (as Representative and Substitute) of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God. (2 Corinthians 5:15-21; Hebrews 2:14).

The justification of the sinner freely by grace through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:24-26; Ephesians 2:4-10).

The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and His ascension to the right hand of God. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Acts 1:9; Colossians 3:1).

The personal, visible and bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:6-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body and the eternal security in Heaven of all believers, and the conscious eternal punishment in Hell of all impenitent. (1 Corinthians 15:35-38; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:46).

The ordinance of the Lord's Supper and the ordinance of Believer's Baptism by immersion. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-4;1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

This is based upon the London Baptist Confession of Faith

Services and activities are community centred, visiting the sick, door knocking in the local community, Sunday school, youth group over 50s group, missionary night once a month, prayer meeting and Bible study weekly. No bells and whistles no cultishness just a desire to serve the area as best as possible.

Answer 2

Well is there such an institution as a true church. Remember god tried to stop such goings on. God did not order us to build churches,they are simply a manmade institution and as such are vulnerable to go astray. Remember the parrabol of the 7 churches of Philidelphia? The bible has been rewritten and revised and clraned up so much that generations today have no idea what was really in the old testament not to mentiuon the new testament. Everything is about money today to the point that some churches expect a member to give at least 15% of their income to the church. Otherwise they are deemed a member not in good standing and could be dropped from the member roll. To answer your question about true churches if you find one that actually preaches from the old testament (Gods' word) then that is a church worth while attending. I remember one time at christnas service after it was over an older gentleman approached the pastor and said I have been coming here for many years and every year it's the same sermon, the pastor replied that as long as he was pastor at that church he will continue to speak from the old testament and nothing else. There's more that I could relate but I will spare you all as you probably get the tone of what I have said.

Answer 3

I believe that all Christian church are truthfully with their intentions of teaching the scriptures as they are intended to be interpreted. There are many different Christian Church's that add their own rituals and church rules that the congregation applies to.

A Church is to go and worship and study the Word of God and Jesus Christ Our Savior.

I don't attend church often and I don't belong to a congregation, but I do consider myself a Christian. I read and study my bible almost everyday, and I pray and praise My Lord everyday.

What I like in a church is lots of singing and that the service be more like a bible study where you can follow with your own bible.

Beware, many church's get contaminated by toxic people that claim to be true Christians and are not. When you have people like these you have to be very careful not to fall under their web, and because of such things some Christian church's get a bad rap.

GOD BLESS! AMEN! SHALOM!

Answer 4

To be of ONE mind & ONE accord.
The Most Imporant Thing about this church must be about Salvation and Discipleship.
1.Preach./Teach the Whole Bible. Not just part of It.
2.Allow God to be the Head of the church and In Full operation.
3. Full operation of the Holy Spirit.
4.There are no dividers In heaven for the different denominations.There Is only ONE God,One Faith & One Baptisim.
5. Communion And why It's Important.
Really this only a few,but It has to be based on the Bible.

Answer 5

The Identifying Marks Of The True Remnant Church: -Calls people back to faithful keeping of the 10 commandments(Matt7:21-23;Ezekiel 20:12,20) -Preaches that God's judgment hour has begun -Teaches holiness regarding our body temples(1Cor6:18-20) -Is guided by the gift of prophecy(Rev12:17;Rev19:10) -It was to be raised up after the 1260 years of papal persecution ends(1798) -Gives a clear warning against the mark of the beast(Daniel7:25;Rev13:16;2Thes2:3-4,8) -The true church will give a call for God's people to come out of Babylon. -Preaches the three angels' messages, which contain the "everlasting gospel" which Jesus is our only Savior.(Acts4:12;Isaiah 45:22) -It will be a world-wide church with a world wide message(Matt.24:14,Rev14:6) -Teaches Bible truth about death as a sleep(Eccles9:5,6,10) -Will proclaim the truth about Jesus' Second Coming.(Matt24) Remember-you don't find truth by a church, but you do find the right church by knowing the truth(John 17:17) God has many sincere people in many churches which He invites to come and join the one remnant voice preaching God's last-day message.(John10:16)

Answer 6

The church of Christ dates back to the days of the New Testament (Romans 16:16). It was founded by Christ on the Day of Pentecost, a.d. 33 (Acts 2), not long after His ascension back to heaven. In the years that followed, it rapidly grew to fill Jerusalem, then Judea, Samaria, and finally the whole Roman Empire (Acts 1:8; Colossians 1:23). In America, the first churches of Christ were planted in the late 1700s as the result a movement begun to go back to the Bible and do Bible things in Bible ways and call Bible things by Bible names (cf. 1 Peter 4:11).

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:30–31), that the Bible is inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16–17), and that Christ will return to take His kingdom home to God (1 Corinthians 15:24). We emphasize sincere worship (John 4:24), every-member evangelism (Acts 8:4), godly living (Titus 2:11–12), love for each other (John 13:34–35), and helping those in need (James 1:27). We believe the Bible teaches that sinners are saved by learning of Jesus, faith in Jesus, repentance of sin because of Jesus, confession of Jesus, and baptism into Jesus (John 6:44–45; 3:16; Mark 16:15–16; Romans 10:9–10; Acts 2:38). The church of Christ is organized with elders, deacons, preachers, and members, as in New Testament times (Philippians 1:1). It has no governing body on earth higher than the local congregation.

The church of Christ is noted for its emphasis upon returning to New Testament Christianity and for its desire to unite all Christians into one body (1 Corinthians 1:10). We believe that the New Testament is the only rule for faith and practice in religious matters (2 Timothy 3:17; 2 Peter 1:3), and that God’s Word must authorize all that is done in Christian worship (Colossians 3:17; Revelation 22:18–19). Thus we try to strictly follow the New Testament. We believe that it is possible to have religious unity in a day of division by simply following the New Testament pattern and putting aside human traditions.

To put it simply, the church of Christ is seeking to be the same church one reads about in the New Testament. We aim to restore its doctrine, its practice, its lifestyle, and its zeal.

Answer 7

While Scripture is evidence enough for the marks of Christ's Church, we can see in the writings of Ignatius -- written in the first century, within 67 years of Christ's resurrection, by a close friend and appointee of the Apostle Peter and friend of Polycarp -- that the early Church had a very Catholic interpretation of Scripture:


the Church was Divinely established as a visible society, the salvation of souls is its end, and those who separate themselves from it cut themselves off from God (Epistle to the Philadelphians)
the hierarchy of the Church was instituted by Christ (Epistles to the Philadelphians and the Ephesians)
the threefold character of the hierarchy (Epistle to the Magnesians)
the order of the episcopacy superior by Divine authority to that of the priesthood (Epistles to the Magnesians, Smyraenians, and the Trallians)
the importance of unity of the Church (Epistles to the Trallians, Philadelphians, and the Magnesians)
emphasis on the holiness of the Church (Epistles to the Smyraeans, Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, and Romans)

the catholicity of the Church (Letter to the Smyraeans)

the infallibility of the Church (Epistles to the Philadelphians and the Ephesians)
the doctrine of the Eucharist -- i.e., belief in Transsubstantiation or the Real Presence of Christ in Communion (Epistle to the Smyraeans)
the Incarnation (Epistle to the Ephesians)
the supernatural virtue of virgnity (Epistle to Polycarp)
the religious character of matrimony (Epistle to Polycarp)
the value of united prayer (Epistle to the Ephesians)
the primacy of the Chair of Peter (Epistle to the Romans, introduction)
a dencouncing of the (later Protestant) doctrine of private judgement in matters of religion (Epistle to the Philadelphians)1

Answer 8

I look for "balance." I need a church that is not all one thing. For my husband and I, the Word that is being taught and the Praise time need to be balanced. We've experienced some powerful sermons, but a weak praise and worship, and a powerful worship time with no real word. In a church that has both is a Church that is led and blessed by the power of God. That's my church.

Answer 9

I look in a true Christian church for a pastor who preaches the gospel of the Word of God without compromise. I want a church which teaches just as Jesus taught Himself. Jesus is love. And most certainly, a church should be full of love in every way, if they are truly trusting in and walking with the Lord Jesus. Most of the whole New Testament tells us what a Christian church should look like. I would suggest that you begin reading in the Book of Acts; where the first churches were ever organized. In a true Christian church, one should be able to feel peace and comfort, and feel free to praise the Lord freely as the Holy Spirit leads us to do. We have been led for too many years to believe that one must belong to a particular denomination in order to be in right relationship with God Almighty; which is hogwash. People need to get back to the Word of God for their leadership, instead of trying to follow a particular denomination. The blood of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can wash away our sins; not attending a particular church. If you are truly seeking to find a new church to attend, you must trust entirely upon the leadership of God to find the right one. If you do so, He most certainly will lead you to the one which He desires for you to be a part of.

Answer 10

The former church I attended used to be a Baptist church. Had that name for over 35 years. All of a sudden they wanted to change it to make it more seeker friendly. Since then a large part of the congregation has left. It wasn't just the change of the name but that the bible was watered down to accomodate everyone and not to offend a particular group. I have been attending Calvary Chapel for over ten years now and can't see a better place to worship and learn about God. Basically, we start with worship, some traditional, mostly modern songs. Then our pastor studies the Word. Chapter by chapter. We have baby dedications, no baptism. Believers of accountable age have the option to be baptized in the river. We believe in Jesus Christ and the study of the Word. No rituals. No passing the bucket. If the Lord moves us to tithe or give offerings we are able to do so without feeling that we have to. The bible says to pray, worship and meditate daily in order to grow. That's basically what we learn and live.
Are there sometimes unpleasant things revealed? Sure. It's God's word and sin is not whitewashed by niceties or to keep the congregation happy. The truth is what sets us free.
God bless.