Have you ever given any thought to why you like your church? What makes it special to you? What about your church would make it difficult to leave?
If you found yourself without a church home tomorrow, (maybe due to a move or something) what would you look for in a church? I know, I know. You probably already have a church home and you're not anricipating a move. But it still might not be a bad idea to make a list of what you would want your church to be like. It could kind of keep you on the ball, making sure you know where you are on things. (And where your church is on things.) A little introspection and an honest look at things is seldom a bad idea.
Would you sacrifice believing identically to find real Christians living in community? Would you sacrifice your worship-style preferences to find a church with programs to raise a family you're struggling to raise on your own? Would you sacrifice ministry opportunities to find a church that teaches godly living? Yes, these are difficult questions. Maybe it's time to take an honest look at what's most important.
In the meantime, PLEASE take a moment to take my poll on the right ------------> It is completely anonymous. So now is your chance to tell the truth about what is important to you, even if you don't think your priorities are in order.
Maybe it's time to set those priorities straight. Maybe it's time to come to some hard conclusions about your spiritual state or that of your church. And maybe it's time to just say a big "thank you" to the Lord because you find out He's got you exactly where He wants you.
So what is important to you in a church? Maybe it's time to think about that.
Took your poll! I always think things like this are interesting. I will go ahead and tell you what I voted instead of remaining anonymous though.. I voted "doctrine" and the reason being, is because I would value a church that has correct doctrine. I am not concerned with everyone in that church thinking exactly like me, but as a body of believers, it is important to have the same fundamental beliefs - salvation, Jesus Christ, The Trinity, etc... But if people vary on different "standards" which sometimes can be seen as doctrine, that's totally a preference thing. We are all at different levels of our sanctification process of becoming more Christ-like, therefore, we won't look like "cookie cutters". Does that make sense, or am I rambling?
ReplyDeleteCan I vote "yes"?
ReplyDeleteDoctrine & Size, then Community & Standards.
Jenni, I love this sort of thing too. Thanks for your imput. SO far, it looks like most people taking the poll agree with you. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.
ReplyDeleteNo Becca, you cannot vote that way. :)
For me it's a combination because I need to know that the church as a whole is spririt filled. It starts with worship and bleeds into everything else. I am lucky to be in a church like that, and I can't say I would settle for just one big thing.
ReplyDelete