And the Winner is....

A week ago, I asked you to take part in a poll: "What is most important in a church?" And you said:

DOCTRINE!

Almost half of you said doctrine was more important that any other thing. 45% of you voted that way. I'm a little surprised, this day in age, with so many people who don't know what they believe. However, those people may not be in the demographic that participated in this poll. I do have many well-educated 'old' christians as friends and your preferences doubtless came shining through. This is an interesting thought. I'd like to know more about the people who chose this answer. I would imagine that although many of you have this priority in common, that you may have very different reasons for choosing it. Too bad the poll didn't have place to 'splain.

Tying for second with 18% each was COMMUNITY and STANDARDS. I expected both of these to do very well in the polls, although for various reasons I would likely consider the groups of people seeking these individual traits to be at opposite ends of the spectrum. What do you think? Do you think of those who are separated in terms of being separated from community? Which churches are more likely to focus on standards, small or large? And does size affect community? I'm pretty sure that many of these options would overlap in different ways for different people.

Next in line was WORSHIP with 9%. This one did surprise me. I have heard so many people say something like, "The preaching was good but I just couldn't take the music." Similarly, I have known people to leave churches because the worship service wasn't what they thought it should be. And then it may be possible that this item would have pulled in more votes if the poll had allowed first and second choices. Because, while many people would definitely shy away from certain congregations where the worship service was uncomfortable, those same people may feel that if doctrine is on the ticket, it must certainly take first place. And then again, I may totally have it figured wrong.

MINISTRY and SIZE tied for last place with only 4% each.

PROGRAMS didn't even make a showing. This I am surprised about, having known people to have sought churches based on what they had for their children, teens etc. However, once again, we must consider that these same people, while looking for programs, might have been primarily more concerned with doctrine, and would look for churches with programs only if they first agreed with them doctrinally.

While doctrine did carry the lead, what is interesting to note is that some of you made a very clear choice not to choose it as most important. Maybe it is a big deal to you, but obviously something else was an even bigger deal. 53% of you were willing to place doctrine in at least the second seat to something you deemed more important. It would be interesting to know how doctrinally-broad people would be willing to differ for the sake of having those other needs met in their lives.

I know in my own life, that some of the people I love the most, some of the neatest people I know, believe differently than I do. We are able to have sweet fellowship together. I love meeting with people who can unaggressively discuss different points of view. A meeting of the minds, where personalities and preferences come through, but never at the cost of brotherly love. It is what I imagine Heaven to be like.

Discussion, conversation, Christians meeting and sharing. In a way, it is what has happened here, in this blog, with this poll. Yep, it's pretty heavenly to me.

Thank you for participating!

What would you search for in a church if in fact you searched for a church?

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.