CHURCH FINDER (PART 3) - DOCTRINE VS WORSHIP STYLE

(NOTE: This will be my last blog of the year. Dana, Leah and I are leaving next week for a much deserved and highly anticipated Christmas vacation. From me to you and yours: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!)

Several years ago one of my seminary professors said, “Jack, it is easier to change the doctrine of your church than it is to change the music.”

I was incredulous. How could such a statement be made and made with conviction by this man that I respected and admired? Surely people care more about what we believe than they do about what hymns or choruses we sing! After all, doctrine is the core of us who we are and what we do as a church. I soon found out that he was right when our church began to make the slow transition from a strictly traditional worship style to one that is blended. I have never seen such unchristian behavior in my life. Finally out of frustration I handed my Bible to one irate church member who was scolding me.

“Show me in the Bible where God specifies what style of music or what instruments should be played when we worship Him. If you do I will change our direction immediately,” I said.

He simply handed me the Bible back as he stormed out of my office and subsequently left the church. There are many good reasons to leave a church. We may talk about them in future articles. Leaving a church because they do not play the music that you want is shallow at best and sinful at worst. Therefore, when you are in the position of looking for a new church home, there are other, more important factors to consider besides music. The doctrine of the church is what really matters. Some may say that a church cannot have proper doctrine if their music isn’t one way or the other. That is a bogus argument. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.

When looking at a potential church ask questions, read their doctrinal statement, and interview the Pastor. This is by no means an exhaustive list but here are some important questions that you should ask about these topics:

GOD THE FATHER: What is His role in the lives of believers? How has He related to people in the past? What are His attributes?

JESUS: What does the church believe about Jesus? Was He really born of a virgin? Did He really do all those miracles? Did He really rise from the dead? Is He a way or the way of salvation? Is He God? What were the purposes of his incarnation, life, teaching, death, and resurrection? Is He coming back? What does He expect of His disciples?

THE HOLY SPIRIT: What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer and the church? Has that role ever changed? When does the Holy Spirit become a part of a believer’s life? Of what importance are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? How can those gifts impact the individual believer or the church?

THE BIBLE: What role does the Bible play in the life of the believer and the church? How did we get the Bible? Where did it come from? Is the Bible the final authority in the church? Does the Bible give instruction on how individuals, families, nations, and churches should conduct themselves? If you had to choose between the Bible and your tradition (denomination), what would you choose? If you had to choose between the Bible and your own personal experience, what would you choose?

THE LOCAL CHURCH: How is the local church different from the universal church? What does the Bible teach about church leadership? What is the purpose of the church? How does one become a member of this church? What are the expectations of church members? How is this church financed? How are decisions made concerning the church? Is church discipline practiced? What does the church believe about the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper? How does this church support missionaries and mission work?

SALVATION: How is a person saved? What does it mean to be saved? What happens when a person is saved? What does God expect of saved people? Can a person lose their salvation? What happens to people when they die?

As I said before, this is by no means an exhaustive list of important doctrinal questions that need to be asked. I did not include anything about creation or the end times, for example. There are lots of areas that are important. I listed those above because I believe they are the most important. That is not to say that all of those questions are deal breakers. If a church does not believe in the deity of Christ, then that is a deal breaker. If the church requires a class for membership, or is unique in their methodology of support for missions, those are not deal breakers; at least for me. You will have to decide for yourself. You will not ever find a church that agrees with you on every minor point of doctrine. Determine those that are major and be unyielding on those. If you find a church that has strong biblical doctrine, then you might have the church that is right for you, regardless of its worship style. Prayer comes next.