Church Shopping?

Years ago, when the majority of America's population identified as being Christian and having a specific church affiliation, it was a safe bet that a person raised in a particular denomination would just naturally find a church of that same persuasion wherever they lived. Nowadays, for a variety of reasons, there is a growing segment of the population that does not identify with a denomination, mainline or otherwise, and in fact may be anti-denominational when it comes to church preference.

Bella Vista is home to about 26 churches. I say "about" because every so often I hear about a new church starting in someone's home or rented space. Churches start and churches end. Churches grow and churches decline. And sometimes churches split. There are so many choices. How does one find and decide on a church these days? Many, I have found, shop around.

Just as online shopping has become increasingly popular for just about anything that can be purchased, while wearing pajamas and a robe at home anytime of the day or night, so people looking for a church to try will likely go online and get to know a little bit about that church from a safe digital distance before ever walking in the door. From the anonymity of their computer, they can watch or listen to the pastor's sermons, check out the church's activities and peruse their beliefs. If I were moving to a new area and was interested in my options regarding local communities of faith, I would probably do the same.

Church shoppers need to know what they're looking for in a church; otherwise, how will you know when you've found the right one? And there is no substitute for visiting selected churches when shopping around. Try them more than once; I recommend visiting at least three times in order to get a feel for the culture of the church and its compatibility with your most important church-shopping criteria. Here's what I recommend looking for when shopping for a church: (notice none of these three highest criteria has anything to do with music preferences, size of the church or the predominate demographic in attendance).

Most importantly, look for a church that carefully and without apology teaches what the Bible teaches. If self-help books were the answer, the plethora of them available to every generation would have solved every human problem. God's Word, rightly taught, offers everything you and I need in order to know Him in a personal, life-changing way, know ourselves, to learn why so much is messed up in the world and how to cope with it all in healthy ways that positively impact everything and everyone around us.

Look for a church that expects you to join in, help out and serve your community. The true church is the body of Christ -- His hands, His feet, His life -- His fingerprints touching the spiritual, physical, emotional and relational needs in people's lives.

And, finally, look for a church where you will be challenged to grow as a Christian; becoming a better wife, husband, mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, neighbor and friend.

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Mark Voll is pastor of the Village Bible Evangelical Free Church.

Religion on 02/03/2016