How to Choose a Church

Choosing a church can be a lot like grocery shopping.

It can be confusing, tedious, and hard.

Where do you begin to tell the difference between a good church and a church that simply looks good?

But choosing a church doesn’t have to be so hard. In fact, it reminds me a little bit of choosing the right man amidst the sea of viable options. You’ve got to apply these five principles when finding the right church:

1. Know the difference between your needs and your wants. While you may want a coffee shop or an active youth group, what you need in a church is the firm belief in the inerrancy and divine inspiration of the Scriptures. While you may want a core of good looking single guys, what you need is a church that believes in the total deity of Jesus Christ. You get the idea. Don’t join a church because it satisfies your wants. Find a church that stands irrefutably for those things you consider must haves.

2. First impressions can be deceiving. You’ve experienced this in relationships. You meet a guy and think he’s God’s gift to the world only to find out after a couple of dates that he burps too loud and doesn’t pick up the tab. The same can be true in a church. Don’t be fooled by first impressions. Visit a church several times before committing to it.

3. Look beyond the outside. It’s easy to be dismissive of a church because you think the parking lot needs new gravel, or because the carpet in the front lobby needs to be redone. But wait: the church may simply be choosing to spend its funds on helping missionaries set up a work in an underserved area. Look beyond the outside. Hear the entire story before you choose your church family.

4. Ask what you can give not what you can get. It’s true what they say: you aren’t ready to date until you are ready to ask what you can do for that special someone. The same is true in a church. Ditch the spectator mentality and look for a church where you can contribute.

5. Be willing to be vulnerable. In order to really get to know someone, you’ve got to be willing to be honest and accountable. When you are ready to join a church, make sure it’s someplace where you will be known. If you’re planning on sliding in late and sitting in the back row with the intent to leave before the closing prayer, you might as well stay home and watch the TV version instead. If you want a real relationship, be willing to put yourself out there.

Maybe you’re reading this and you’re not quite ready to join a church. You simply want to check out what this entire Jesus thing is all about. Well you can make an exception to these rules and find a church that teaches the Bible without apology. Not sure where? Email me and I’ll help you find out in your neighborhood. Even better, read my post on how to be a Christian right now!

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