So You Are Looking For A Church?
I. You Are In Good Company
So you are looking for a church? Well, you are in good company for all over the country good people are coming to the conclusion that they ought to be serving God, and that the only way to serve Him is through His church... But after this conclusion is reached these honest people are faced with the problem that there are over two hundred and eighty religious bodies in this country all claiming to be, or at least to be a branch of, the church of Christ. Hence the problem of looking for a church.
If men would be content to let the Bible be the only source of authority in matters of religion, this problem would not exist. Because the Bible claims to be sufficient for "doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:16, 17.) And the Bible plainly states that Christ has but one body (Eph. 4:4), and that that body is the church (Eph. 1:22, 23; Col. 1:18); then the Bible goes into every detail and describes the church and sets the divine bounds so that there need be no confusion about the church, how to find it, how to enter it, and how to live in it.
But since men have gone outside of the Bible and have written their creeds, manuals, disciplines, and confessions of faith, and have started their own churches the problem of finding the true church wherein a man may acceptably serve God is very real and great. The responsibility to study the word of God and find the truth firmly rests upon the shoulders of every man. The ability of each man to come to know the truth and find the true church depends entirely on his attitude toward the truth and what he is looking for in a church.
As one goes into the religious world looking for the church he is told on almost every hand to find a church that meets his spiritual needs and then "join the church of your choice." If the church was a man made institution, having to do with giving man a satisfaction of his feelings of what he needs spiritually, this advice would be very well. But the church is a divine institution, having to do with man's service and worship to God; therefore God has something to say about the matter. Or if the question had to do only with man's rights of a physical nature, this counsel would be sound. For God has granted unto man a full and free volition, man may join any organization he wishes. Never has God forced any man to obey Him. From the beginning man was made a free moral agent; he was granted the right to choose for himself either to do good or evil. He has the physical right to join any church he may desire.
One must remember, however, that any reward received or service must come from the one served. If man serves sin, he receives the payment of sin. If one serves in a man made church he will have only the reward that man can give him. If one studies to find the true church and serves God, then the blessings of God and everlasting life shall be the reward.
II. Are You Seeking Your Own Will?
Are you looking for a religious institution in which you may follow your own will? This very desire has caused many to turn away from God, and has created many religions, and no doubt will continue to create them. As the Apostle Paul instructed Timothy, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." (1 Tim. 4:1-3.) Notice that last expression; "them which believe and know the truth. Paul again warns Timothy that "in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affections, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: for such turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5.) And finally, he warns that "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim. 4:3, 4.)
If a church in which you can follow your own will is what you are looking for, you do not want the religion of the New Testament. You have no use for the book; for the religion set forth in the New Testament is an authoritative religion and a religion of revelation, and therefore not adaptable to the will of man. The Bible plainly declares that the religion of the New Testament was revealed unto us by Jesus Christ and that we are to hear him. The Hebrew writer said, "God, who at .sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." (Heb. 1:1, 2.) As Christ was baptized by John in the Jordan river God spoke from heaven saying: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matt. 3:17.) Later, on the Mount of the transfiguration, God spoke from heaven again and said: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Matt. 17:5.) Still later the Apostle Peter quotes Moses as saying: "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you" (Acts 3:22), and then he applies that prophecy unto Christ. (Acts 3:25, 26.)
III. Or Are You Seeking Salvation And Service To God?
If you are seeking salvation from past sins, if you desire to be simply a New Testament Christian, a truly consecrated follower of Jesus Christ, then the New Testament is the book for you. For the New Testament only makes Christians only. The New Testament was given for people who deeply and sincerely desire to be saved and serve God. John said, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16.) How foolish to hope for salvation from any other source! Peter said, "There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12.) If you are actually seeking salvation, then this Book points out the way.
What are the steps that lead us into Christ where salvation is ? The desire to know God and His will must be within man. And with this desire man turns to the word of God because faith comes only through the word of God. (Rom. 10:17.) Through a study of God's word man is led to believe in God as the one true God, and in Christ as His only begotten Son. (John 14:1; Heb. 11:6; John 8:24.) Believing in God and in Christ one is then led to repent of his sins of the past. (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9.) Having truly repented of all sins of the past, man then wants to confess before the world that he believes in Christ as the Son of the living God. (Matt. 10:32, 33; Rom. 10:9, 10.) Thus having made the good confession, man is ready to put on Christ by baptism. Baptism preceded by faith, repentance, and confession puts us into Christ. For Paul said, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:27.) Thus through obedience to the gospel of Christ we receive the remission of past sins, we become Christians; we receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save us. (James 1:21.)
Now what are you looking for in a church? Your own will? Prestige and social position? Or are you truly looking for the salvation that Jesus offers and a place of service wherein you may glorify God? If the latter is your desire, then the New Testament is the book you want and the church of Christ is the church you are looking for. Only in the Bible is salvation and the church for which Christ died set forth. Learn to love it; read it often; meditate upon its truths; obey its every command to you, and it shall make you into a Christian in the very likeness of God's Son.