More Churches are emerging in Uganda by the day. As a result, several Christians and new converts are challenged as to which congregation they should join for weekly or Sunday worship.
Many aren’t really sure what to look for in the first place. As a result, we approach churches like consumers.
In regard to the truth, the local church is a place where the Bible (God’s only Truth) has complete authority. The Bible is the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
Therefore, when seeking a church to attend, we should find one where, according to biblical standards, the gospel is preached, sin is condemned, worship is from the heart, the teaching is biblical, and opportunities to minister to others exist.
Pew Research released the results of a study earlier about what Christians who leave their houses of worship are looking for. The results are pretty interesting.
According to the data, almost half of Christians will look for a new church or congregation at some point in their (adult) lives, mostly because they moved to a new location.
Some people do leave their congregations because of theological disagreements, but somewhat surprisingly that’s not a significant percentage. What’s interesting is what people searching for a new church are actually looking to find.
When it comes to choosing a new church, congregation or otherwise house of worship, a huge majority of people are attracted (or not) based on a church’s preaching. A full 83 percent say the “quality of sermons” is an important factor.
This is especially true for Protestants. Pew claims they are “far more likely” than Roman Catholics to name sermons and preaching as a significant factor in choosing a new church.
A close second in importance for church-seekers is “feeling welcomed by clergy and lay leaders” (79 percent).
Other important factors from the studies include:
–Style of services (74 percent);
–Location of the church (70 percent); and
–Kids’ programs (56 percent).
What ever the case, my advice to you is that when looking for a church, it’s best to avoid the ones that place too high a value on things that are not the Gospel. It’s not that other things aren’t important or shouldn’t be valued. But when they become sacred, there is a problem.
Finally, remember that no church is perfect. At best, it is still filled with saved sinners whose flesh and spirits are continually at war. Also, do not forget the importance of prayer. Praying about the church God would have you attend is crucial throughout the decision-making process.
male@ugchristiannews.com
