The basics checklist continues…
The mission is the Great Commission. Is the Great Commission essentially the mission (no matter how it is worded)? Many churches have mission statements. Examine it. The wording may be a little different, but is the church’s mission statement similar to or an application of the Great Commission? In case you don’t know, the Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:19-20:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
For example, at the writing of this article, our church’s mission statement is “We exist to live, teach and tell the gospel that all may know The Living God.”
Obviously, it is just a rip off from Jesus’ words – as it should be.
People who have found a church often attend only once a month or less. It is not possible to create a sense of ownership and community that way. I will create another article hopefully someday about how to make the most of a church experience.
The doctrine is right and sound. Make sure the doctrinal statements are accurate. There are Christian basicsthat actually matter. In these essentials, we cannot make up anything else we want. Is doctrine submitted to without being worshiped?
Here is our church’s statement of faith. We focus on the essentials and then also reference a Baptist material. https://southspring.org/about/
This seems like a good list. What should I add to this list?
The only other one that seems to come to my mind is right now is:
The Truth is spoken in Love. Maybe this seems obvious (remember the story of President “silent Cal” Coolidge when asked about the sermon? His wife asked, “What was the sermon about?” He answered “Sin.” “Really? What did he say about it?” “He is against it.”), but I feel like even if a certain pastor has a different interpretation of a particular passage about sin, that might be ok. However, if members of the leadership embrace sin in their own lives and are allowed to stay in leadership, then there is a cancer in the church. Of course, there are sinners in the church (otherwise it isn’t a church), but it is not ok for the church to honor with leadership people who are EMBRACING and accepting in their own lives, sin.
This applies to abusive and cultish churches. When a leader takes on any kind of authority that he says equates him to God’s authority or gives him the authority to sin or abuse, he needs to be removed and if applicable, prosecuted. If he isn’t removed, the you need to leave.
It isn’t a perfect local church. If you find a perfect one, don’t join it or you’ll ruin it. Seriously, I recommend re-reading Letter 16 of Screwtape Letters. This is a great look at how our perceptions of the imperfections of church and church-goers can be used by our Enemy to throw us off.
Letter II also offers one of the most fascinating descriptions of The Church from the perspective of a demon.
“One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do riot mean the Church as we (demons) see her spread out through all time and space and rooted in eternity, terrible as an army with banners. That, I confess, is a spectacle which makes I our boldest tempters uneasy.”