Question #154
How can I locate a church near my home?
I was baptized in the church of Christ in 1995 and I would like to locate a church near my new home.
The Answer:
Unfortunately, it is often not a simple matter to locate a faithful congregation of the Lord’s church. Many religious groups that have the name of Christ on their buildings – and some who have “Church of Christ” emblazoned on their buildings – have cast Christ and his word away long ago and are no longer worshiping God in spirit and in truth. They have introduced strange fire into their worship services, and they have ceased to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So how do you find a faithful congregation? When possible, ask faithful Christians who live in the area or who know the area. When that is not possible, visit local congregations and compare what you see and hear with what you find in the word of God. Do they follow the pattern for worship in the New Testament, or do they instead use mechanical instruments of music or permit women to assume roles of leadership in the church? Do they faithfully proclaim the gospel, or do they teach that baptism is not essential to salvation? Do they have a spirit of love for each other and for the truth, or are they cold and loveless – either toward each other, toward the lost, or toward God’s word? In short, are they the church of Jesus Christ you read about in the New Testament or are they a departure from that pattern and a creation of man? If you find no faithful congregations in your area, then perhaps God has placed you there for that very reason! Get busy and start one!
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