Question: I am looking for a new church. What should I look for?
Answer: Having spent more than three decades in institutional chaplaincies, I have often been asked, “What difference does it make which church I attend? Aren’t all churches more or less the same?”
The answer is an unqualified “No!” If you claim to be a Christ follower, you must carefully assess any church you may be attending. While there are many similarities between the various denominations, there are also some critical differences.
You need to look for the following things in any church:
1. Do they believe and teach that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice?
2. Do they teach the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus as the only means of salvation?
3. Do they teach that all mankind is born with a sin nature and that everyone sins in some way throughout their life (including believers who continue to commit incidental sins)?
4. Do they teach the need to seek forgiveness for wrongs committed against others and God?
5. Do they teach the need for personal repentance (turning away from sin, forsaking known sin and seeking to live a righteous life)?
Various denominations and fellowships hold differing views on the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and Communion as well as the practice of spiritual gifts (see 1 Corinthians 11 to 13).
Other issues of church government (Episcopal, Presbyterian, Congregational), worship liturgy, music and social responsibility are secondary and not critical to personal salvation. However, there is clear teaching in the Bible about all of these issues.
The most important criterion is whether the church gives God the glory rather than any human effort. The purpose of uniting with a church fellowship is to draw closer to God and have the support of like-minded brothers and sisters.
Dr. John Jamieson
Central Ocean City Union Chapel
Interdenominational Ministry
