In order for you to grow as a follower of Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus the Messiah) you must study and be under the leadership of one who follows and studies. Every church has a doctrine and statement of beliefs, they are either implied or written and may be one and the same.
The church doctrine is a detailed article which reveals the church’s ideology. It should include Scriptures to support it’s ideology. A statement of belief(s) is a summary of what the church believes based on its’ doctrine. Often when a person leaves it is because of a disagreement based on the doctrine.
If you have never attended a church or if you are having issues with some of the things happening in your church understanding what makes a church building a church will help you evaluate if a particular church is a place you should attend regularly.
A church’s doctrine is its’ resume and the number it’s primary reference should be Yeshua Hamashiach.
NOTE: I am learning to use Hebrew and Greek terms when referring to God and Jesus, it is a personal preference. Many people today speak of god but are not speaking of Eloheem, God. I have discovered J-E-S-U-S, pronunced “Hay-szous” in Spanish, is a name parents give to their children. Using the Greek and Hebrew names of our Messiah and our Creator help me to distinguish Him as “God” and not just another man.
Far to many people have turned their back on “church” because they see flaws. The people tell others to do one thing and they themselves do something else, this is hypocrisy. From the pulpit the messages create more confusion than clarity. How can a church filled with imperfect people whose lives do not improve over the years help anyone? It is not God that people reject it is the church as it is today.
Part of my motivation for writing is pointing out, to both believers and unbelievers, the differences between our loving Abba Father God and the “do this get that” God that is presented from the pulpit. Yes, He has precepts for livings, a list of don’t do this because it will hurt you; His requirements are not burdensome.
I firmly believe God’s word is without reproach, perfect, infallible. I believe many of the church’s today are successful not because of the word they teach but the word they present, their message is palatable. A church does not teach based on your feelings it should present the Word as if your life dependent on it because it does. life.
QUALIFICATIONS OF A CHURCH
THE WORD IS PRESENTED AS IS
2 TIMOTHY 4:2
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
Preaching God’s word may hurt someone’s feelings. People do not want to hear that gluttony is a sin but it is. The message from the pulpit should: convince you that everything in the Bible is real, rebuke or correct your inappropriate behavior, and exhort or celebrate your achievements. The purpose of the pulpit is to patiently share Scripture and teach the people what Eloheem has said.
Deuteronomy 12:32
“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
The definition of a cult (my definition) is a place that adds to or takes away from the Bible. Organizations that add their own book of what to believe has disobeyed a commandment. An organization who has taken away scriptural context to facilitate a personal ideology has disobeyed a commandment. Two church ideologies come to mind: the Book of Mormon “Bible supplement” and churches that celebrate same sex marriages.
Of course, there are not so obvious teachings that either add or take away from what our Creator has commanded which is why it is important to truly understand Scripture for yourself. You do not need a degree in theology to understand the Word of God.
ACTS 5:42A church that does not speak about Jesus the Son of God, or the Trinity, is not teaching the Word.
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
CHURCH IDEOLOGY SHOULD BE BASED ONLY ON SCRIPTURE
1 TIMOTHY 1:3
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
Scripture is being manipulated to introduce a belief that is not based on God’s Word or His will. It is important that you study Scripture and seek understanding from our Creator who will give you wisdom to confirm or deny the accuracy of what you have been taught.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16I cannot quote 2 Timothy 3:16 often enough! All Scripture is all Scripture Old and New Testament / Covenant. The Old Covenant confirms the New Covenant.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
ONE GOD- NO COMPROMISE
EXODUS 34:14 THE COMPLETE JEWISH BIBLE
because you are not to bow down to any other god; since Adonai — whose very name is Jealous — is a jealous God.
DEUTERONOMY 5:6-9 THE COMPLETE JEWISH BIBLE
“‘I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, where you lived as slaves.
“‘You are to have no other gods before me. You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline — you are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, Adonai your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents, also the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
How can Christian parents allow their sons and daughters participate in Muslim behaviors under the guise of appreciating different cultures? A very disturbing activity I have seen is the acceptance of Islam celebrations in what is supposed to be the house of Eloheem. Islam is enmity to Christianity- period.
A church should teach that there is only One God,, the church should reflect this. You do not bring Allah into his house as a courtesy, God is not fair. You do not teach your children Muslim customs but your children should be demonstrating a Christian lifestyle. I do not recall any passage in the Bible in which Muslims and Christians “co-exist”. Muslims are anti-Christ and anti-Israel therefore they are not friends of God.
The church is there to help you learn the way of the Lord. As you learn there will be positive changes noted in your life including peace (Isaiah 26:3) joy (Nehemiah 8:10) and even favor, unearned opportunities. If you have been sitting in a church for years and remain broke, busted and or disgusted then that is not the place for you leave. There are many good Bible believing places for you to attend to learn God’s way (I personally believe size matters- more on that on another post).
The three factors I presented are important in evaluating a church:
- The Word is presented as is.
- Doctrine, ideology, is based on Scripture
- One God no compromise.
2 TIMOTHY 2:14-16 THE COMPLETE JEWISH BIBLE
Keep reminding people of this, and charge them solemnly before the Lord not to engage in word-battles. They accomplish nothing useful and are a catastrophe for the hearers! Do all you can to present yourself to God as someone worthy of his approval, as a worker with no need to be ashamed, because he deals straightforwardly with the Word of the Truth. But keep away from godless babbling, for those who engage in it will only become more ungodly,
FAITH MATTERS reflects the opinions and property of the author MARSHA L F RANDOLPH. All rights reserved- do not use without permission. All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated. Don’t miss weekly faith based post FOLLOW THIS BLOG and receive notifications when a new article is posted.
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