Your Search For Truth

Sometimes, we leave a church in search for something. Problem is, what are we searching for?

The question is a hard one. It addresses a lot of different needs that we are trying to satisfy. Some people want to get into the community and help more. Others want to teach, preach or counsel others in faith. Others have needs to just try to hang on and barely survive being a Christian every day.
 
How do we know what church is the right church? What is our criteria? Will I just know when I find it?
 
God gave us the answers through the bible. And I feel that it is important to dig into it together and answer each question.
 
How do we know what church is the right church?
“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts chapter 2 verse 47 (Acts 2:47). The people who make up the church are not added by other people through attendance lists or showing up regularly to a building. Our Lord adds us to Gods church when we are saved.
 
Also read more about being saved here: How do I become a Christian?
 
We also need to look to the book of James chapter 1 verse 27 to help us know what religion we should have. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – not what some might expect religion to be…
 
What is our criteria?
 
The bible is better to answer this one than me. “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3)
 
Also the teaching of other people need to be consistent with this next verse from the book of Ephesians chapter 4, (verses 2 -6) “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Will I just know when I find it?
 
Maybe. If you are really looking for the truth, you will find it quite easy enough. The trick isn’t to look to “church groups” as the answer but to God to find the right church... His church. Jesus told us a very important way to help us find the true church: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew chapter 7 verse 7.
 
Pray to God and let God know that you are seriously looking for his church. Never settle for something that is “close enough” to the truth. Truth is truth and anything short is a lie.
 
One last verse: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:1-5.
 
Conclusion
 
God has given us the tools we need to find the truth. We are given a measure to make sure that what we are a part of is from God and not “deceiving spirits”. We don’t follow a group or a pastor or preacher. We follow Jesus and the teachings he gave us. This isn’t a journey you have to do on your own. I care about seeking truth and the group I worship with feel as I do.
 
Speak to us about it and we are glad to help share the message with you. We are interested in you finding God, not us. We are a church dedicated to seeking out the truth and helping others along the way.
 
You can get in touch with us by clicking this link to our CONTACT page and email us your questions. Or visit us on Facebook and chat with us there.
 
Recommended Reading:
If you wish to find it on your own I also recommend reading the whole book of Galatians. The church in Galatia had an issue with staying true to the Gospel and following lies.
 
About Pinehill church of Christ:
We are a group of dedicated Christians looking for the truth and always going to the bible to make sure that we are staying true to Jesus. We offer Christ free because Jesus freely offered himself first. Love for everyone drives our every decision with a firm belief that we must share the truth with everyone.