Theology Thursday: Things to Believe and Do

What criteria do you use when you’re looking for a church to join? In the United States, we have the blessing of freedom of religion, but that blessing can leave us with too many options and a feeling that the church is a shopping center where we find the best options to meet our needs.

The first thing you should consider is the church’s confession or statement of faith. Since our faith is rooted in reality, the most important thing is what we confess to believe. No matter how spiritual and earnest the people are, if the statement of faith is unorthodox, you need to go elsewhere. One of the reasons we study church history and recite the creeds is so that you know what orthodox beliefs are. While we don’t want to make a big deal over minors, also beware the statements of faith that are so broad you could believe anything and still ascribe to it. The creeds are not the only test of orthodoxy, and they are not the Scriptures. The apostles did not face the same errors that we do. In the earlier part of the 20th century, there was a big controversy over the virgin birth. It may seem like a minor issue, but the bigger issue was the authority of the Scriptures. The same holds today. What may seem minor might be really important because it represents our willingness to submit to God’s Word.

That being said, the second thing to look for is practice. How are these truths emphasized and lived out in the life of the church? Something common today is for an organization to affirm a truth but then go on to say they will still be accepting of anyone who disagrees. They’re essentially saying they do believe it, but they’re going to live as if it’s not true. Look for a connection between the beliefs and the lifestyles.

Those aren’t the only things to look for, but it’s a good foundation. Truth being believed and practiced is the most important thing. That’s why I’m excited about reciting the creeds together with you all on Sunday.