One In Jesus

Hayom kadosh l’Adonai eloheichem
Al titabloo v’al tivku
Hasu ki hayom kadosh
V’al tayatzayvu

Today is sacred to the Lord, your God
Do not mourn and do not weep.
Be silent, for this day is sacred
Do not be sad.

(Neh 8:9-12 ESV) ⁹ And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.  ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

¹¹ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.”  ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

So it’s a tough question, isn’t it?

Let me rephrase it —

When it’s time to pick a church, what are the most important considerations — and why?

I readily, heartily, immediately agree that doctrine matters. But what else matters? Or is doctrine the only thing?

When your children leave home and have to find a new church home, how do you advise them? To pick a church with pristine baptismal doctrine? To pick a church that meets their felt needs? That takes weekly communion? That has a great preacher? That only supports sound missionaries? That will help them be transformed into the image of Christ?

How do you advise?

And why?

I get emails —

I would like to commend you on your Born of Water book. It was a very exciting read and, quite frankly, I agree with pretty much everything that was written there. However, I’ve a very difficult question. Indeed, I was a member of the International Christian Church (led by Kip Mckean), and to tell you the truth, the legalism was too much for one to handle.

Right now, I am trying to search for a new place of worship, but that is a struggle (I’m a fan of variety, but not in this case). I am highly considering going to an interdenominational church (at least for the time being), or perhaps even a Baptist or Evangelical church. My question is do you see it to be wise to have known the truth of immersion for the forgiveness of sins and to fellowship with those whom teach otherwise? In my case, should I even fellowship with those of other denominations to begin with?

I know that many readers have faced and struggled with exactly this question. What’s your advice?