…Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. (Ephesians 5:23, NIV)
Jones, Hogan, Nicklaus, or Woods? Maybe someone else (Zaharias, Wright, Whitworth, Sorenstam?). The debate over the game’s greatest player will never be resolved, for we all make our cases. But the conversation around the game will be ever livelier because this is so. Golf, like all sports, may have more vibrancy on barstools and tattered couches than on the field of play.
To our fault, however, we may bring this arguing culture to places where it does not belong. Church, for instance.
To our fault, however, we may bring the arguing culture to places where it does not belong.There are plenty of arguments within churches. This is sad but true. But before we even get there, when we are simply asking which church we might attend—as one new in the faith or picking up churchgoing later in life or moving to a new town—the answers we hear may come packed with preferential bias: “I grew up in this church.” “The music is so loud there.” “The people are nice.” “My spouse doesn’t agree with the pastor.” “It’s close to home.” “The service times are convenient.”
Now, we’re thinking people. We can recognize the incidental nature of these many assessments. But what are the real questions, and are we asking them?
Foremost, a church you want to attend should be preaching Jesus as we see him in Scripture. Who was he and how is he shown to be God? What did he do when he came to Earth and what is the effect of that work? Do the answers your church gives to these questions line up with what you read on the pages of your Bible?
Following that course, a church you want to attend leans on Scripture as its reference point. Not historically lauded theologians. Not Christian psychologists. Not catechisms or creeds. Not novels or poems or movies. Any of these may be employed by a teacher to help us see Scripture more clearly, but none can take the place of God’s Word.
Third, in a church you want to attend the people are focused on mutual edification for the purpose of growth in the faith. Are the brothers and sisters using their gifts to serve one another? Moreover, is God calling you to use your gifts there?
Good churches are out there. Find one and worship and serve Jesus there!
—
Jeff Hopper
October 6, 2017
Copyright 2017 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
OTHER DEVOTIONS IN THIS SERIES
The Or Series 1: God or No God?
The Or Series 2: Grace or Works?
The Or Series 3: Alone or Together?
The Or Series 5: Sermons or Scripture?
The Or Series 6: Steady or Spirit-infused?
The Or Series 7: One Way or More to Practice Our Faith?
The Or Series 8: Old Nature or New Nature?
The Or Series 9: For Seekers or Believers?
The Or Series 10: A Statement or a Conversation?