Fulfilling my promise....

Defcon · Nov 8, 2005

Ok, if you all remember about 2 weeks ago I wrote in stating that I was leaving our (at the time) current church mostly due to the lack of doctrine. This has been the right decision in hindsight as some things have come to the surface that we did not know about.

That being said, I want to move forward and start looking for a church. My wife and I probably won't be locking in anywhere until after the holidays (we will be spending some time at each of our folks churches - family stuff ) Of course, a reformed church would be optimal - but I'm not sure that is a possibility in my area. The search will continue but I will want to talk with the pastor of any church we are thinking about joining. These are some of the questions I have been thinking may good to ask the pastor in an attempt to gather enough info to make an educated decision:

Do you believe the Bible is infallible?

How does a person become saved?

What is your view on the end times?

What is your Creation view?

What do small groups/Sunday School classes emphasize?

Do all men/women have free-will to choose Christ and have faith?

Do you believe that homosexuals should be allowed to hold an office in the church, become a member, or marry their partner?

Is accountability evident in the church/Sunday school/small groups?

Do you believe God is Sovereign even to the point that He ordains evil?

This is a very rough sketch, but please let me know if I'm leaving something out or being too specific. If you see a question here that is possibly leading to my desired answer - help me with that too. I don't want the pastor trying to match what he thinks I want the answer to be. Let me know your opinions of what need emphasized/deemphsized as well. I look forward to your input!

CoffeeSwirls · Nov 8, 2005

I would base at least one question on each of the nine marks of a healthy church as found at www.9marks.org. For example, you may want to assume there has been some sort of church discipline, but don't mention the positive and negative disciplines, just ask for an example of church discipline that was carried out and what the outcome was. If they say that they have no examples, you will want to ask follow up questions.

edie19 · Nov 9, 2005

What creeds/confessions do they subscribe to?

Do they have a constitution? What does it say about their practices?

How do they "manage" their membership (do they hold their members to a Biblical standard)?

Are they more concerned with mercy ministries (giving to others) or programs? Look at how they spend their money - their expenses should be an open book.

Who is the pastor answerable to (in some churches he isn't answerable to anyone)?

Give me time - I'll come up with more.

Jon_ · Nov 9, 2005

Defcon said:
Ok, if you all remember about 2 weeks ago I wrote in stating that I was leaving our (at the time) current church mostly due to the lack of doctrine. This has been the right decision in hindsight as some things have come to the surface that we did not know about.

That being said, I want to move forward and start looking for a church. My wife and I probably won't be locking in anywhere until after the holidays (we will be spending some time at each of our folks churches - family stuff ) Of course, a reformed church would be optimal - but I'm not sure that is a possibility in my area. The search will continue but I will want to talk with the pastor of any church we are thinking about joining. These are some of the questions I have been thinking may good to ask the pastor in an attempt to gather enough info to make an educated decision:

Do you believe the Bible is infallible?

How does a person become saved?

What is your view on the end times?

What is your Creation view?

What do small groups/Sunday School classes emphasize?

Do all men/women have free-will to choose Christ and have faith?

Do you believe that homosexuals should be allowed to hold an office in the church, become a member, or marry their partner?

Is accountability evident in the church/Sunday school/small groups?

Do you believe God is Sovereign even to the point that He ordains evil?

This is a very rough sketch, but please let me know if I'm leaving something out or being too specific. If you see a question here that is possibly leading to my desired answer - help me with that too. I don't want the pastor trying to match what he thinks I want the answer to be. Let me know your opinions of what need emphasized/deemphsized as well. I look forward to your input!

You know what I would recommend doing? I'd take a copy of the Westminster Confession with you and ask the pastor, "Do you believe this accurately represents the doctrines of Christianity?" If he went to any seminary worth its salt, he would have at least studied the document. If he says no, then ask him with what he disagrees. Based on his disagreement, you can gauge if the church will be right for you or not.

(For instance, if he says, "I believe we have a choice in salvation," then just get up and leave. )

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

mlqurgw · Nov 9, 2005

I wouldn't actually talk to the pastor until I had talked to those who have been members for a long time. If you really want to know what it is that a pastor teaches and preaches ask those to whom he preaches. If they are ignorant of the foundation of Bible doctrines it is because they have not been taught them. The pastor will tell you often what he thinks is being taught but the people he preaches to will be the best gauge.

moretap · Nov 9, 2005

I've found some good churches when I was travelling using this website:
http://www.flockfinder.com/

Defcon · Nov 9, 2005

CoffeeSwirls said:
I would base at least one question on each of the nine marks of a healthy church as found at www.9marks.org. For example, you may want to assume there has been some sort of church discipline, but don't mention the positive and negative disciplines, just ask for an example of church discipline that was carried out and what the outcome was. If they say that they have no examples, you will want to ask follow up questions.

Just briefly looking over those, it seems there are a couple that my rough sketches touched on, I will definitely keep that in mind.

Defcon · Nov 9, 2005

edb19 said:
What creeds/confessions do they subscribe to?

Do they have a constitution? What does it say about their practices?

How do they "manage" their membership (do they hold their members to a Biblical standard)?

Are they more concerned with mercy ministries (giving to others) or programs? Look at how they spend their money - their expenses should be an open book.

Who is the pastor answerable to (in some churches he isn't answerable to anyone)?

Give me time - I'll come up with more.

These look to be pretty sound. Keep them coming!

Defcon · Nov 9, 2005

Jon_ said:
You know what I would recommend doing? I'd take a copy of the Westminster Confession with you and ask the pastor, "Do you believe this accurately represents the doctrines of Christianity?" If he went to any seminary worth its salt, he would have at least studied the document. If he says no, then ask him with what he disagrees. Based on his disagreement, you can gauge if the church will be right for you or not.

(For instance, if he says, "I believe we have a choice in salvation," then just get up and leave. )

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

I have to tell on myself. Being a rather new Reformed Christian I haven't actually got through the Westminster Confession. I did take this post as inspiration to go read it and I'm about half way through.

I think honestly this would save quite a few questions I have thought about asking - and as you said, if they have any formal training they will know what the document says. Honestly, my old pastor wouldn't have a clue what was in it. The only problem may come if I can't find any church that adheres to it or at least believes free-will (remember, I'm located in a relatively small town in WV). I guess I'll cross that road when/if it comes.

Defcon · Nov 9, 2005

mlqurgw said:
I wouldn't actually talk to the pastor until I had talked to those who have been members for a long time. If you really want to know what it is that a pastor teaches and preaches ask those to whom he preaches. If they are ignorant of the foundation of Bible doctrines it is because they have not been taught them. The pastor will tell you often what he thinks is being taught but the people he preaches to will be the best gauge.

Good advice, if we run into where we have two or three churches that fit the Westminster Confession, then this would definitely be the best litmus test. However, I don't know about anyone else, but the majority of "church-going" people I know go to church don't come close to having any stance on theology. Those that know the difference between free-will and predestination deem the topic to be too controversial and hard to understand to pursue.

Defcon · Nov 9, 2005

moretap said:
I've found some good churches when I was travelling using this website:
http://www.flockfinder.com/

Thanks for the site, unfortunately it only turned up 1 church within my area and it was a Non-denom. I read through the beliefs and they believed that a Christian can lose their salvation - a pretty clear indication they don't adhere to the 5 points of Calvinism

CCWoody · Nov 9, 2005

Check the PCA in West Virginia: http://www.pcanet.org/directory.asp

Baptist Founders: http://www.founders.org/misc/chlist/WV.html

Defcon · Nov 9, 2005

CCWoody said:
Check the PCA in West Virginia: http://www.pcanet.org/directory.asp

Baptist Founders: http://www.founders.org/misc/chlist/WV.html

Yeah, everything is at least an hour outside my town. Thanks for these sites though.

I actually did find one that wasn't too far away after I posted this originally.

mlqurgw · Nov 9, 2005

If you don't mind me asking. where in W. Va. are you located? I am from W. Va. myself but left about twenty years ago. I do still have some contacts there though and perhaps I could help find a church that holds to the Doctrines of Grace.

edie19 · Nov 10, 2005

a couple of others suggested by my pastor:

1. What is their view of baptism?

2. What is their view of the Lord's table?

islandcoffee · Nov 10, 2005

Praying God Puts You Where He Wants You!!! In Jesus Name!!!!

HiredGoon · Nov 10, 2005

There are two Orthodox Presbyterian congregations in WV.

And two Associate Reformed Presbyterian congregations in WV.

Fulfilling my promise....

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