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Are you in the Right Church?

If you go to church regularly, have you ever asked yourself the question - why? There could be a number of answers to this:

• Social reasons
• Following the example of parents
• 'Feel good' factor - it seems the right thing to do
• Fear of the consequences (if I don't go)

I wonder how many people go to church because they have a deep religious conviction based on a belief in God and a reverence for the Bible as His Word?

For those who don't go to church but may be considering it, the choice is staggering. So whether you already go to church or whether you are still thinking about it, which church is the right one? Does it really matter anyway? Some say, all roads ultimately lead to the same place, but that is not true, for Jesus himself made a clear distinction in his teaching. He offered two alternatives to those who wished to follow him. For example, his teaching in Matthew chapters 5 to 7 known as "the Sermon on the Mount" sets out the only basis for the Christian way of life. In chapter 7 Jesus draws a simple but far-reaching lesson based on everyday experience:

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

• Matthew 7.13,14

The message of Jesus is simple but far-reaching - the path of discipleship is not an easy one. It requires real effort on the part of those who wish to be Christians in the fullest sense. Jesus then reinforced his teaching by adding this:

"Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name… and done many wonders in your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me you who practice lawlessness!”. "

• Matthew 7.21-23

This is a challenging and very personal message which gets to the heart of Christianity. Jesus said that only those who do "the will of my Father in heaven" will enter the kingdom of God.

An example of a new (at the time of writing) church - this one in Australia.

Picture from Martingraf/Dreamstime.com

Why so many churches?

Almost 2,000 years have gone by since Jesus was here and this long period of time has seen great changes in the Christian world. Have you ever thought why there are so many different churches? It doesn't make sense, does it? There are 45 main denominations listed in the UK as part of an ecumenical movement (source: www.cte.org.uk). There are more than two billion Christians in the world today of which half are Roman Catholics. That's a very large number, but how does that affect you and me? There's no safety in numbers as we have already noted from the teaching of Jesus. The ecumenical movement is just a way of describing the move back towards the 'mother church' from where all the others broke away. Roman Catholicism is still growing whilst the Protestant churches are in decline.

First Century Christianity lost

The history and development of Christianity is just like a great river. It begins as a mountain stream, pure at its source but gradually becoming more and more polluted as it makes its way to the sea. Pure Christianity existed 2,000 years ago when Jesus and his apostles preached the gospel (good news) about the coming kingdom of God.

Then gradually it became polluted by human ideas down through the centuries, with the inevitable result that the original teaching of Jesus and his apostles has almost been lost sight of altogether. They warned that such things would happen. For example the Apostle Paul told the first century Christians at Ephesus that:

"after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves"

• Acts 20.29,30 – see also Paul's words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4.3,4

Warnings like this concerning a departure from the pure teaching of Jesus should make us think. Millions of people are rushing headlong down that broad way Jesus spoke about. Are you among them? Are you in the right church? Am I ? The answer to these searching questions is found in the Bible yet how many Christians read it for themselves?

The Old Testament is not considered relevant by many Christians today. It contains the history of God's chosen people, the Jews. We learn how they departed from the worship of God and turned to idolatry. The prophet Isaiah, whose mission was to warn the nation of the consequences of their idolatry, wrote:

"To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them"

• Isaiah 8.20

Paul's teaching in his second letter to Timothy, just like the message of Isaiah, underlines the importance of getting back to the pure source. He wrote:

"continue in the things which you have learned"

and where had Timothy learned these things - from the Rabbi or the Priest? No, he had followed the good example of his mother and studied the Scriptures himself from an early age, as Paul reminded him:

"...from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus"

• 2 Timothy 3.14,15

These 'holy Scriptures' which Timothy knew, were the books of the Old Testament, for the New Testament was not completed when Paul sent this letter to him. Then Paul emphasised the importance of the Old Testament:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work"

• 2 Timothy 3:16

The Old Testament cannot be put on one side for it is an integral part of the divine message. Without the Old Testament the New Testament would be meaningless. The two together constitute what is described by Paul elsewhere as "the whole counsel of God"

• Acts 20.27

The importance of doctrine Note the emphasis in Paul’s words to Timothy on doctrine first. Churches today are divided on doctrine, but in the first century this was not so. Sound doctrine no longer has its place in the teaching of the churches and for many it is not even regarded as important. The teaching of the Bible has been undermined by the ideas of modern theologians. More recently the very foundation stones of the Christian faith have been questioned, including denial of the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without this as a basis of faith there is no hope, as Paul told the Christians at Corinth:

"if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith"

• 1 Corinthians 15.14 NIV

In the first century, the followers of Jesus were united in doctrine and practice. There was only one church – one united body of believers who upheld the teaching of Jesus. Purity of doctrine and practice was something which characterised the first century church.

However, as time went by the pure source became polluted with new doctrines, some of which had their origin in the pagan ideas of the ancient world. In the fourth century AD the power of pagan imperial Rome united with the Papal Church, a development foretold by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians (see 2 Thessalonians 2). In this way the Roman Catholic Church became firmly established, although by that time many unscriptural ideas had become part of the teaching of the church.

There is one doctrine which most churches readily accept but is not taught in the Bible. We refer to 'the doctrine of the Trinity' which is almost universally accepted by the churches today. But the true relationship between God the Father and His Son Jesus is expressed very clearly in Paul's first letter to Timothy. Concerning God he wrote:

"who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all."

• 1 Timothy 2.4-6

Note the contrast here between the Word of God and the ideas of men – ONE GOD and ONE MEDIATOR, not God the Son as Trinitarians believe but THE MAN CHRIST JESUS. The doctrine of the Trinity completely undermines the true Christian hope of salvation from death through the work of THE MAN Jesus Christ.

A divided religious world

The large number of different churches that exist today are themselves a result of changes that have taken place over many centuries. We have indicated that the original message of Christianity has been lost – the pure source has been muddied by the ideas of men. The true gospel of the coming kingdom of God has been replaced with another gospel not based on God's Word, as Paul warned Timothy:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine ... and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables"

• 2 Timothy 4.3,4

Muslims worship in front of the Dome of the Rock at the end of Ramadan. Jewish prayer here is forbidden.

The news media make us realise how many of the current problems in the world are caused by, or influenced by, religious differences of one kind or another. These include the problems in the Middle East – Judaism versus Islam coupled with the cur rent upsurge of fanaticism in a divided Muslim world. Closer to home – there are deep-rooted divisions in the Church of England brought to a head by the decision to allow women priests and other issues.

One world religion

Can you imagine a world with only one religion common to al l mankind? No Muslims, no Hindus or Buddhists and no more Christian denominations and cults such as we have today. Just think about it – the implications are tremendous aren't they? The good news is that we believe it will soon be a reality. Jesus is to return as he promised, to establish the kingdom of God on earth, to cleanse the world of all that is wrong and to make way for the great changes that have been promised by God. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in powerful words which present a terrifying prospect, but not to those who have come to put their trust in the one true God. Paul encouraged the believers at Thessalonica who were undergoing a time of persecution for their faith, not to worry but to patiently await the time when:

"the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ"

• 2 Thessalonians 1.7,8

Notice the emphasis in Paul's words – vengeance on those that do not know God and on those who refuse to obey the gospel. God is just and His Word tells us how we can obtain the salvation which He offers to all men and women, yet few accept His gracious offer.

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah painted many word pictures of this time of blessing for the nations of the world. He saw a vision of the time when a pure religion will be practiced by all people:

"Many people shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; he will teach us his ways, and we shall walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."

• Isaiah 2.3

There will be one house of prayer for all people, not the diversity of chapels, churches and cathedrals of Christendom today and no more mosques, temples and shrines to gods old and new. But in contrast all people will worship the only true God and there will be one temple in God's holy city, Jerusalem. It will be a universal religion under the wise leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ.

A personal message

God has a plan to cleanse this world from evil, but He is also a God of mercy, as Peter wrote:

"not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance"

• 2 Peter 3.9

He has shown us how we can share the great blessings of the coming kingdom of God and He has provided the way to achieve it through faith in Jesus. Are you in the right church? Perhaps we should re-phrase that question. Do you believe the right things? The message of God's Word is clear - get back to the source and read it afresh with an open mind, carefully and prayerfully. You will find peace of mind now and if you follow its teaching, you will be taking the first steps through the small gate along the clearly defined path. True believers have all walked this path before, one which will lead to eternal joy and peace in the age to come.