How do I know which church is the right one?
Question:
Hello,
I am a struggling 24-year-old who has been struggling with what church to go to and what kind it should be. The reason for this is because I have been to four different churches and everyone claims that their church or religion is the right one. How would I know what is the right church or religion? On a side note, you would also tell me that your church is the right one, but how would I know that, no offense.
Answer:
None was taken. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (I John 4:1). Religions claim to be teaching people about God and how to live lives that are in accord with God's plans. God doesn't expect you to check your brain in at the door of a church. You have a copy of His book, make use of it!
Even back in the days of idolatry, God didn't expect people just to accept His message without evidence. ""Present your case," says the LORD. "Bring forth your strong reasons," says the King of Jacob. Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; let them show the former things, what they were, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare to us things to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; yes, do good or do evil, that we may be dismayed and see it together. Indeed you are nothing, and your work is nothing; he who chooses you is an abomination" (Isaiah 41:21-24). God wants people to think.
True Christianity only comes about when people learn from God. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). When Paul taught people the gospel, the greatest praise was for a group in the town of Berea. "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). They didn't take the preacher's word for it. They checked for themselves and it was appreciated.
Of course, I'm a member of a church that I have found to be following God's teachings as best that they can. I don't ask to accept that just because I said so. I want you to take your Bible and compare what is being taught to what you find in your Bible. If you need help finding something, then I'm here to help, but ultimately the decision is yours to make. If you want to meet to ask questions about the church or learn more about the Bible, all you need to do is ask.
