We can’t find a good congregation
Question:
Hello,
I’m facing a dilemma and seek guidance to do the right thing. My husband and I used to attend the only church in our area that lacks a kitchen. We stopped going because the preacher left, there are no elders, and the men currently leading the church are not biblically sound in their teachings. This environment wasn't conducive to our spiritual growth. When we inquired about appointing new elders, we were dismissed with a shrug and told that they had all left. Quite some time has passed, and there is still no preacher.
In contrast, three other congregations are nearby with kitchens, preachers, and elders. One of these churches strictly adheres to biblical teachings and is led by mature, spiritually sound men. Given our situation, what should we do?
Answer:
When you read about the churches in Asia listed in Revelations 2-3, only two were spiritually sound, and even these congregations faced problems. There are no congregations without some sort of challenges. Yet, despite the problems, Jesus tells each to work on fixing their spiritual problems and overcome their other problems.
You appear to know that there is an issue with churches spending money on kitchens (Kitchens and Fellowship Halls: What Was the Issue?). But at the same time, you tell me that a group that does have a kitchen "strictly adheres to biblical teachings." You can't have it both ways.
Yes, congregations should have elders, deacons, preachers, and teachers (Ephesians 4:11), but congregations do exist without them at times. You can't just have people hold the titles. A congregation needs good, qualified people. If they don't exist, that isn't necessarily the congregation's fault. For instance, it took La Vista over 40 years to have two or more men qualified to be elders simply because people moved in and out of the area so often.
You left the congregation because they are struggling. Instead of helping them grow, you added to their problems. You state that the men aren't teaching sound doctrine, but while you were attending there, your husband was one of the men.
I don't know the congregation or the problems, and I don't know if the problems are solvable. Not attending worship at all doesn't make you a better Christian.
I know good people among the congregations that refer to themselves as "mainstream." However, I also have seen congregations that compromise on some issues slide further from the truth over time. The poor reasoning that allows them to have kitchens and fellowship halls leads to compromises on other issues. It doesn't happen overnight, but you can see the progression.
