A man reportedly came to the British pastor Charles H. Spurgeon looking for the perfect church. The famous preacher told him he had many saintly people in his congregation, but a Judas could also be among them. After all, even Jesus had a traitor in the company of His apostles. He went on to say that some might be walking disobediently, as had been the case among the believers at Rome, Corinth, Galatia, and Sardis.
“My church is not the one you’re looking for, ” said Spurgeon. “But if you should happen to find such a church, I beg you not to join it, fo you would spoil the whole thing.”
Today, many people look for a church with the wrong motives if they’re looking for a church at all. They are attracted to how many people are in the church, what they can add to their social status by being a part of the church, how the church makes them feel, and overall, what the church is going to do for them. But that’s not the biblical way of finding a church body.
To be sure, those who are in Christ need to be a part of a body of believers who meet regularly as it says in Hebrews 10:25:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Those who say they are in Christ and make an excuse of why they don’t gather with a church are simply being disobedient and cutting themselves off from the blessing of fellowship.
The search for a church shouldn’t be predicated on programs, how good the music is but on service. It’s not about what the church can do for you but what can you do for the church. How will you serve and in what capacity?
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:7)
Looking for a church with the right heart attitude is the first step in finding the church that God wants you to be a part of. It should be followed in prayer and godly counsel.
To be sure, there is no perfect church now. That will be revealed at the coming of the Lord. For the time being, we have to be content with gathering with the saints that will worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. For the time being, that’s more than enough.