For several years I had the privilege of being part of a local church’s pastoral team. One of my responsibilities was to follow-up with our guests. In many cases I was the first contact a guest heard from after their initial visit. During a five-year span that I kept track, there were over 3000 first-time guests who came through our doors. Needless to say, I fielded a lot of questions regarding our local church.
The One Question Never Asked
During this time period no one ever asked me my position or the church’s position on the Gospel. You can read my last article, The #1 Priority for Any Local Church, to gain a fuller understanding of why this is the most important question a person could ask regarding a local church.
The Second Question Rarely Asked
I can literally count on one hand how many of our guests, who were “checking us out,” asked about our theology. Though it could boggle the mind regarding the rarity of these two questions, it is not really a surprise when you consider the overwhelming number of problems God’s children are struggling with. There is a direct, real, and practical correlation between what we believe (theology) and how we behave (practice).
The three most popular questions asked were:
- What do you provide as far as children’s ministry?
- What style of music do you have?
- What other ministries do you have?
Theology Matters
The church has been swimming through the deep waters of theology for more than 2000 years. Millions of people have died because of their theology. Every pastor has multiple systematic and other theology books lining his shelves. Theology matters.
The very word theology implies that it matters: Theos Logos. Theology means the word concerning God or the study of God. In addition to the absolute necessity of getting the Gospel right, what more important question could a person ask a local church than what they believe about God!
Preferences Kinda Matter
I have preferences about a local church’s music and children’s ministry, because I care. And I know you care too. But in one sense, it does not amount to a “hill of beans” what kind of music a church plays or the comprehensiveness of their children’s ministry, particularly if a church’s theology is skewed.
I have listened to some Roman Catholic music that is hands down better than the music of some Baptist churches I have attended, but I’m not going to join a Roman Catholic church because their theology is wrong. The Mormon church has a well-documented high view of the family, as their video resources impressively present, but their theology is abysmal.
What do you believe about God? Tell me your theology? Everybody has a theology: a view, an understanding and a practice of God in their lives. Satan has a theology. Both an Atheist and a Mormon have a theology. Protestants, Catholics, and Muslims have a theology. It is an important question to ask.
In Search of Sound Theology
Two years ago we began a journey looking for a local church that suited our family. One of the first things I did upon visiting our current local church was download and listen to their series on Galatians. There were approximately 35 full-length messages in that series. I listened to everyone one of them.
Though I had a keen interest in their music and their children’s ministry, the two most important issues for me were their views of the Gospel and theology. If first things are not first, then secondary and tertiary things do not matter. I can tolerate music that is not to my liking and I can overlook inefficiencies in children’s ministries, but if the local church does not understand the Gospel, as outlined in the previous post and if their theology is off the skids, then I cannot plant my family in that local church.
Articles in This Series
- How to Find a Local Church, 1.0
- The #1 Priority for Any Local Church, 2.0
- The Second Question to Ask a Local Church, 3.0
- You Better Believe Worship Matters, 4.0
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