Q: I am stressed out right now trying to figure out where I’m supposed to go to worship. Every time I look up which church I should go to, there’s always someone saying that that particular church will send me to Hell.
A: First off, no Church will send you to Hell, only your rejection of God will do that.
There is one Church, the Body of Christ. It is not about denominations, but about fellowshipping with people who love God, and teach what you know is truth from a scriptural point of view. In this way you can grow in understanding and faith.
What is most important is that you fellowship with people who love God, people, and the truth. If you find such people, then you can journey together and learn from each other. You could meet in homes, outside somewhere, in a building, or anywhere. That is up to you. If there is nobody like that where you live, then make disciples. In other words, do what Paul did. Find unbelievers and bring the gospel to them, and now you have a group you can fellowship with.
My advice is to never get caught up in the name of the denomination or group you fellowship with (if they have a name) because it is only in the name of Jesus / Yeshua that is of eternal value and only in his name do we receive reward. Yes you can fellowship at a denomination, but do not spend your time doing works in the name of that denomination. Only do things in the name of Jesus and have the body in mind, not that denomination.
Too many people end up supporting a structure that requires lots of money and resources to run. Keep it simple. If you see someone in need, help out. If you friend doesn’t have a jacket, give him/her one. Help the poor and encourage one another. Do not help the denomination itself, but instead be led by God regarding where you should give.
If you see the real church as the Body of Christ, and if you differentiate that with denominations who often become kingdoms unto themselves, then you support that which matters.
I look at it like this. God’s people are currently in many of these denominations. They are isolated from each other by divisions that are man-made. Set your mind free of this constraint and be spiritually minded instead.
Jesus asked Peter who he (Jesus) was. Peter confessed, “you are the son of God and the messiah”. Jesus commended Peter because he said this truth was revealed to him by the Father. He then said, “upon this rock I will build my Church”. Notice how he said, “my Church”. Yet today, it is common practice to say, “my church is the right one” or my church is better than other churches”. Do not get involved in this way of thinking, it is not of the Spirit.
Paul said it like this:
1 Corinthians 3:3-5
for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one
So when people say, I am Catholic, Anglican, AOG, or whatever, they are really being like those that Paul advised us against as they are fleshly and not spiritually minded and caring about the Body of Christ whom God dearly loves. Because what is the difference between saying, “I am a Catholic” which is to say, “I am a follower of the Pope”. Or, “I am a Pentecostal and follow my Pastor”. Is this not exactly the same as “I am of Paul” or “I am of Apollos”?
For more about which Church we should fellowship, try this page.
