Today scores of Christians are realizing that they need to be committed to an authentic New Testament fellowship. Anything less means a person is living beneath the revealed will of God for their life.
The Bible talks about us being as "trees planted by rivers of living water." We need to be planted and stay put, and allow God to mature us in that place, rather than constantly moving around from place to place. The day of nomadic, uncommitted, "tumble weed" Christians who blow in and out without warning or accountability is rapidly coming to an end.
In the New Testament, all those who were members of the universal church were also members of a local church (a community of believers). This requires commitment to the place where God has set you.
>> "God sets the solitary in families" (Psalm 68:6)
>> "God sets them in the Body, each one of them, as He chooses." (I Cor. 12:18)
Authentic Christianity is not attending a meeting, but living a way of life. The believers in Acts (Ch. 2) "continually devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer." They gathered corporately "in the temple", and shared their life-style "in their homes".
Pressures mounting in our increasingly paganistic society are alerting us to the fact that we can no longer "go it alone". We need a shared life; a community; a spiritual family. Not in theory, but in reality. We need to be joined to brothers and sisters having an all-consuming commitment to follow Jesus and to be a living expression of His body on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, it is not always easy in our present day to find an authentic New Testament fellowship based upon a sound scriptural base. So you will not be confused or side-tracked, examine the following twelve questions as you ask God to help you find your place in a local body of believers.
1. Is Jesus exalted as the Son of God who is risen from the dead ?
2. Is the Bible honored and taught with authority as God's revealed will for His creation ?
3. Is there freedom and vitality in the praise and worship ? (Is there any praise and worship ?)
4. Is genuine love practically expressed by the people ?
5. Do they build interpersonal relationships among themselves, which go beyond merely attending meetings and services ?
6. Do they emphasize Pastoral care and spiritual authority that embraces all of a person's legitimate needs ?
7. Is there an emphasis on commitment rather than just convenience in the life of the people ?
8. Is leadership present that exemplifies Christian character (integrity, loyalty, humility) and not merely charismatic speaking ability ?
9. Is there any acknowledgment of, and regular input from the five gift ministries (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) set in the church for our maturity ?
10. Is there any evangelistic outward thrust to reach others with the Good News of Jesus Christ ?
11. Do you sense reality and relevancy as opposed to religious ritual ?
12. Have people's lives been positively changed through their involvement ?
God's intention for your life is to find your place in a New Testament fellowship satisfying the above questions... Remember, it's not optional, but essential!
Participation in a Bible study, prayer and praise meeting, home fellowship group, para-church organization, evangelistic ministry, "traditional service" must not interfere with your responsibility to be related and committed to a local Body of believers.