As a new believer in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, one of the biggest challenges is how to live a fulfilled, Godly life when you are surrounded by a world of sin, evil and temptations.
Whatever society you are in, you will find powerful forces of humanism and false religions invading from all directions. The Bible warns us to be watchful against the malice, hypocrisy and wickedness of this world. 1 Peter chapter 3 promises that we can anticipate God’s abundant mercy and incorruptible inheritance as we endure the trials of this life. However, as a new ‘babe in Christ’ you should desire and will surely need ‘the sincere milk of the word of God’ in your life. That’s why choosing a fellowship of like-minded believers is so important. Would the mother and father of a new-born child carelessly turn their treasured infant over to a complete stranger for the care, nurture and feeding of the child? Never!
Now that you’ve given your life over to Jesus, you need to find the right ‘spiritual parents’ who will nurture your life and give you mature direction in your walk with God.
The apostle Paul warns that there are numerous spiritual ‘wolves’ in the world who are hungry to devour the sheep, manipulating them with false teachings, confusing them with unbiblical doctrines, and even using them for financial gain. The Bible is uncompromising in reminding us to “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:1).
Jesus himself said that in the last days “many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:11). So where does the new believer turn? With whom can you entrust your spiritual growth and share your most intimate walk of faith? Let’s begin the search with some important principles. You need to be an active part of a fellowship that offers genuine praise and worship to God, that offers sound, biblical teaching and a strong corporate prayer life, and provides you with real, everyday support for your needs, concerns, and burdens. Becoming a part of such a church is not just a one-way affair where you expect others to care only for you; you also need to be active in ministering, praying and caring for all your brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Once you are committed to being part of such a fellowship, you need to humbly submit yourself to those in leadership. In their loving care of you, they may need to point out correction or admonition from time to time. Accept this with grace and humility for it is through such ministry that you will grow and mature spiritually. But also weigh their correction against what the word of God says and make sure this type of ministry is biblically sound.Now we come back to the dilemma of finding the right fellowship. Keep in mind that your first priority is to become part of a church that focuses on worshipping God and living by His word, the Bible.
You really need some way to measure and assess the churches in your area. The easiest answer is to rely on the recommendation of other Christians you might know~ Christians who have an active prayer life, are knowledgeable about the Bible and have a proven ‘track record’ as solid believers whose everyday life is a living example of what a real Christian should be. If you haven’t met such a person, begin your quest for a church home with a simple prayer:
“God, I want to worship you in spirit and truth; I want to understand your word; I want to hear your clear voice of direction in my prayer-time; I want to be amongst Godly, devout people. I ask you to give me guidance in direction seeking such a fellowship, in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.”
As you set out to sample the various ministries and church denominations in your area, you can attend worship services, prayer meetings and even social gatherings to assess the fellowship and leadership in each situation. Were you welcomed into the event? Did you feel any confirmation from the Holy Spirit or a check in your spirit about what you were seeing, hearing and experiencing? Keep on looking until you have an inner peace that you have come a fellowship where you really know you belong. This ‘knowledge’ of belonging shouldn’t come from any enticement, but a deep sense that you share a common faith and commitment with the other members.
Before committing yourself to membership, make sure you have a clear understanding of what the church fellowship believes and confesses. Obviously, the first confession of any church must be that Jesus Christ Is Lord and Saviour. They should readily be willing to use (and perhaps frequently recite in the services) the words of historic church creeds, such as the Apostles’ or the Nicene Creed. Ask the pastor for a written ‘statement of faith’ of the church or denomination and read it carefully to see that it measures up to what the Bible teaches in every way. Make sure you understand the meaning of the statement and feel free to ask questions.
Don’t assume that just because a person or church is on TV or radio you will find sound biblical doctrine and teaching in that fellowship! ‘Celebrity’ Bible teachers, preachers, authors, and musicians often have no accountability to others in what they say, write or sing. It is always best to sit under the ministry of a person who is mature and tested in the faith and who answers to denominational or trustee oversight and correction.
If the pastor has gone through divorce or has children who are out of control and undisciplined, the Bible clearly says that they should not be a position of ministry, no matter what the ‘standards’ of today might pretend to overlook.
The Bible has several other clear warnings as you seek a Bible-believing fellowship:
I Timothy 4:1-2 “ . . . expressly says in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy . . .”
Revelation cautions that if anyone adds or takes away any of the words of the Bible, God shall take away his part in the Book of Life.There are a great many sects and cults posing as ‘Christian’ but teaching false doctrines and distorting the word of God. If you encounter any group that uses the Bible, but adds its own extra-biblical teaching, it is not adhering to the doctrines of the historic Christian faith and must be avoided.
To develop your ‘faith walk’ with Jesus, develop a daily time of prayer and reading of God’s word. To better understand what this spiritual journey will be all about, take time to read the classic work Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan so you can gain more insight into the wondrous pilgrimage with God you are about to begin in your own life!
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty. Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by Whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried: And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father: And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead: Whose Kingdom will have no end: And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father. Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe in One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the Dead: And the Life of the world to come. Amen. ~The Nicene Creed Read I Timothy 3: 1-12