The Church Search Pt. 2

There are tons of religions in the world, and they all seek to explain our existence and call us into some kind of "higher plane".  I am, by no means, a scholar or an expert on world religion, or even on Christianity, for that matter.  But, James said it pretty clearly - Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27) 
 
So, I guess what Alex and I are really looking for in a church is pretty simple.  1.  We want a church where we can help people, whose ministries are actively seeking out people who are in need.  Not a church who only ministers to its own members, but who are going out, finding the "orphans" and "widows" in our world - the literal and not-so-literal orphans and widows (which is why I used quote marks) and actively doing things to help them.   2.  We also want a church where we can find a true community and fellowship of believers that supports our walk with Christ.  (That would be the whole "keeping oneself from being polluted by the world" part)  This could look like lots of different things.  Perhaps we find a close-knit SS class where we are able to form relationships and thus, be held accountable for our living.  Perhaps we join a Bible study where our faith is deepened and our walk is closer to the Lord.  Perhaps we are able to minister to each other in our church so that we can continue to encourage and be encouraged by believers.  This will look different in every church we try out.   But, I think we also have to say here that we want a church who is AUTHENTIC in their ministries and their community and fellowship. 

So here we are.  It doesn't seem like these two criterion would be hard to meet. And, honestly, I think that there are hundreds of churches here that would qualify.  The problem is that there are hundreds of churches here that might qualify.  What makes one church right for us?  How do we hear God's voice amidst all the life happening?  It seemed so easy to discern His will for us regarding this life change...If Alex makes a certain score on the LSAT, we proceed.  If he gets accepted to law school, we move forward.  If our house sells, we know for sure God's hand of blessing is with us...

But here, there are countless possibilities - all of them could be good.  But only one of them is right.  And what makes a church right for us?  Does a Justin Beiber look-a-like Music Minister make a church wrong for us?  What if we know there is a place we can serve, we feel the warmth and authenticity of the people, but the preacher seems a little weird?  What if they don't change cloth diapers?  What if one of the members asks me when the baby is due?  (THERE IS NO BABY DUE!)  Does that mean we ought to mark it off the list?  Will we just feel it?  Will there be a beam of light from heaven and rainbows surrounding the right church?  And until we find our "home", where can we plug in?  Right now it seems like we need the community, the fellowship of other believers the most - as we're navigating this transition and trying to get settled into our new life and new routine.  But right now is also when we feel the most alone - Is this perhaps the Lord's plan all along, for us to only lean on Him when we seem to need others the most? 

All through this, we're learning and trying - we are hoping and hopeful.  Seeking the heart of God and His will for us doesn't seem like it should be hard (and honestly, it wasn't this hard even to decide to move here!) - So perhaps the thing that I am learning the most is to chillax.  Or at least that's the thing I am TRYING to learn the most (it's a hard lesson, people!) ...God will reveal Himself to those who earnestly seek Him.  

 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Matthew 7: 7-8