by Kathy Foster
That question was posed to me recently and I found that I fumbled around for an answer.
What I personally have looked for over the years as I moved from place to place was a church with a Sunday morning service similar to the church I attended as a child and young adult.
That search also included the following criteria:
* Where everyone was considered to be equal – no matter what they perceived their station in life to be.
* Where you were loved and cared for because you were part of a family.
* Where you were taught that you didn’t hurt others.
* Where you were taught to put others before yourself.
* Where you were held responsible for what you did and said.
* Where when you were faced with making a decision, you were taught to ask – What would Jesus do?
* Where you were taught that not everyone has to agree, but it was not acceptable to be hateful, blunt or caustic in your response.
* Where you were taught that you don’t pass judgment on someone else. That job falls to God.
Remember that decisions are individual and that everyone reaches their personal decisions based on their personal beliefs and what they have lived through.
And, remember that facing adversity is part of being a Christian as is worshipping God. It’s how you handle it that shows what you have learned.
In an article accredited to Shayne Looper (posted in the fellowship hall at the church I attend), the writer points out that churches should be “contempt-free and condemnation-free zones”, but unfortunately too often they are not. He said a change will happen because the members of the church “took seriously their commitment to Jesus and put his instructions into practice”.