Picking a Church?

Recently, I read a disturbing article in the latest edition of Christianity Today.  It had some statistics that were recently take of a survey that was 10 years in the making about mainline Protestant and Evangelical preachers.  While I can definitely see that some of the questions elicited the responses they got, I was puzzled by one of them.  The question was "Do you believe the the virgin birth?"  Seems simple, right?  Not so fast there, padre.  25% of mainline Protestant (Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, etc.) ministers did not, I repeat, did not believe in the virgin birth of Jesus.  I know you are going back to read that last sentence again, but it won't change the stat.  One of the main tenants of Christianity is the sinless birth of a virgin foretold in Isaiah  and Micah 400 years before it actually happened.   If we don't believe in the virgin birth, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - we must turn off the lights of the local churches and send everyone home because we are all lost. 

Now you may be wondering how do all these men and women who call themselves preachers get on the pulpit every Sunday and pontificate supposedly on the Word of God?  To many of them, preaching g is just a job - no more no less.  There was another article I read that interviewed two mainline ministers who were "leading" their flock and they were self avowed atheists.  The article went on to ask them why they were still in the pulpit and the answer was not a shock to me.  They stated that they lost their faith but the job was so good, they just couldn't give it up.  Ladies and gentleman - God will hold us accountable for our actions and we ministers are held to a higher standard.  This is called ministerial malpractice.  Here is a helpful hint when looking for a church - interview the pastor to see what his/her beliefs are.

It is no wonder that some seminaries today are nothing but a waste of time if you are looking at studying the Bible and its meaning - literally.  I know lots of mainline seminaries that teach nothing but the social gospel, work righteousness, or only parts of the Bible are true. That is why it isn't that big of a deal if a minister goes to a mainline seminary or not.  In fact, of those ministers that call themselves evangelical don't attend mainline seminaries (I didn't).  I believe the Bible as it is written, not as I think it should be. 

Jesus was born of a virgin, He was a sinless man, He died as an atonement for our sins, He rose from the dead and sits on the right hand of God the Father.  I have placed my trust in Him, I have repented of my sins, and I can't wait to live in Heaven with him.  That's what the Bible said, that's what God said, and that's what Jesus said.  If your preacher doesn't believe that - move on.  Amen.

pray4u@chaplaincare.us