Saturday, June 04, 2005
Most recent from my favourite sportswriter...(with permission)
Tips on choosing a new churchTerry PlutoBeacon Journal
By Terry Pluto
Maybe you are new to the area, or maybe you need a new place to worship. Or perhaps, you want to start fresh -- maybe you haven't gone to a church or temple for years, and you're not sure how to look.
Here are tips from a guy who went through the process about five years ago.
The church is not God: We need to remember that. A good church points us to God. A good church is a place where we can learn more about God and our faith. A good church is where we can feel God in our lives, and can see God in the lives of others. But the church can't be God.
You will have a bad church experience: Everyone has had a bad time in church -- or will have. But we can't let a phony in church stop us from connecting with the real God.
Arlington Church of God Pastor Ron Fowler once said, ``Ever work with a phony? Did you get a paycheck? Did the fact that you worked with a phony stop you from cashing the check to get the real money?''
Not all churches are for everyone: I once got a letter from someone who was upset because a certain church did not believe in allowing women in leadership. I said a lot of churches do have women leaders.
In fact, most churches are looking for more male leadership. So look elsewhere. Some people like loud, spirit-filled churches. Others prefer more quiet and devout. Find a style of worship that fits your personality.
If you go to a quiet church and complain it's too quiet -- that's your fault! If you want a small church and attend a megachurch (and don't want to attend some of the small-group classes), then don't complain that it's too big. You knew that when you drove up.
Talk to friends who seem happy with their church: Find out why they like their church. Go to church with them. Do research. Look up the church on the Internet. Read its core beliefs, along with the biographies of the pastors.
Make sure that there is some stability in the church: Some churches are bogged down with politics and inner battles. If they continually change pastors, that's probably not a good sign.
The pastor is not God: Some churches are built solely on the charisma of the pastor. It's critical to have a dynamic leader, but that should not be the only reason to attend a church.
Even the best leaders have weaknesses and failing. Also be guarded about a church where no one else ever speaks, just one preacher. The church must be bigger than any pastor.
Think out of the denomination box: Suppose you have been away from church for a long time. Suppose you grew up in a certain denomination and just grew tired of it.
When you look for a church, don't just stick with one denomination. Look around at some others. Styles of worship have changed over the years. Feedback from friends is a good place to start.
Don't worry about the length of the service: I've sat through 45-minute sermons that left me wanting more, and I've nearly fallen asleep during 10 minute sermons. The idea is not how long is the message, but how good is it?
One seminary student asked his preaching professor, ``How many points should a good sermon have?'' The professor replied, ``One is a good place to start.'' You want a place where the sermons are taken seriously, where they are well-prepared and delivered.
Have mercy on the pastors and church: Someone once said, ``That church was absolutely perfect -- then I joined and messed it up.''
Anyone can have a bad day, and that includes pastors and people in the church. We should not act like a movie critic and deeply analyze every song, every prayer, every word of every sermon. It's about us connecting to God, not putting together a production to play Broadway.
Be a giver, not a taker: Ask not what your church can do for you, but what you can do for your church? Well, it's not that extreme. The church does need to meet certain basic needs that we've discussed.
But get involved. Take a class. Join a ministry. Support others. We need to develop a relationship with the church, and you can't have a relationship with anyone in less than one hour a week.
Sports columnist Terry Pluto writes Everyday Faith, a regular column for the Your Faith page. Leave messages for him at 330-996-3816 or terrypluto2003@yahoo.com.
By Terry Pluto
Maybe you are new to the area, or maybe you need a new place to worship. Or perhaps, you want to start fresh -- maybe you haven't gone to a church or temple for years, and you're not sure how to look.
Here are tips from a guy who went through the process about five years ago.
The church is not God: We need to remember that. A good church points us to God. A good church is a place where we can learn more about God and our faith. A good church is where we can feel God in our lives, and can see God in the lives of others. But the church can't be God.
You will have a bad church experience: Everyone has had a bad time in church -- or will have. But we can't let a phony in church stop us from connecting with the real God.
Arlington Church of God Pastor Ron Fowler once said, ``Ever work with a phony? Did you get a paycheck? Did the fact that you worked with a phony stop you from cashing the check to get the real money?''
Not all churches are for everyone: I once got a letter from someone who was upset because a certain church did not believe in allowing women in leadership. I said a lot of churches do have women leaders.
In fact, most churches are looking for more male leadership. So look elsewhere. Some people like loud, spirit-filled churches. Others prefer more quiet and devout. Find a style of worship that fits your personality.
If you go to a quiet church and complain it's too quiet -- that's your fault! If you want a small church and attend a megachurch (and don't want to attend some of the small-group classes), then don't complain that it's too big. You knew that when you drove up.
Talk to friends who seem happy with their church: Find out why they like their church. Go to church with them. Do research. Look up the church on the Internet. Read its core beliefs, along with the biographies of the pastors.
Make sure that there is some stability in the church: Some churches are bogged down with politics and inner battles. If they continually change pastors, that's probably not a good sign.
The pastor is not God: Some churches are built solely on the charisma of the pastor. It's critical to have a dynamic leader, but that should not be the only reason to attend a church.
Even the best leaders have weaknesses and failing. Also be guarded about a church where no one else ever speaks, just one preacher. The church must be bigger than any pastor.
Think out of the denomination box: Suppose you have been away from church for a long time. Suppose you grew up in a certain denomination and just grew tired of it.
When you look for a church, don't just stick with one denomination. Look around at some others. Styles of worship have changed over the years. Feedback from friends is a good place to start.
Don't worry about the length of the service: I've sat through 45-minute sermons that left me wanting more, and I've nearly fallen asleep during 10 minute sermons. The idea is not how long is the message, but how good is it?
One seminary student asked his preaching professor, ``How many points should a good sermon have?'' The professor replied, ``One is a good place to start.'' You want a place where the sermons are taken seriously, where they are well-prepared and delivered.
Have mercy on the pastors and church: Someone once said, ``That church was absolutely perfect -- then I joined and messed it up.''
Anyone can have a bad day, and that includes pastors and people in the church. We should not act like a movie critic and deeply analyze every song, every prayer, every word of every sermon. It's about us connecting to God, not putting together a production to play Broadway.
Be a giver, not a taker: Ask not what your church can do for you, but what you can do for your church? Well, it's not that extreme. The church does need to meet certain basic needs that we've discussed.
But get involved. Take a class. Join a ministry. Support others. We need to develop a relationship with the church, and you can't have a relationship with anyone in less than one hour a week.
Sports columnist Terry Pluto writes Everyday Faith, a regular column for the Your Faith page. Leave messages for him at 330-996-3816 or terrypluto2003@yahoo.com.
