Definition

The church visiting that I've done (only two, let's be real here) has been very eye-opening in many ways. It's forced me to reflect on many things I sort of absorbed into my consciousness, things I took for granted, and things I need to make sure are valid.

I didn't realize how much of my church has been wrapped into my identity. I have always wanted to be part of a big family, part of a place where I'm accepted for who I am and for what I believe without being too judged, and I've felt that at church. But more than that, my church has also defined my belief system about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and I have been challenging myself on what surrounds that. Churches can easily say the right things on the "What We Believe" or "About Us" portion of their website, and I want to make sure that when I go there in person, that what they say matches what they believe.

Things like:

1) Jesus saves. ie, Salvation.
2) God sent Jesus to save us. ie Justification/Redemption.
3) God sent the Holy Spirit to guide us, to change us, and to make us more like Him. ie Sanctification.
4) God gave us His word to teach us. ie, the inerrancy of scripture.

But even more than that...

5) What is the belief system on sin and what is taught on it?
6) What does church membership mean to another church?
7) Does God do the work in our hearts, and what is our part?
8) What is the narrow path? Is the easy road taken in teaching/preaching?
9) Is the teaching man-centered or Jesus-centered?
10) How is the church organized? Is it inward or outward?
11) Are the youth taught with depth about why they should abstain from sin, ie smoking/drinking/sex/swearing/disobedience? Why does all of that matter? Is it just obedience or is there more to it?
12) How do members proclaim their love, their joy for Jesus? Where is it on Sunday morning? Where is it during the week? Where is it when tragedy strikes?