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How to find a church, and how to weigh it

The app will search for churches near any town, city, postcode, region or country in the world, using the free and open map that anybody can edit. But finding one is the easy half. This page is the other half — how to tell, from the Bible, whether the one you walked into is feeding you.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:11 · King James Version

The Bereans were commended for fact-checking an apostle. Nobody who is telling you the truth will mind you doing the same. Take these questions to any church, of any denomination, anywhere in the world.

The questions to ask

1. Is the Bible opened, read and explained — or only quoted for decoration?

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season.
2 Timothy 4:2

2. Is Jesus preached as fully God and fully man, crucified for sins and bodily raised?

Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4

3. Is salvation taught as a gift received by faith, rather than something you earn, buy or achieve?

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

4. Do they call for repentance as well as offering comfort?

That they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Acts 26:20

5. Are you free to ask questions, disagree, and check what is said against Scripture?

And searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:11

6. Is the leadership plural and accountable, or does one person answer to nobody?

Feed the flock of God... neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:2-3

7. Is giving taught as free and cheerful — or as a fee that unlocks a blessing?

Not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7

8. Are the poor as welcome as the well-dressed, and seated as well?

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ... with respect of persons.
James 2:1-4

9. Does the church care for widows, orphans and the neighbourhood in practical ways?

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.
James 1:27

10. Does the fruit of the leaders' lives match what they preach?

Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:16

Six reasons to leave

For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
2 Corinthians 11:20

You are discouraged from reading the Bible on your own, or from checking what you were told.
Money is presented as the condition of healing, breakthrough or salvation.
There are teachings reserved for an inner circle.
You are pressured to cut off family or friends who ask questions.
The leader cannot be questioned, corrected, or shown accounts.
Leaving is treated as a spiritual danger rather than a free decision.

If a church clears these, go and belong to it properly — turn up, serve, give, and be known. If several red flags are flying, leave kindly and without drama. There are faithful churches on every continent and you are not obliged to stay anywhere.

Who is who — fifteen families of churches

Roman CatholicThe largest Christian body in the world, present in nearly every country.Eastern OrthodoxGreece, Russia, Eastern Europe, Ethiopia, the Middle East and diaspora congregations worldwide.Anglican / EpiscopalBritain, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Australia, North America and across the Commonwealth.LutheranGermany, Scandinavia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Indonesia, the Americas.Presbyterian / ReformedScotland, Korea, Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil, North America.Methodist / WesleyanBritain, the United States, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Fiji, the Caribbean.BaptistThe United States, Nigeria, India, Myanmar, Brazil, and worldwide.Churches of Christ / RestorationThe United States, Nigeria, Ghana, India, the Philippines.PentecostalThe fastest-growing stream worldwide — Brazil, Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines, Indonesia, Latin America, and everywhere else.Apostolic churchesWest Africa, the Caribbean, Britain, the Americas.Charismatic & independent churchesNigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States.Seventh-day AdventistWorldwide, with particular strength in Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific.Evangelical & non-denominationalEverywhere, under a thousand different names.African Independent ChurchesNigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and the diaspora.Messianic congregationsIsrael, the United States, Europe, Latin America.

One more thing, said plainly. A few movements are commonly listed as Christian but differ substantially from historic Christian teaching about who Jesus is — most notably Jehovah's Witnesses, who reject the deity of Christ, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose account of God and of Scripture differs from the creeds held in common by Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christians. That is a factual difference, not an insult, and it is exactly the kind of thing the test below exists to help you check for yourself. Ask any church what it teaches about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and compare the answer with John 1:1–14, Colossians 1:15–20 and Matthew 28:19.

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