Do I Want to Find a Perfect Church? Nonsense. No, Just a Biblical One.

How many times have I heard the statement that it’s not possible for church hoppers and malcontents to find the perfect church because as soon as they walk through the doors, that church will no longer be perfect. It is misleading to throw shade on believers who are looking for a compatible gathering of the saints while ignoring the obligation of churches to adhere to biblical truth. Unfortunately, I’m not clever enough to invent a humorous statement that throws the light back on the churches where it belongs. However, we do have an abundance of truth in the New Testament to indicate the truth of what churches should be about.

So, let’s ask some questions.

Where are the churches that don’t have leadership structures that mirror those of the world?

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25–28).¹

Where are the churches that don’t promote their teachers and ministries, following Jesus’ example?

“And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope’” (Matthew 12:15–21).

Where are the churches that don’t promote their pastors, following Paul’s example?

 “For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:4–7).

Where are the churches that do not despise prophecy?

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19–21).

Where are the churches that teach that Christians should earnestly desire to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues?

“So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:39–40).

Where are the churches that have this happening in their gatherings?

“But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up” (1 Corinthians 14:24–26).

Where are the churches in which all of these gifts in the passage below are in operation, not just teachers, helpers, and administrators?

“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:27–28).

Do I want to find a perfect church? Nonsense. No, just a biblical one.

¹All Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

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