Five Questions to Ask Before Joining a Church by Ryan Whitley

Five Questions to Ask Before Joining a Church

Yesterday I provided several reasons one should not join a church.  Today I am sharing five questions you should ask before joining a church.

Question #1: Are you leaving you previous church under good terms?

It does not matter how large or healthy a church is, it will never be absent of conflict.  Conflict is a normal part of church life.  There will always be conflict in the church.  That is why Jesus gave us steps to take to settle conflict (see Matthew 18).  You should never leave a church due to frustration, anger or disappointment.  When you do, you will carry those same attitudes into the new church you join.  Before joining a church, you must leave your previous church under good terms.  If you can leave your previous church in good terms, then you should join the church.

Question #2: Are you willing to trust the leadership?

Every church has its own way of doing things.  Some churches are very organized.  Other congregations are entirely spontaneous.  Your responsibility when joining a church is not to change it, to make it better or to make it into what you want it to be.  No, your job is to trust the leadership.  That trust begins with the pastor and then spread throughout the organizational structure of the church.  Are you willing to trust the leadership?  If so, then you should join the church.

Question #3: Will you faithfully serve the church?

Many churches today have covenants you must sign before joining.  Are you willing to sign that covenant in good faith, and to faithfully serve the church? Are you willing invite other people to the church?  Are you willing to give of your tithe and offerings to the church? Are you willing to accept responsibility in the church?  If you cannot live up to the standard established by that church, then you should not join it.  However, if you can faithfully affirm and abide by the church covenant, then you should join that church.

Question #4: Do plan to establish roots in that church?

Too many people today join a church, and then leave it a short period later.  Church hopping in America is now a cultural norm.  I know people who were once a member of CrossPoint, and now a few years later they have moved their membership four or five times.  That’s just wrong.  When you join a church, you should expect to remain there over the long haul.  If you plan to establish roots in a church, then you should join that church.

Question #5: Is the Lord leading you to the church?

I think an area few people investigate before joining a church is determining whether the Lord is leading them to join that church or not.  You should certainly pray, and ask for the Lord’s guidance before joining another church.  He may have sent you to the church to reveal what is going on in your own heart or in the church where you are currently a member.  Or, He may have sent you to this church to join it.  If you can confidently say the Lord is leading you to the church, then you should join that church?