The Good Person Test

How To Recognize A Good Church

We can not provide a list of good denominations or churches. Within any denomination, there are good churches, poor churches and really bad (unbiblical) churches. Here are a few things to look for:

Look for a church that clearly teaches the following five essential doctrines:
(Check their web site for a doctrinal statement. It should include all of these. Or visit the church and talk to the pastor.)

1. Salvation by grace through faith alone.

When you visit a church ask the pastor, "What must I do to be saved?" The answer should be repent and trust (believe) in Jesus Christ.

Stay away from any church that says you must do something, such as be baptised, or take communion, do good deeds (help other people), or obey church rules in order to be saved. (Christians want to do these things because they love God, not because they must do them to be saved.) Stay away from any church that says you must be a member of that church,
or a member of that denomination, in order to be saved.

2. God the Father

3. God the Son

4. God the Holy Spirit

There is one God, who eternally exists in three persons; who are totally equal in every divine perfection. A good question to ask a pastor is, "Is Jesus God?"
The answer should be an unqualified, "YES". Jesus is fully human and fully God.

5. The Bible is the inerrant, infallible, inspired word of God.

Look for a church that believes that the Bible is true in all that it asserts to be true. When you visit a church ask the pastor, "Do you believe the Bible is true?" Also ask, "Do you believe the stories in Genesis 1-11 are all true?" The answer in both cases should be "YES".

Avoid any church that follows tradition (the Catholic Church), or that believes in present day apostles and/or prophets.

Check Online For A Statement of Faith:

Check a church's web site for a doctrinal statement, stement of beliefs, or a statement describing what they teach. If they don't have one online, avoid that church. They most likely don't want tomdefine their faith because such a definition might exclude someone. BUT, Christianity is exclusive... limited to those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior ("Lord" means we obey Jesus who is God).

A church with a good statement of faith is:
Grace Community Church

Once you repent and trust Jesus for your salvation, nothing can take your salvation away. From the CSV - Romans 8:38-39 -- "For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!."

Here are some web sites you may find helpful.

The messages at Cannon Beach Bible Church are excellent: Sunday Messages & Live Streaming

We'll be happy to send you a free copy of the Gospel of John.
(The above link will take you to one of our other web sites. This Gospel of John offer is only valid for U.S. addresses)