your "rules" for the discerning follower

[Sarah Smith]

Not everyone is called to formal church leadership.

If you are a Christian who is not so called, how do you discern who to follow?

It seems to me it can't be JUST by looking at their lives, or by the educational achievements they have, or the number of followers they attract.

For every Ph.d. on the Arminian side, there is one on the Calvinist side. For every liberal on either side there is a fundamentalist just as well educated, and all manner of folks in between the poles.

If we go by the fruit produced in their lives, again, there are those living godly lives in many camps.

As to number of followers attracted, some may be preaching and teaching the truth in a community of folks who just reject it. Others may be preaching and teaching the truth and attracting thousands. The same happens with those preaching untruth--some discern and don't follow, others follow deceivers.

Clearly we cannot just follow everyone who says "God has called and equipped me to lead."

So what do you tell people when it comes to discerning who to follow? Do you tell them to go to the scripture and see who comes closest?

Do you just invite them to your church? What if they live a thousand miles away--then what do you tell them?

What do you believe is the criteria for choosing who to follow?

We all choose everyday--what dr to see, what movies to see or tv to watch, what music to listen to, what lawyer to represent us or draw up a will.

The reality in the USA today is that most of us Protestants do choose what church to attend. If we were raised in a given denomination and stay in it, even that is usually a choice.

How do/did you make your choice?

[Shea Zellweger]

My, what a complex, loaded, and important question...

For me, it is a combination of Doctrinal stances, the pastor's personality, and the attitude of the congregation (welcoming, missional, etc). If the church has great doctrine, but is exclusionary or unwelcoming, it's not a good fit for me. If there's an incredibly charismatic pastor and welcoming congregation, but I have to pass some litmus test- speaking in tongues, rejecting women in ministry, etc.- in order to join, I probably won't (even if I could pass the litmus test). In all, I look for the three factors to each be at least adequate. There are intangibles which go into it as well, which I don't think I can really express.

[Jim Chabot]

My thinking is quite similar to Shea's although I don't think that we would be attracted to the same church.

I tend to look for the deal breakers first off, it just lessens the pain if one can decide early on that this church is wrong for me and my family. So first off I look for compliance with the instructions given in 1 Timothy 3, any variation from that list is a deal breaker for me. I'll be blunt here, every Tom Dick and Harry will attest to being "called", but if you can't pass the test then you aren't called, and you might be a little short on the gift of discernment as well.

Then I look toward the pastors personality and congregational response, I agree wholeheartedly with Shea here, I'm looking for a welcoming, missional congregation that has a sense of community. Doctrine isn't huge with me, the difference between the arminian's and calvinist's aren't worth fighting about. So long as the pastor is conservative. I believe that the Bible is reliable and I would expect a pastor to share that view.

Oh and yes, the intangibles. Those are usually the deciders, in the end.

As far as recommendations for someone else? I think that I would share how I look at it, but only as an example of how one can make a decision like this. I do stress that the choice of a church is a highly subjective and personal decision. One of my best friends is today a devout Catholic, at my suggestion.

[Tami Martin]

I just follow Christ. There are a few folks who are some measure ahead of me and there are some folks behind me. I think as long as I keep my eyes on Jesus - and if I can see through the "leader" to see Jesus - it doesn't matter if it's just two of us or two thousand. Just so long as I reach heaven in the end.

When I was younger, I was much more concerned about earthly leadership and joining a church and asserting some doctrine or another. Not so much anymore.

[Shea Zellweger]

My thinking is quite similar to Shea's although I don't think that we would be attracted to the same church.


I thought to myself as I wrote my post that many would agree with my statements who would completely disagree with which churches qualified :)

[Susan Unger]

Mine's a pretty subjective answer. When I am in a person's presence I can feel the Holy Spirit. The ones who just overflow with God's annointing are the ones I feel most comfortable following.

[Gene Tatsch]

... I tend to look for the deal breakers first off, it just lessens the pain if one can decide early on that this church is wrong for me and my family. So first off I look for compliance with the instructions given in 1 Timothy 3, any variation from that list is a deal breaker for me. ...Good point.
Also there must be no hint of deception or deviousness - both by omission or commission.
Also, evidence of good leadership is in a fair portion of the congregation being evident disciples of Jesus.
gene --

[Billy Cox]

Not everyone is called to formal church leadership.

If you are a Christian who is not so called, how do you discern who to follow?

Good question. I prefer to follow a leader who thinks in terms of possibilities while still having their feet on the ground. It might also seem mundane, but I also value a leader who doesn't just learn from mistakes, but learns the right things from mistakes.

[Sarah Smith]

Thanks to all who posted!

I have friends who were "invited to leave" a church in their denom because they believe some hinky things are going on. They've been given the old "touch not mine annointed" and "follow me or leave" routine.

They have left that church, but recently learned their pastor that ran them off (according to them) was "delisted" as ordained in that group in another state. (That he admitted. Seems that group doesn't have a central list, so he just moved and started applying to churches in the new state and got hired.)

Needless to say they are skittish. All I can tell them is that if a pastor doesn't follow the Bible, or tries to get between you and Jesus, run. That, and come visit our church.

[Wayne Paul]

When I was young I was told that a person couldn't be a Christian and smoke. That belief vanished from my life when I met a Roman Catholic priest that was converted to Christianity from Judaism who smoked a pipe. I was also told that a person couldn't be a Christian and drink. Again, that perception vanished when I observed people discussing their personal relationship with Christ and how he had changed their lives at parties with drinks in hand. etc, etc, etc,

I believe we should really think twice before creating rules to be used in evaluating another person's relationship with Christ.

[Gene Tatsch]

a)... They've been given the old "touch not mine annointed" and "follow me or leave" routine.
b)... All I can tell them is that if a pastor doesn't follow the Bible, or tries to get between you and Jesus, run....
a) As for "touch not ..." - look it up ... methinks it applies minimally in these cases ... and "follow me or leave" smacks of blatant sin.
b) Agree! and its all too common to encounter departures from these solid criteria :(