Shopping for the Right Church: Finding Your Spiritual Match in a Church

With over 33,000 Christian church denominations worldwide, you've got a lot to choose from! Rather than "church hop", it's better to "church shop". Here's the best start to finding your next spiritual home.

Get out a pen and pad of paper.

First, look within and doing some deep digging on fundamentally dividing issues that separate the religious denominations apart. Think about things like:

Who do I think Jesus was?
What was his purpose?
How do I define "God" and what does that mean to me?
How do I feel about homosexuals and human equality?
What do I think about prayer, and how it should be practiced?
How do I feel about heaven, hell, and salvation?
What do I consider the Bible to be?
How about the place and quality of other religions?
Is Christianity the only "True" path, or are their others? Is there a common truth found in all religions?

Next, consider your ideal church atmosphere.

Do I feel a church should be a place to learn, to give me the opportunity to serve others, to serve me through services and song, to socialize, or a combination?
Do I go to church because it's mandatory to my beliefs or I because want to?
Should the church have the power to decide things for me and other parishioners (like premarital sex, hair and clothing, divorce allowance) or should these be personal decisions without judgment?
What kind of music do I expect a church to present?
What should the focus of the church ministry be?
Do I expect only male leaders, or men and women?

Jot down your answers and keep these in mind when shopping. Determine what you "can live with" in terms of bending a little, and what you affirm as absolute values you won't reconsider. Answers to questions like these will help you sort through the various mishmash of how churches differentiate themselves and what they expect of you, and what you expect of them. Through this kind of introspection you will have a much better understanding, and inner knowing, of when you find the right church home you're searching for.

With Internet access, it's easy to research major church denominations to find answers to your questions. Keep in mind that though denominations may have an overall general view on an issue, every church and human combination is different.

When you find a church you may be interested in, call or visit the minister and ask about some of the things you've written down. He or she should be warm and welcoming, and happy to answer your questions. If a minister or church discourages questioning, head for the door!

TIP: If you're seeking a fundamentalist Christian church, remember sometimes women aren't allowed to wear pants or makeup, and only certain types of Bibles are allowed. Know what's "kosher" before you arrive and look out of place!

Finally, visit the churches at the top of your list. Write down the pros and cons of each experience. Try to visit more than once, because first impressions be misleading.

Happy searching!