Expert: Scott Talbot - 1/19/2005

Question
Scott, "Yes" my wife and I were Baptised in the Holy Spirit. Jesus is our Lord and Saviour. Here is some info from the pamplet about the Church's missions/goals. Thanks !! for the spiritual advice !!
From the pamplet:
We are Scriptural Baptist, We are Fundemental, We are Pretribulational/Premillennial {what does this mean}?,We are Independent, We are Unaffiliated, We teach the Doctrines Of Grace, Our Method of Interpretation Literal,Grammatical and Historical.
The church goals:
To Glorify God, To Edify the Saints in his church, To fulfill the Great Commision.
Scott, Please offer your feelings "but" also remember that we have not attended church in a very long time. We were members of a Presbytarian church in another state. Do you feel that this church would be a good fit for us ?
Thank You !!
Ron and Karen
Followup To
Question -
Mr.Talbot,
My wife and I are searching for a church to call home.We have not attended in many years and we want to be sure we seek the right church.
My question involves a pamplet that was left on our door step asking us to visit a new church in our area. I emailed the Pastor for more info and I need your advice / guidance on this church.
The church worship service is being conducted from an individuals home. Untill as the Pastor put it, they find a suitable building.
In your opinion is this okay ?
How can I check a Pastors credentials ?
Here is some more info if it will help:
The church name is- Scriptual Baptist Church
Located in a home in Glendale Arizona.
The pastors name is Jake Hiebert {do not know his middle name}. My google search came up with a Jacob Hiebert {Jake} but he has since passed away.
Finally, is it okay for me to investigate or am I being overly cautious ?
Please offer any spiritual help !!
Thanks !!
Ron
P.S. I can supply you with the church phone number if necessary.
Answer -
Hi, Ron. I'm happy to help.

There is nothing wrong with meeting in someone's home. Many solid churches began this way--as a nucleus of believers who first started meeting in someone's home, then grew, and eventually found a larger facility. In fact, if you read Acts 2:46-47, you will find that this is exactly how the first church in Jerusalem started.

As for the name, the church is obviously some form of Baptist church. Having grown up in a Baptist church, I have discovered that there is a wide variety of Baptists. Some are quite liberal (American Baptists), while others are more conservative (Southern Baptists). There are many Independent Baptists, and others, like the GARB (General Association of Regular Baptists) who focus on the Bible, but who may lean towards legalism.

Infering from the name, "Scriptural Baptist Church," I'm guessing it's an Independent Baptist Church. If so, then the focus on the Bible is a very, very good thing. However, as I mentioned, there may be legalistic leanings to beware of. (Legalism is an attempt to define spirituality by focusing on one's outward appearance, and one's adherence to numerous rules--i.e., "do's and don'ts." It tends to be controlling and is usually headed up by a very strong, domineering personality.)

I could be wrong with my assumptions, but these things are worth checking out. If you want to get more information, ask the pastor what kind of Baptists they are, and ask if he can give you a statement of faith. If you want to get back to me with this information, I would be happy to discuss it further.

No, it's not wrong to investigate churches. It's a very important thing! I wish more people would do so rather than just blindly following self-appointed leaders who may or may not be faithful to God's Word.

The most important thing to look for in a church is whether or not their teachings and practice follow the Bible.

In Touch Ministries has an excellent booklet entitled, "How to Find a Church," or something to that effect. You can check them out at www.intouch.org.

One last question. Are you and your wife born again (see John 3:1-21)? Settling this question first is essential.

Scott

Answer
Hi, Ron and Karen.

I'm glad to hear that you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ and have accepted His gift of salvation. I always like to make sure of that, because that's the most important question, and many are unsure.

Yes, it sounds like this church is an Independent Baptist Church. This isn't so bad, because their emphasis is on the preaching and teaching of the Bible, and this is a top priority. They also emphasize the Great Commission--sharing the gospel and discipling believers, which is also great.

I could recommend it with reservations. Just beware of the possibility that there may be some legalistic tendencies. By this I mean that you might sense pressure after a while to conform to certain standards, such as dress, hair style, music, etc. Some of the standards may sound good, like regular church attendance and moral living. Things like this should be encouraged, but not enforced, as if the church is policing your lifestyle. This church may not be that way, but many Independent Baptist Churches that I've run into are. And they won't admit to being legalistic, because they define it differently.

The fact that they "teach the doctrines of grace" may mean that they do not embrace legalism. This is a good sign.

So yes, you might consider attending while being wary of the possibility of legalism. You might also consider a non-denominational church, or a Grace Brethren church, if there are any in your area.

Bottom line is that it's good to be involved in some church with fellow believers. You might want to visit several churches and ask God for wisdom as you try to become comfortable with one.

Pretribulational/Premillennial means that they believe in and teach that Jesus Christ will return in the air to take believers to heaven (rapture) prior to the 7-year Great Tribulation referred to in Revelation, Daniel, and other books, and that the Tribulation will be followed by a 1000-year Millennial Kingdon of Christ on earth before the final eternal state is ushered in (Revelation 20).

I hope this helps. Let me know if I can help further. I will pray for you.

Scott