Feature Article
—You Know You Are in the Wrong Church When…
by David Ray Fanning I
You know you are in the wrong church when your Church does not follow the Bible (I Peter 4:11; Galatians 1:6-10; I Timothy 1:3; Revelation 22:18-19). You know you are in the wrong church when…
Examples of Subtractions
- The New Testament is not emphasized as the final authority in religious matters. Instead, your Church emphasizes that they believe the Holy Spirit miraculously moves you (separate and apart from God’s word) to know what you ought to do; or that you need to go by what your “pastor” or “pope” thinks; or you need to consult your denominational creed or catechism; or you need to follow the New World Translation, Watchtower or Book of Mormon (Matthew 28:18; John 12:48; Colossians 3:17; II Timothy 3:16-17; I Peter 4:11; II Peter 1:3; I John 4:1).
- The Lord’s Supper is not served every first day of the week at your Church. Yet, your Church emphasizes the importance of having preaching, praying, giving and singing every first day of the week (Acts 2:42; Leviticus 23:15; Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 10:16-22; 11:17-30).
- The immersion of persons capable of believing and confessing Jesus as Lord in water baptism for forgiveness of sins is not practiced. Instead, your Church sprinkles or pours water on a baby, child or adult and calls it “baptism” (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
- Baptism is not emphasized and practiced as a part of God’s way or plan to wash away the sins of the nonChristian through the blood of Jesus (Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3-8; Colossians 2:11-12; Titus 3:5; I Peter 3:20-21).
Examples of Additions
- A man-made name or description not found in the Bible has been added to your Church (Matthew 16:18; Romans 16:16; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4; Acts 11:26; 26:28; I Peter 4:16).
- Women are used to preach, lead and usurp authority in your worship, rather than using godly, Christian men only (I Corinthians 14:34-35; I Timothy 2:8, 11-15).
- Titles like “Reverend, Father or Pope” are added to your church leaders (Matthew 23:8-9; I Corinthians 3:5-7).
- Chaos in the worship is added such as rolling around in the aisles, dancing and speaking gibberish rather than having a worship assembly of decency and orderliness (I Corinthians 14:27-30, 34-35, 40).
