Are you in search of the perfect church to attend? There are many opportunities to be disappointed in the congregation each one of us attends. Maybe you don’t like one of the people who visits the services. Maybe your friend does not like some of the doctrines that are being taught. Maybe I don’t like some of the practices at my church.
What is the point of going to church? To worship God with others of like precious faith, to encourage the brethren in their Christian walk, and to be reminded of the Truths from God’s Holy Word. Perfection in congregational methods is not the point. Meeting with perfect people is not the point. Finding people who perfectly agree with your opinions is not the point.
1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:
We want to go to a nearby tolerable church, and pray that our ministry there might be a blessing to someone. If we are looking for fellowship that is not tainted by sinful humans, that is something we can only expect to find in Heaven.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is;] but exhorting [one another:] and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
There are some bothersome people who attend church. It is not prudent to assume they are evil. Some are hurting and weakened. They will be overly sensitive, mistaking even a proposed friendly alternative as an attack, and getting defensive. Others are immature, and their naivety can lead them into grossly divergent paths that are quite counter productive. Of course, there are those who simply have poor communication skills, which can cause misunderstandings and incite strife.
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
They all need our love, patience, kindness, and encouragement. If we assume the worst about them, we are no friend. I must measure their behaviour with grace, the way I would want to be measured. Sincerely worship God with them, side by side. This will draw them into a closer relationship with Him. That is what will help them most. That is a blessing we all could use.
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Is it reasonable to expect people to be fully capable and mature; every moment? Can we really require a brother or sister to have already learned everything that we have learned? Maybe they have been misled by someone they trusted. A person cannot learn everything at once. It takes time.
1 Peter 2:20 For what glory [is it,] if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it,] ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Even if they mistreat you, God has allowed this. Trust God that He had a very good reason for this trial of faith in your life.
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good
Psalm 119:71 [It is] good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Romans 12:10 [Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Acts 20:35 I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
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