(31) Choose Carefully, Not All Churches Are True (BC 29)

Immanuel Fellowship Church

In our age of selective toleration it is awkward to make judgments about other groups or people. And there is certainly a wrong way to judge, in ignorance or pretense, for example.But it is also wrong to not judge. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). Jesus says that those with discernment can easily recognize marks of the kingdom and marks of the wicked one (Matt. 13:24–30, 36–43). It is possible and good for believers to judge well. Surely we must judge wisely when choosing to commit to a church.The Belgic Confession primarily warned believers against uniting with the Roman Catholic Church and other newly forming sects. But the biblical standards of judgment are just as applicable today. True Christians know they must unite with a congregation of Christ. But how should we decide among all the options?