Trying to find a good church in AUSTIN TX

[Trapped]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Any recommendations?

Unregistered poster #1,

I can't help with Austin, TX specifically, but if you are looking to find a church, I think the process is a combination of what you want and what the Lord wants. I don't know your situation at all, but I'm making a basic assumption that you were in the local church for some period of time, and have left it, and are now trying to figure out where to go.

Visit around. Pick a church near you and go visit. Then pick another church and visit that one. Then do it again with another church. Just sit in the back and observe, if it all feels new or makes you anxious. There will be things you like or don't like, or things that may be what you need or don't need, depending on where you are right now - the style of Christian songs they sing (classic or contemporary or both), the volume of the music, how much they dim the lights, the size of the congregation, whether there are smaller group gatherings during the week, whether there are outreach opportunities in your city through the church, whether other people in the church initiate greeting you or leave you alone, etc. I visited one church whose teachings I was blown away by, but the decibel level of the music about rattled my heart in my ribs, so I couldn't stay there. All those type of things are all specific to you that you have to decide about.

I agree with Unregistered poster #2 about defining some, essentially, deal-breakers.....things to look out for and avoid. Things like:

-the implication that they are the only genuine church
-the implication that they have truth other churches don't have
-calling other churches spiritual fornicators
-having a heavy-handed pastoral hierarchy (where you can't make a move in your own life without the pastor's input)
-a lack of emphasis on both the righteousness AND love of God
-straight up false or spiritually abusive teachings like deputy authority or "right and wrong don't matter" or "good is also bad" or "if you leave you are considered poisonous"
-etc

Stay away from churches like that!

As you visit around, keep praying, keep putting your visiting in the Lord's hands. Ask for Him to show you. You might realize that the local church has left a lot of lingering judgment within you about the so-called "worldly" music they sing. Or how "shallow" the teaching is because they haven't mentioned God's economy even once. But just be open. Try to set aside your judgments and just take it in. There will be some churches where it's obvious you don't want to return to. Look for solid Biblical teaching, and make sure yourself that what they teach is true according to scripture.

It's a real journey, sometimes through some rough terrain. But the Lord is journeying with you.

Let us know how it goes, if you'd like.

Trapped