Back when I was a brand new pastor, there was one kind of phone call I got more than any other.
"Hi Paul, do you have the number for John (or Jane or Joe)?"
I thought people would ring me for counseling or to draw upon my wisdom. But most of the time they just wanted someone's number. All those calls at all hours – it used to drive me bonkers.
"You know we have a church directory, right?"
"Yeah, but I lost it."
I understand why people rang me. Being the pastor meant I was the most connected guy in the church. I was a glorified switchboard operator.
I don't get those kinds of calls anymore. Instead, I get messages like this: "Hi Paul, can you recommend a grace-based church in Wichita (or Muncie or Dusseldorf)?"
I like helping people, but I confess that questions like these leave me a bit exasperated.
"You know I live in New Zealand, right? I don't know anyone in Wichita."
I understand why people ask me. I'm a grace guy. If anyone knows where the grace churches are, it ought to be me, right?
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but my knowledge is limited. I don't have a list of grace churches. (However, my friend Ted Nelson does. It's called Locate Church Ministries. Check it out. You might get lucky.)
Perhaps a more better question to ask is…
What is a grace Bible church?
A grace Bible church is one that reveals the unconditional love of God and proclaims the gospel of grace. A grace church does not put guilt and shame on people, but it reveals the grace that sets them free.
If you are the observant type, you can look for the 8 signs of a church that gets grace and 8 signs that it doesn't. But these checklists won't help much if you live in a small community with few churches.
How to find a grace Bible church?
Every church is a grace church to one degree or another. The trick is to find a church that doesn't dilute grace with other things, like law and dead works.
The simplest way is to look for a church that feels like family. "God sets the solitary in families" (Ps. 68:6, NKJV). Churches that get grace become knitted together in love (Col. 2:2). Or maybe it's the other way around. Churches that are knitted together in love, attract the grace of God.
In either case, a church that is established in grace will not feel like a business, a platoon, or a scout group. It will feel like family.
What makes a church a family? Now that's the $64,000 question. The short answer is families show unconditional love and acceptance, they are real and empowering.
If you have found a church that loves and accepts you and helps you to walk in grace and work out the gifts that God has given you, rejoice, because you have found your spiritual home.
And if you can't find a church like that, then sow what you want to reap. Love and accept others, especially those who are different from you. Help others grow in grace and walk in the gifts God has given them.
Be the church you are looking for.
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