To begin: we must define the Bible. The Bible is a divinely inspired collection of authoritative books written by the authors of the Old and New Testaments. These authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote what we call the Word of God. The biblical canon comprises 66 books– 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament. Books of the Old Testament encompass writings that include accounts of creation, the history of Israel, legislative texts, poetry, and prophetic literature. The New Testament provides detailed accounts from eyewitnesses to the life of Jesus Christ, encompassing His birth, death, and resurrection.
The United States has about 370,000 religious congregations, with Louisiana home to approximately 7,500 of them. Given Louisiana’s 64 parishes, this averages around 117 churches per parish. Why do many individuals frequently express difficulty in finding a church that adheres closely to biblical teachings if there are numerous churches in every city? This difficulty stems from the current state of our society and culture. We as a nation no longer hold reverence to Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The current perspective in many churches is that their purpose is to support and enhance your emotional well-being, fostering a positive self-image. If this is the case, why did Jesus say in Matthew 16:24 to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me”. To follow Christ, we must shed our old nature and trust Him as our Lord and Savior. There is a difference between modern views of the church and the teachings found in the Word of God.
Well, you may ask, what do you mean by that? In my opinion, it is important to be informed about the various types of churches and their false doctrines. One church doctrine teaches that entry to heaven is achieved through one’s actions, with salvation being contingent on the accumulation of good deeds. This is often described as a works-based faith and can be very toxic. This teaching’s toxicity lies in suggesting that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice can be earned. Scripture clearly contradicts that belief system: Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Another dangerous teaching is the belief that God’s desire is for believers to achieve material prosperity, physical health, and personal gain by the amount of financial giving and the level of faith in that person. While God does command us to be cheerful givers through the principle of tithes and offerings, false teachers deceive their congregation by convincing them it’s the amount of giving and not the heart posture. Many deceivers will take 2 Corinthians 9:6 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”; out of context because the very next verse the Apostle Paul explains that it involves the correct heart posture. ⁷ “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
A comparable misconception is the notion that possessing a specific degree of faith will result in divine healing or financial prosperity. The degree of faith is never explained: if you aren’t healthy or wealthy, you simply lack enough faith. This lie will push people further from Christ as they will never find rest in Him searching for opposite of His nature. God promises us spiritual wealth if we put our faith in Him. Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. This verse clearly defines what His desire for us is. Also in Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” First, we must change our heart to align with God and only then will the desires of our heart align with His. Ephesians 4:21-24 “if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, ²²that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, ²³and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
These types of doctrines are not only toxic, but they will also move you further away from the true gift of God, which is salvation through Christ Jesus. Despite the many churches around, it can be challenging to find one that truly shares the Word of God. Now that I have detailed what to avoid in a local body, I will describe what you want to look for in a church that places true reverence for God.
First and foremost, seek a church that places Christ as its head. Christ is the cornerstone, not the pastor or leadership. During congregational worship, our primary objective is to glorify God, rather than to seek entertainment or to entertain others. I’m not saying flashing lights and smoke machines are unbiblical, but search Scripture to discern whom we’re there to worship. All glory to God. In terms of doctrine, it is essential to disseminate the gospel of Jesus Christ. If the pastor or leadership isn’t preaching the importance of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, run away as fast as you can. Jesus was born of a virgin and walked among us, fully God and fully man. While living in the flesh of man, He lived a perfect life free of sin. God then placed His wrath on His one and only Son to be the propitiation for our sins. By the will of God, Jesus took on our sins and was crucified on a cross. He then rose again on the third day in fulfillment of the scriptures. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Watering down the significance of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross shall never be tolerated. We must not be led into believing that we are anything other than wretched sinners in need of a Savior. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, repent, and turn away from our sin, we are justified and made righteous by God. Jesus promised us a helper in the Holy Spirit to help guide and convict us of our sins. The Holy Spirit regenerates us through the process of sanctification. Through sanctification we are being made new and putting on the armor of God. Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
By remaining faithful in Christ, we will be glorified with Christ when we breathe our last. Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, ¹²instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, ¹⁴who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”
In closing, search for a church that loves you enough to tell you the hard and uncomfortable truth. We are lost and dead in our trespasses, finding peace only through true repentance and faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Pastor’s Pen & Post is a column featuring wisdom, encouragement, and biblical truth from voices across Acadiana. While many contributors are local pastors, others are trusted members of the community recommended by pastoral leaders—each offering Christ-centered insight rooted in Scripture. From quiet reflections to bold truths, every post is meant to inspire, challenge, and strengthen your daily walk with God.
Call for Contributors – Pastor’s Pen & Post
We’re inviting local pastors and trusted spiritual leaders to contribute to Pastor’s Pen & Post, a special column in 337 Magazine dedicated to sharing biblical truth, encouragement, and wisdom from our local pastors and parachurch ministries. Whether it’s a short devotional, a word of encouragement, or a timely message for the Acadiana community, we’d love to hear your voice.
