Is One Church As Good As Another?

One of my favorite quotes on this particular question comes from Queries and Answers by Lipscomb and Sewell. The subtitle of the book is “A Compilation of Queries with Answers by D. Lipscomb and E.G. Sewell, covering a period of forty years of their joint editorial labors on the Gospel Advocate.” The book was published in 1921 and was edited by M.C. Kurfees. While the following is a bit of a lengthy quote, it well articulates a sound response to the question:

The claim that one church is as good as another is based upon the assumption that the doctrines and practices of one are as good as the doctrines and practices of another. But the question is: What is the standard by which such a claim is made? Evidently the claim is based upon the outward appearances of men, in their outward manifestations of earnestness, zeal, devotion to their systems of religion, and their general manifestations of morality and piety. Such an estimate as says one church is as good as another is not made by comparing these churches and their creeds with the word of God, and thus deciding that all these harmonize with that word; for if the estimate were made in this way, all would fall behind. There is not one denomination extant that could stand the test of such comparison, for all these denominations have things in their creeds and in their practices that are plainly contradictory to the word of God.

E.G. Sewell continued, for three and-a-half pages to answer the question with specific examples from the Presbyterian Confession of Faith, the Methodist Discipline, and Cumberland Confession.

Asking if one church is as good as another is a legitimate question and the faithful Christian must be able to give a biblical answer. From big cities to small towns and everywhere in between, the confusion and frustration that exists regarding Christianity and “church” is common. “How can I know which one is right?” “Does it really matter, as long as I’m sincere?” “But I was raised ______.” “I’ve tried a bunch of different churches and I’ve found problems in each.” If you’ve had this conversation with someone, you’ve likely heard one of these questions or statements. How do we answer?

First, we must be clear that Scripture is the final authority. We need a word from God. Jesus, the Son of God, had this very mentality. “He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of Myself (NKJ - “on My own authority”); but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak” (Jn. 12:48-50). When Jesus promised to build His church, He spoke in the possessive and singular - “I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18). He possesses all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). As Balaam said, we cannot go beyond the word of God, to do less or more (Num. 22:18; 23:26).

Second, to those who may ask us this question, we must be clear that our answer will not be a personal attack against them. It may be that a person feels “attacked” or insulted by a strictly biblical answer. That is not the Christian’s goal at all. Truth, by it’s very nature, is exclusive and our culture feels mandated to be all-inclusive all the time. We are pressured to feel that every belief or life-style is just a matter of personal choice or based off of one’s own lived experience. However, when it comes to questions of the church, a personal choice or lived experience is not a part of the equation. “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). Our goal should be to give a biblical answer and not be concerned with trying to “soften the blow.” Our task is not to make truth more palatable. God does not need me to apologize for His truth. “I’m sorry, but…” is not the right response. Just speak the truth without being unnecessarily harsh or thoughtless while, at the same time, being uncompromising with God’s word.

Third, the Christian must be firmly grounded in the truth and able to answer properly. “Isn’t one church as good as another, as long as I’m sincere?” The wrong answer might be something like, “Are you kidding me?! What kind of a silly question is that? Have you never read your Bible?!!” We need to understand that there is a difference in being uncompromising with the truth as opposed to just being rude. A good passage to remember would be First Timothy 2:24-26. Paul wrote, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” While it is true that the truth may offend, it is also true that I don’t have to be intentionally offensive.

Finally, answer the question! “Is one church as good as another?” No! Why? It is a matter of, as E.G. Sewell pointed out, comparing the “doctrines and practices” of any church with Scripture. Not with personal preference or lived experience. Not with historical church documents. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17). Jesus promised to build His church. While He ascended back to the Father before that happened, the apostles were baptized in power from the Holy Spirit and through their preaching, churches were established. Acts is the inspired history book of the establishment of Christ’s church. The letters, from Romans to Revelation, were written to both congregations and individuals regarding the church existing and at work in the world. Paul wrote to Timothy for the express purpose of discussing conduct within “the house of God, which is the church of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:15). When those outside the body of Christ come to those within the body of Christ with a legitimate question, we must be well studied enough to give the proper answers in the proper way! No. One church is not as good as another.