Measures of a Sound Church

Church building

How can we know if a local church is a sound church? First, what do we mean by a sound church? This particular phrase is not used in the New Testament. But the word “sound” is used to describe teaching, doctrine, and words (1 Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 1:13; 4:3). The Greek word which is translated “sound” means to have good health, to be well, and to be uncorrupted. This word can certainly be used in reference to a local church. So how do we know if a church is “sound”?

It may be good to begin by noticing some things that are not proper indicators of the soundness of a local church. First, numbers are not always a good gauge for measuring how sound a congregation is. Large churches are often apostate churches. A church may experience growth because they teach what people want to hear rather than what they need to hear. Jesus said there would be a small number that will be saved compared to the large number that will be lost (Matthew 7:13-14). If a church is large and/or growing larger, does that mean it is not sound? Of course not. But it does mean that we cannot assume a congregation is sound based on numbers.

Second, having a popular, well-liked preacher does not make a church sound. In fact, the greater the popularity of the preacher, the more we might wonder why he is so popular. Jesus was so unpopular that He was crucified. Paul explained how futile of an effort it was for a preacher to seek to be popular with people: “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). John wrote, “Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you” (1 John 3:13). On the other hand, the world loves its own (John 15:19). Certainly, a preacher’s popularity cannot be used as a good measure of a sound church.

Third, having a new, fancy building in which to meet is not a good indicator that a church is sound. All this indicates is that the congregation is large and/or has wealthy members to contribute to the building fund. The place in which a church meets is not important (John 4:21). Therefore, neither the building nor the fact that a congregation might have respected and prominent members of the community are measures of soundness, either (1 Corinthians 1:26).

Furthermore, a church may simply have a reputation of being a sound church. But they could just “have a name that [they] are alive, but [they] are dead” (Revelation 3:1). A congregation may have been sound in the past, but can no longer be classified as such (Revelation 2:4-5). How then do we determine whether or not a church is a sound church?

The way we measure whether or not a church is a sound church is if they “hold fast the pattern of sound words” (2 Timothy 1:13, NKJV). A sound church will preach the gospel without adding to it, taking away from it, or changing it in any way (1 Timothy 3:15; Galatians 1:6-9). It will not tolerate or receive false teaching (2 John 9-11), but rather will expose and refute error (Titus 1:9-11). A sound church will pattern its assemblies after the New Testament (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 14:15, 40; 16:1-2) and worship “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). It will do the work that God has given it to do (Ephesians 3:10; 4:11-16) and be content to stay within the bounds of what has been authorized (Colossians 3:17). A sound church will work to grow spiritually (Ephesians 4:16) and numerically, but only insofar as God gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6).

Are you part of a sound church? If not, remember that “a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough” (1 Corinthians 5:6). Take an objective look at the congregation of which you are a member. Is it following the New Testament pattern or popular opinion? Does the preacher seek to please God or men? Does the teaching build up our faith or our self-esteem and emotions? Does the church do the work God has given it to do or are people drawn there for social and/or carnal reasons? Is the church truly a church of Christ (Romans 16:16) or does it simply claim to belong to Christ?

We should seek to be part of a sound church. We must measure that not by our own contrived definition of soundness, but by the word of God.


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