Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

“A doctrinally sound church will guard the truth and help believers grow in knowledge of God.” ~ R. C. Sproul

“Doctrinal integrity is not optional; it is the very foundation of a healthy church.” ~ John MacArthur

You realized that the preaching you were sitting under wasn’t just a little off— it was false, even dangerous. You took the right steps before realizing that you needed to find a doctrinally sound church.

You weren’t filled with excitement. You were unsure of who to trust and you really didn’t know how to even trust yourself. You’re the one who got yourself into bad theology in the first place. God graciously opened your eyes to the falsehood and began showing you the truth.

It was hard. It was painful. It cost you, well, everything. Your reputation. Your pride. Relationships. Ministry positions. While it didn’t feel good, it was worth it. You know that’s true even though it still doesn’t feel like it.

Sanctification is a lot more painful than you ever knew it to be when you were chasing those emotional highs and getting your temporal fix.

Now, you don’t trust your emotions but you also don’t want to become emotionless. You are learning what to look for in a doctrinally sound church. You had no idea how much bad theology has swallowed up so many churches. You continue searching. You’re learning that most of those Statements of Faith on church websites are pretty much worthless. You listen to some of the sermons to try to discern if that church is sound. You’re struggling because you still haven’t worked out so many of your own false beliefs and corrected them Biblically.

It’s overwhelming. It’s incredibly lonely. It’s painful. You wrestle with remembering how good you once thought it was and how happy you were and how hard it is now and it feels like going back would be so much easier, but you can’t do that, and truly, as much as it hurts you don’t want to.

You didn’t want to leave. You imagined when you sat with the leaders and shared your concerns that they’d be receptive and they’d want to reform their beliefs according to Scripture. You still didn’t realize how bad the teaching actually was or that they never meant it when they said they were open to Biblical correction.

You tried to tell the leaders; they talked down to you and tried to make you feel like you were crazy. You showed them Scripture and tried to reason with them, feeling very inadequate for the task because you were still so ignorant yourself and didn’t really know how to explain what you were learning and why their beliefs are dangerous but you knew they were. By the time you left speaking with them, you began to question yourself.

Oh, how you wish that unlearning bad theology and learning the truth could happen as quickly as it was when the delusion fell away. Why is it so painful? Why is it so hard to find a doctrinally sound church? When will you stop crying? When will you be able to cry again? Why are you so emotional? Why are you so numb?

Coming out of bad theology is NOT easy. The lie we desire is that it will be easy, but that’s what got us in trouble in the first place.

The process is hard and painful but it is worth it. It does get better! The first few years are often the most painful. Please, don’t give up!

The more you learn the truth, the more you realize how much you have yet to learn and the more you learn, the more you desire to know the truth. What you are gaining is FAR greater than anything you lost. Before, when you were tested and tried your emotional experiences failed you. They would come and go, but now you are building on a sure foundation. Now, lies are being torn down and that’s painful. It’s a real loss. But you are also being built up in the truth. That does not come and go! In time, when tested, it will stand firm.

The process is hard. It is lonely. It is painful. But keep studying your Bible. Keep learning how to study your Bible. Keep looking for a doctrinally sound church. Don’t give up! The same God who brought you out of bad theology is leading you in the truth and He will lead you to a doctrinally sound church!

• 
  What to Look for in a Doctrinally Sound Church (Mark Dever & John MacArthur)
  
  
  Mark Dever (Nine Marks of a Healthy Church):
  Expositional Preaching – Scripture is faithfully explained verse by verse.
  Biblical Theology – Teaching is rooted in the whole counsel of God.
  Biblical Understanding of the Gospel – Christ-centered, salvation by grace alone.
  Biblical Church Membership – Members are committed to the church’s doctrine and life together.
  Biblical Discipline – The church lovingly restores and corrects members in sin.
  Biblical Leadership – Elders and deacons lead faithfully according to Scripture.
  Biblical Worship – Worship glorifies God, is rooted in Scripture, and focuses on Christ.
  Biblical Stewardship – Resources are managed according to God’s principles.
  Biblical Discipleship – Members are equipped to grow in godliness and truth.
  
  
  John MacArthur (Characteristics of a True Church):
  Commitment to Sound Doctrine – The church protects and proclaims God’s truth.
  Biblical Teaching and Exposition – Pastors faithfully expound Scripture, refuting error.
  Christ-Centered Confession – The church exalts Christ and proclaims His work.
  Guarding Against False Doctrine – Leaders identify and reject deviations from Scripture.
  Spiritual Maturity and Discernment – Members grow in knowledge, unity, and stability through sound teaching.

Grace and Peace, y’all
Soli Deo Gloria

April J. Buchanan