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People often wonder how they can tell whether a particular church is a Godly True Christian™ church or a bunch of hellbound heretics playing church. Our Lord anticipated that question and provided a simple test:
Matt. 7:15-20: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Note that it's all or nothing. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit, and that's that. There's no provision for a tree that brings forth an evil fruit now and then, but mostly brings forth good fruit. Nor does that passage say that pastors aren't perfect, just forgiven.
Now apply this to your church. Does it ever bring forth an evil fruit? Does it ever have scandals with irregular accounting or abuses of pastoral power (and don't even get me started on the Roman institution)? If so, then that church is not of God, and you should leave.
Matt. 7:15-20: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Note that it's all or nothing. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit, and that's that. There's no provision for a tree that brings forth an evil fruit now and then, but mostly brings forth good fruit. Nor does that passage say that pastors aren't perfect, just forgiven.
Now apply this to your church. Does it ever bring forth an evil fruit? Does it ever have scandals with irregular accounting or abuses of pastoral power (and don't even get me started on the Roman institution)? If so, then that church is not of God, and you should leave.
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