Closest to the Bible?


Paul Washer has said, “Do not look for the church nearest to your house. Look for the church closest to the Bible.” By "closest to the Bible," people tend to think doctrine, and for years that was largely my approach. But when I began attending our current church about two years ago—and later joined it—it was not because of some major doctrinal shift. I was there, and remain there, for other reasons entirely.

Over the years we have been part of some good churches, including churches that were especially strong doctrinally. When I began looking for a local church, I knew we would be giving some things up. But could I find a place where my family could serve and grow? And what did it really mean to be “closest to the Bible”? I am not sure exactly what Paul Washer meant, but I came to conclude that it means much more than doctrine alone. As I thought and prayed about it, these were some of the things that mattered most to me:

Christ-centered preaching. I was looking for preaching preoccupied with Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and for a place where obedience flows from delight in Jesus.

Agreement on the primary doctrines.* I may have been able to live with tertiary and even secondary differences, but I could not settle comfortably in a church with differences on the essentials.

Emphasis on missions, both local and international. I was looking for a place that saw missions as a genuine priority.

Dependence on God. I was looking for a church that prayed and made much of prayer.

A culture of grace. I was looking for a church marked by patience, gentleness, humility, and charity.

Love. I was looking for Christian unity beyond party spirit and for a church that did not define itself primarily by what it opposed, but by what it was for.

Humility. I was looking for leaders and members who took Scripture seriously, yet who were also willing to listen and receive correction.

Healthy leadership. I was looking for leadership that was servant-hearted rather than authoritarian, and that sought to shepherd rather than control.

Joy. I was looking for a church where Christianity was marked by the joy of the Lord.

Church discipline. I was looking for a church willing to practice loving and biblical discipline.

If you should find yourself searching for a church, I would encourage you to start local, but look for the one closest to the Bible. Remember, though, that “closest to the Bible” means more than the statement of faith.

* The primary doctrines as I see them:


  1. The Bible – The Bible, as originally given, is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.  It is the final and supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice.

  1. The Sovereignty of God – God is sovereign in creation, redemption, and judgment, upholding, governing, and directing all things according to His wise and holy purpose. 

  1. The Trinity – There is one God eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

  2. Creation ex nihilo – God created all things out of nothing, by the word of His power.

  3. The Fall – Since the fall of Adam, all people are born in sin, inheriting a sinful nature, and are therefore subject to God’s just condemnation.

  4. The person of Christ – The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son, is both fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.  He lived a sinless life, died on the cross, was buried, and on the third day rose again.  He ascended bodily into heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father, where He reigns until all His enemies are put under His feet.

  5. Substitutionary atonement – Sinners are redeemed from the power and penalty of sin through the once-for-all sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, who acted as their representative and substitute, bearing their sins in their place. 

  6. Free offer of the gospel – The offer of salvation is free and therefore is to be extended to all without exception.

  7. Regeneration – Unless a person is born again by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, they cannot enter the kingdom of God. 

  8. Justification – Those who put their faith in Christ are pardoned from all their sins and declared righteous by virtue of their union with Him, whose perfect righteousness and substitutionary death are the only grounds of their acceptance before God.  This justification is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.  

  9. Sanctification – The Holy Spirit dwells in those He has regenerated, working in them both to will and to do according to His good pleasure, progressively transforming them into the likeness of Christ from glory to glory.

  10. Final Resurrection and Final Judgment – The Lord Jesus Christ will return to judge both the living and the dead.  

    

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