After visiting a new church with some friends this past weekend, I find myself reflecting on the overall experience.
In a city like Nashville, there is no shortage of great churches to choose from. Options are everywhere.
But how should the Christian choose a church? Just how, exactly, does the Bible define a godly church?
In short, Scripture gives us two clear markers to look for, and they must be held together in tension.
A Biblical Standard
In Acts 9:31, we are given a snapshot of the early Church. It reads:
“Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” (NKJV)
This verse reveals both the condition of the early church and the cause of its growth.
The churches were multiplied because they walked in two realities: the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Those are the two things that we must keep in balance.
The Fear of the Lord
The first marker of a godly church is a healthy fear of the Lord. We are called to see God with reverence and respect, but too often that is where our level of fear ends. Many Christians refuse to use the word “fear” in the way it is typically used: with a sense of “terror” or “fright”. I think that the softening of this word can dampen its power. After all, it was Jesus Himself who said:
“Do not fear those who kill the body … Fear Him who has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4–5 NKJV)
This is a reminder of God’s holy power. God does, in fact, have the right and ability to damn us to hell. That fact should instill a measure of fear (as long as you, like me, find the thought of hell scary).
It is perfectly fine to use a threat of damnation to cause people to draw near to God. That is why the apostle Paul once wrote, “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11 NASB).
At times, a healthy fear of the Lord—one that goes beyond reverence and steps into fright—can lead Christians and churches to godliness.
The Comfort of the Holy Spirit
Scripture also presents a second reality. God is not only just, He is also gracious.
Romans 2:4 tells us that “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” (ESV).
For many, it is not fear that first draws them to God—it is grace, patience, and kindness. It is love.
While the fear of the Lord reveals His holiness, the comfort of the Holy Spirit reveals His kindness. The Church is called to reflect this, bringing encouragement and restoration to those who need it. That is why we refer to church services as “ministries”, thus implying that someone needs to be ministered to. There is a healing, a cleansing, a building up of what once was broken.
That is comfort.
That comfort is an incredibly important role of the church.
Keeping Your Balance
So where does that leave us?
There is no perfect church, but there is a biblical pattern to witness. The Church is meant to be a place where God is both feared and trusted, obeyed and adored. When those two truths are held together, growth and faith will follow.
We are called to hold two truths in tension: a church must present the fear of the Lord and embody the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Some churches lean toward conviction. Others lean toward comfort.
A godly Church finds the balance of both.
Blessings,
