Questions & Answers

The Bible does not expressly forbid you to attend your friend's church as an observer, to gather information, or even as a social courtesy or expression of friendship (or even to get him to stop being a pest). But if you do visit your friend's church, you do well to explain to your friend ahead of time what you are doing, why you are doing it, and also what you are NOT doing and why. You are not expressing religious fellowship or placing any approval on what is taught, believed, or practiced at the "non-denominational church." You are not dissatisfied with the teaching and practice of your church home and would like your friend to place what is taught at a higher priority that any supposed entertainment or social factors that other churches might offer. We gather around God's Word and sacrament to be spiritually nourished and express praise and thanks to God in a way that pleases him—that is, with doctrinal integrity and a focus on the gospel rather than the number of people of a certain age group or social and cultural stimulants.

By focusing on the Word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the importance and centrality of the means of grace, and doctrinal integrity with your contentment, you are saying more than simply, "I already have a church." While your friend should have had the courtesy to stop or at least tone down his requests after you said that, you owe him more. It's not a matter of your church versus his church. It's a matter of doctrinal integrity, Christ-centered unconditional gospel, a high view of the gospel and the sacraments as God's chosen instruments to create and maintain saving faith, and a primary focus on God who reveals himself in the Bible rather than a primary focus on other people of your age group or external components like musical styles or worship patterns in and of themselves. And you may invite him to come and observe your church teachings and practices too.

Your friend's comment on how it is time you strengthened your faith might indicate that he somehow considers your faith-life to be weak or in danger. Ask him both what he means and to offer examples of what he observes that give him concern. He is right—it is always a great time for you and me and everyone else to strengthen our faith-life through the unconditional gospel. But to assume that your friend's church is somehow going to accomplish this where your church cannot—this is not courteous or wise.