It is a frequent and reasonable question that one might have. Many people waste time trying to find the "right church". Unfortunately, this is rarely successful.

First, I have to ask myself what I consider the right church to be. Is it the church that is in line with my views? Is it the church that I want to go to, not in order to change, but for me to remain the same? Should that church conform to my lifestyle?

Today, there are thousands of different Christian churches and denominations. We could say that there are that many churches out there that each person will be able to find one that they like, which suits them, which represents them or they agree with.

But the Word of God warns us by saying: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

After all, do I want a church "made to measure” or the true church of God, in which I will feel the presence of God and hear His will for me?

The Word of God tells us: “There are sixty queens, and eighty concubines, and virgins without number. My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The daughters saw her and called her blessed, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.” (Song of Solomon 6:8-9)

So one is “the chosen one”, the church, “the Bride” prepared for the Marriage with Christ, “that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27)

So then what are the criteria for selection?

The criteria are therefore not ours, but we rely on what the Word of God itself tells us about the church.

Truth

It holds and executes the truth expressed through the written Word of God (Bible), “so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”(1 Timothy 3:15)

Voice of God

In the church, you do not hear about God, but you go to hear God himself, who is alive, speaking and visiting man through the deeds of the Holy Spirit. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18)

It looks like the first Church of the Apostles

The Church, at its beginning, when it began on the day of Pentecost, after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the faithful, insisted on four basic things: 1) The teaching of the Apostles, that is, only in the Word of God; 2) Fellowship with one another: the whole church gathered, and the brethren ate together 3) The breaking of bread: the entire church participated in the Lord's Supper every Sunday and 4) Prayer: that is, the whole church reverently devoted time to praying and communicating with God.

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

Finally, choosing a church is a spiritual process: you must pray to God for Him to reveal it to you. Do not listen to human opinions but only trust the Word of God. Do not forget that church means love and truth. It is a family that will embrace you, because this family’s father is God and all the faithful are brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a place where you will not only be a visitor, but will be your home.