[VISITOR GUIDE] STEP 4/6

Red Flags

[RED FLAGS TO WATCH FOR]

Warning signs that a church may have drifted

[BE ON GUARD]

Not every church that uses Christian language actually teaches Christianity. Some have slowly drifted away from biblical truth while keeping the religious appearance. Here's what to watch for.

[DOCTRINAL RED FLAGS]

No Statement of Faith

If a church won't tell you what they believe, they're hiding something. Every faithful church should have a clear doctrinal statement.

Vague Language About the Bible

Phrases like "inspired stories," "contains God's word," or "the Bible is a human document" indicate they don't believe in biblical inerrancy.

"Affirming" of LGBTQ+

A church that "affirms" same-sex relationships or transgender identities has rejected clear biblical teaching. This is apostasy, not love.

No Talk of Sin, Hell, or Judgment

If the pastor only preaches about God's love without His holiness and justice, they're preaching a false gospel.

Prosperity Gospel

Teaching that faith guarantees health, wealth, and success. This is a false gospel that exploits people for money.

[LANGUAGE RED FLAGS]

Certain words and phrases on a church's website or social media often signal theological drift:

WOKE WARNING WORDS

! "Safe space" or "brave space"

! "All are welcome" (without clarifying sin)

! "Inclusive" or "affirming"

! "Social justice" focus

! "Anti-racism" or "equity"

! "Deconstructing" or "reimagining"

OTHER CONCERNS

! Pride flags or BLM imagery

! Preferred pronouns listed

! "Progressive Christianity"

! "Evolving faith" or "journey"

! Female lead/senior pastors

! NRSV as primary translation

[SERMON RED FLAGS]

1. The Bible is rarely read: If the pastor talks about life but rarely opens Scripture, that's a problem.

2. Self-help instead of gospel: "5 tips for better relationships" isn't a sermon.

3. Very short sermons: Under 20 minutes means there's no depth of teaching.

4. All comfort, no challenge: The Bible comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.

5. Pastor as celebrity: Watch for excessive self-promotion and personality cult.

[COVID RESPONSE RED FLAGS]

How churches responded to COVID-19 restrictions revealed a lot about their priorities:

CONCERNING

- Closed for extended periods

- Required masks long after mandates

- Required vaccination to attend

- Split congregation by vax status

- Still not fully back to normal

ENCOURAGING

+ Stayed open or reopened quickly

+ Prioritized in-person gathering

+ Fought for religious freedom

+ Welcomed everyone regardless

+ Fully normal operations now

[DENOMINATIONAL RED FLAGS]

Some entire denominations have departed from biblical Christianity. Be especially cautious of:

! PCUSA (Presbyterian Church USA) - Affirms LGBTQ+, ordains practicing homosexuals

! UMC - Has been splitting over LGBTQ+ issues; check individual church stance

! ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) - Affirms LGBTQ+

! Episcopal Church - Long ago departed from biblical teaching

! United Church of Christ - Very liberal, denies core doctrines

[WE DO THE RESEARCH]

Righteous Fellowship checks churches for these red flags so you don't have to. Look for our ratings:

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