What makes a good church?!

Looking for a new church in Cardiff, I've been thinking a bit about what characterises a 'good' church (to clarify, by church I mean Christians who meet together, not a building or institution). People might advise us to look for a 'lively' church and/or one which teaches the Bible faithfully. 'Lively' is an essential characteristic- if by it one means that the church is spiritually alive (rather than just lively music etc!). Faithful Bible teaching is important and needed to feed that life, but what if the congregation aren't doing what the Bible says? 'Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says'. (James 1:22)

However, the other day I was reading Paul's letters to the Thessalonians and here he seems to be writing to a good, faithful church- He doesn't have any criticisms about them (like his letters to the Corinthians) but rather thanks God for them and encourages them to keep going as they are, doing what they are doing 'more and more'.

So what characterises the Thessalonion church that Paul would thank God for them so much? Simple. Faith, Hope and Love.

'We continually remember before our God and father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ'

Note that faith results in good works (note for non-Christian readers- we are saved by faith in Christ ALONE, not by works at all, but true faith does result in good works). So, a good church is trusting in Christ (which is no doubt fed by faithful teaching of the Bible), and this faith results in good works- which I imagine includes any sort of serving others, including sharing Christ with others that they might come to faith in Him.

But also note that the Christians' labour is 'prompted by love'. If I look at a church (by which remember I mean the Christian people!), are they doing good deeds just out of a sense of duty, guilt, or religious tradition, or are they actually doing their good deeds motivated by love? Do they know God's love, do they love other people and do they love God?

The third characteristic is hope- which results in endurance. Not are these Christians having a good time, but are they able to persevere in faith and love through difficult times (the Thessalonian Christians were undergoing increasing persecution). How can they persevere? Because they are 'inspired by hope'- the hope of heaven and eternal life with Christ. The hope that this life isn't it, but a glorious life with Christ is in store for us... forever more! That the eternal is much more important than the temporary, because it will last forever. As one of my favourite passages in the Bible says...

...'Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory which far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal'... (2 Cor 4:16-18)

Does the church fix its eyes on this great hope which enables or would enable them to endure through hardship and persecution?

So, simple eh? Faith, love and hope. Simple, but doesn't look easy, nor do we see it often enough in our churches. But they are the characteristics of a church who are faithful to the Lord Jesus and ones we should look for. But wait. I've been writing this 'objectively' as I try to discern faithful Christian churches, yet I very much need to apply this to myself. Do I continually trust in Christ and respond in acts of faith, do I act out of love, and do I have that hope which will enable me to endure?

I pray that we would be able to part of a Christian community exhibiting faith, hope and love more and more to the glory of Jesus Christ.