I searched and I searched for the "perfect church." Every Sunday I went from congregation to congregation looking for the church that was in agreement with what I already believed. But, alas, none could be found. I already had my mind made up on all doctrinal beliefs and what the church could and should not practice.

I found some that came very close to all of what I believed but I could not place my membership with a congregation that was not in a 100 per cent agreement with me and what I believed the scriptures taught on a multitude of issues. After all I knew I was right and they were all wrong (on some things). Therefore, I could not fellowship them.

My search for the "perfect church" led me to seek out one that did not participate in hand clapping, drama and dramatic readings, had no official female leadership, did not engage in celebrating religious holidays, had no baby dedication services, celebrated the Lord's Supper on the right day for the right reason, did not engage in Sunday evening cluster groups, had no children's worship, did not fellowship the denominations, practiced baptism for the right reason and the right mode, believed in the authority of elders, believed in the proper place of grace and faith, took a strong stand on the questions of morality (that would include involve homosexuality, divorce and remarriage, abortion, gambling, immodest apparel, etc.), believed in the Holy Spirit working though the Word of God to convict sinners. The list could go on and on.

One Sunday I found a church that believed in all the listed above items and my heart was overwhelmed and I placed my membership with that particular congregation. But after I was there about a year I found some, if not all, of the leadership believed in the personnel indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This I could not go along with, so I was on my way again looking for what I believed was the perfect church.

Why can't Christians believe the way I believe and interpret the scriptures the way I do? You know, if they don't, they are out of fellowship with God and, in my thinking, lost. After searching for a whole year for the "perfect church" (remember the perfect church is the congregation that believes everything the way I believe it or they can't be the perfect church), I decided the only way to have my perfect church was to start one of my own. That's what I'll do--I'll start my own church and meet in my own home and I'll do the preaching and teaching and I will have what I always wanted my, "perfect church." The end of a fictional account.

We all should want "a thus saith the Lord" for what we do in the worship, work and practice of the church. We don't want to violate any scriptural principle for which there is no "thus saith the Lord." On the other hand we never want to bind our opinions on men as if they were "a thus saith the Lord." This very thing has brought about so much division, strife and discord in the church of our Lord. When I bind my opinion on the people of God, as if it was the word of God, I am doing what God has never authorized me to do.