Editor's Note: The following is excerpted from Thom S. Rainer's book "The Unchurched Next Door."
In "Surprising Insights from the Unchurched," the formerly unchurched were emphatic about churches having strong biblical teachings. They articulate this issue clearly since having become Christians, but they also insist that the issue was important before they became Christians.
Cheryl S. of Maine said, "Even before I became a Christian I was really interested in what churches believed. I had enough common sense to know that they weren't all exactly alike. I wanted to find a church that would stick to their guns on their beliefs."
Seekers desire to discover truth and conviction among Christians about the reality of God, Jesus, and the entire supernatural realm.
Jorge C. spoke rather bluntly about the issue: "I visited a few churches before I became a Christian. Man, some of them made me want to vomit. They didn't show any more conviction about their beliefs than I did. And I was lost and going to hell!"
Of the unchurched interviewed answers varied in response to one basic doctrinal issue: how to get to heaven.
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