All of us draw lines somewhere. We all have things that we think are right and proper. We may even be right about many of them. We have things we think are essential, things we think are proper but can tolerate not being done, and things we can’t.

Sometimes we may have lines that we can wear as those who are not in a position of authority upholding the line and those that we couldn’t wear if we were in a position of authority. There are things that I would not be able to tolerate as a pastor of a church that I probably could if I were a member who is not responsible for them. There are things I can submit to but which I could not in good conscience teach and uphold myself.

Working out exactly where these lines are can be quite difficult. I suspect I know where some of mine are. I certainly know what I can wear as a pastor and what I cannot. I suspect I know some of the broader set of things I could probably tolerate as a member but would struggle with if an elder. But I am also fairly sure I don’t know all of them. I suspect there are things I will only discover are or aren’t lines when I actually run into them.

When we are hunting for a church, I think it is helpful to be clear – at least on some of the common things that arise – about our lines. What can we live with and what can’t we tolerate? There seems little point turning up to a Pentecostal Church if we know that we are dead set against the practice of tongue-speaking. There is similarly no point showing up to an Anglican Church if you know that you cannot tolerate external bishops having some level of authority over your church.

We may not know all our lines, but it pays to think about the ones we are aware of. What can we live with? What do we definitely know we can’t live with? This will help narrow down our search and help us not to unreasonably get frustrated at church practices that the church themselves have been utterly clear about, often in their very nomenclature. We can’t go getting upset that the Baptist Church won’t christen our newborn – it is literally what they are most upfront about telling us they aren’t going to do! If it is a line for you, probably best just not to go.