San Diego First Assembly

Website: http://www.sandiegofirstassembly.com

Church Review
Scriptural View: 3/5
Beliefs: 3/5
Community: 3/5

Website Review
Site Usabilility: 3/5
Site Design: 3/5
Site Content: 4/5

Summary: The First Assembly churches website is fairly busy, with a primary focus on communicating the ‘where’s and when’ of their services and other meetings. Each of the main buttons compartmentalize the different groups you can attend, ie Children, Youth, College, 55+, Couples, Recovery, etc. It seems there is a lot of opportunity for different community groups.

The church posts the Nicene Creed and Apostles´Creed as their statements of faith. They fall within the broad evangelical base which holds a strong view of scripture as truth. They are a pentecostal which puts an “emphasis on Spirit-driven service to our world”. A quote from their website says: “Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel”. If this is speaking about healing in terms of Christ works to redeem us through His work, yes, if it is about physical healing, this is where we disagree on what the ‘gospel’ is. It is at this place that many will differ on their beliefs with San Diego First Assembly. This issue can be devisive. If you’d like read more from an essay by John MacArthur titled, “A Look at the Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement Is it Biblical?

Confessing church which holds a pentecostal position. Suggest you learn more about this if you plan on attending.

Full Review

First Presbyterian Church San Diego

Website: http://www.fpcsd.org

Church Review
Scriptural View: 2/5 (revised web differs from reality)
Beliefs: 2/5 (revised web differs from reality)
Community: 4/5

Website Review
Site Usabilility: 4/5
Site Design: 3/5 (traditional)
Site Content: 3/5

Summary: This church has a great statement of Faith in their words “We are committed to classical Christian orthodoxy, the Reformed Faith, and the Evangelical theological heritage. The goal of our church is to live, work, serve, and worship together as a Household of Faith centered around the Lord Jesus Christ. Our mission is to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything Christ has commanded.” Well said!!! There are some other minor issues I disagree with that Presbyterians believe, including infant baptism but this is not a salvation issue.

EDIT: I spoke with a friend who has more information on this church. It turns out that although they post their belief statement, it is not the same as what is preached. As part of the PCUSA movement, this denomination continues to slip into liberal non-orthodox beliefs that are shaping the future of their churches against Biblical teachings.

EDIT: November 2004 I have had two people contact me telling me that this church is holding on to their theological convictions in spite of what is happening in the larger denominational context. Suggest you do your own investigation if you plan on attending this church.

Their website statement of faith may not dictate the reality of what they believe. Suggest you investigate if you plan on attending this church.

Full Review

Horizon Christian Fellowship

Users

Website: http://www.horizonsd.org/

Church Review
Scriptural View: 3/5
Beliefs: 3/5
Community: 4/5

Website Review
Site Usabilility: 4/5
Site Design: 4/5
Site Content: 3/5

Summary: Horizon Christian Fellowship is one of the ‘mega’ churches in San Diego. It has a school, cafeteria, a coffee shop (called the “Sacred Grounds” Coffee Cart), Youth groups, Single’s Ministry (The Edge) and about 40 other ministry areas. Their website is sleak and well designed and you can quickly find which compartment of their church you fit in to.From my experience, how do you become a ‘mega church’. The first is through the persona of the Pastor who has a dynamic that is either entertaining or witty but this draws a big crowd. Often in conjunction with this growth, the church becomes a mall. It begins offering services to every population group. Now nothing is wrong with either of these in themselves. But the final challenge is what separates the good from the bad.

The biggest fault with mega churches is that they purposefully avoid scriptural teachings to not ruffle the feathers of those who attend. Time and time again these churches preach a watered down gospel that misses much of the deeper, even challenging areas that cause growth and repentance before God. My experience with Horizon is through the interaction of a number of people who have left because when they had serious questions based on the Bible, those in leadership were unwilling to give them answers. They preferred that people do not seek these things.

With this said, Horizon is still a church filled with brothers and sisters in Christ. They are preaching faith in Christ and we all are part of the larger body of believers here on earth working to proclaim the message of the cross to this world. And it is because of this, that this church is still far better than many churches in San Diego.

Horizon is a church that is preaching Christ, but they shy away from some of the meat of Scripture.

Full Review