Is Non-Denominational a Denomination? {Non-Denominational Caucus}

Prodigal Son Magazine ^ | 5/29/08 | John Blair

[colorcountry]

It’s amazing to think about when Jesus prayed for unity for all believers, on his way to death, that today we see many facets of Christianity today. Denomination; that “D" word that makes some people shudder and others become so proud of that they are part of their own. Even I have found myself in the battle of this ideal that there are no set views about it, but more of what seems just stereotypes and generalizations. Even though we might that “D" word or not, we have them and so with that we must understand that we are most likely going to be stuck with them for a while.

As a worship leader at a “Non-Denominational" church in Southern Indiana, I grew up in a Baptist church and currently go a Baptist Seminary, so what’s the difference? The real question is though, is a “Non-Denominational" church a denomination? Honestly, that question is just as silly if you were to ask me, “Is Atheism a religion?" Now don’t misunderstand me as saying, “How can you put atheism in a discussion with religious denominations?" Well I’m not, but the answer both of them is an emphatic “yes" and “no"!

Just as Atheism is actually a religion, because even though you don’t have an “other" higher authority, it is yourself. Even though you may not have rules, regulations, or creeds, you do live according to your own beliefs and therefore your religion is yourself. With many non-denominational churches becoming more prevalent in the Western-culture there needs to be an examination of reasons. Many denominations were too strict, others too relaxed, and some were just unbiblical in every form. Some were afraid of the stereotypes placed on them and didn’t want to attach themselves either. So when ministers tried to think of ways to reach a lost and dying culture, they created churches with their own set of beliefs (as long as it was biblical). Personally, I see nothing wrong with this at all. Non-denominational churches are self-supported; whereas those who are denominational are support by a whole. The Southern Baptist denomination supports financially and ministerially all churches within its own convention. Non-denominational church function separately on their own.

To ask the question if it is a denomination, then yes! Even though they aren’t attached to a network or anything; they are still recognized with all the other non-denominational churches in America. Each church will have their own beliefs, set of creeds and values that are scriptural, but yes it will be a denomination. One that is common but separate. They are still categorized in someplace because they must be recognized somehow for the believers in Christ that they represent.

Second, they aren’t a denomination. Thinking structurally, they lack a unity and working of themselves with other churches. Every atheist might be part of the atheistic religion, but each person’s set of ideas and beliefs will be different. They live their own lives and what they believe in themselves. Non-denominational churches might be categorized together, but each one will have its own set of creeds or ideas. Again, one denomination that I speak much of is the Southern Baptist one. All churches are connected not just organizationally, but all beliefs are to be the same within the denomination. On the other hand, non-denominational churches do not have to conjoin with other non-denominational churches because it is self-supported in their own beliefs and finances.

After all of this, non-denominational churches are part of the “Non-Denominational" organization, but they are not in the sense that each churches will work separately and not together. The question is not which one is better, but what church or denomination is more biblical and being able to show how God is relevant to a lost and dying culture?

Before I came to the church I was at, I made sure to read the beliefs and statements of it and see if it was scriptural. I found nothing wrong about which made my convictions clear. Now that denomination that I grew up might frown a bit that I serve outside of it, but we are all one in the body of Christ. Whether Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, or Non-Denominational, Christ has called us to be as one body with different parts. Divisions are never fun, but they do help make the ministry diverse to reach a greater audience.

If you are considering or concerned about a particular church, do three things. First, find out what they believe and back it up with the Bible. Second, talk to the pastor or leaders of the church and see why it is what it is and what they do there. Third, see how much this church really has a passion for worshipping and serving Christ to their community and throughout the world. A church or “denomination��? that doesn’t want to get their hands dirty for Christ is not healthy. God blesses those who bless him with their whole heart and lives.

[colorcountry]

I suppose... but you must be careful when dealing with non denominational denominations.. (John ch 10).. With the Sheep pens and all that..

Oh yes, I totally agree. The last paragraph of the OP states this....

If you are considering or concerned about a particular church, do three things. First, find out what they believe and back it up with the Bible. Second, talk to the pastor or leaders of the church and see why it is what it is and what they do there. Third, see how much this church really has a passion for worshipping and serving Christ to their community and throughout the world. A church or “denomination" that doesn’t want to get their hands dirty for Christ is not healthy. God blesses those who bless him with their whole heart and lives.

(You SHOULD be doing this even if you are a member of a Denomination!!)

[netmilsmom]

>>I suppose... but you must be careful when dealing with non denominational denominations..<<

Seriously, some people don’t like the rules that some churches come with, some want to let the Holy Spirit lead them and not church leaders.

Me, I like structure but some don’t.
If a non-demominational church leads them to Our Lord, I’m not going to discourage it. Let the Hand of The Lord work in the ways He needs it too, IMO.

[Tired of Taxes]

I found that non-demoninational IS a denomination. It should be called “Anything-goes Christianity”.

I belonged to a nondenominational Christian group for two years. My husband and I were raised two different denominations, couldn’t agree on one, and we became more and more nonreligious/agnostic/atheist. But we believed strongly in morality, so I involved our children in an interdenominational Christian group to introduce them to Christianity and to ease them into faith. BIG MISTAKE.

For two years, my children would ask me, “What exactly is Christianity about?” The group offered no clue. They would pray for things and collect for the poor, and their Christianity ended there. Here’s what I finally found out about their ideas on morality at the last meeting I attended:

* They believe Christianity is whatever you want it to be.

* Since everyone has a different definition, there is no absolute moral code.

* People of different denominations are accepted. But, to be a member of the group, you must agree to accept everyone else’s (lack of) an absolute moral code.

We quit. Honestly, I found no difference between this interdenominational Christian group and atheism. In fact, I have a stronger moral code than they did. I ended up arguing with them over morality, with me taking the stronger position.

[colorcountry]

Obviously you weren’t involved in a Christian Church. This can happen even though they call themselves a denomination. Your group sounds like it might have been a UU organization. Christian Churches teach sound Biblical practices and teachings. If you are not getting them, then you are not in a Christian Church, denominational or otherwise.

You are posting on a caucus thread, and so your post is a disruption. I just wanted to clear up the misunderstanding regarding Christian Denominational Churches your post may have caused.

Please refrain from posting again. Thank you.

[Old Professer]

My uncle refers to this sort of thing as “leading God around on a leash.”

[Godzilla]

But growing up, I was just Christian.

I don't want to insult, but I have a question for you - have you personally accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

[Tired of Taxes]

I’ve never heard of a caucus thread. This thread popped up on General Discussion. As someone who put a lot of time, money, and effort into an interdenominational Christian group for two years, I thought it fitting to share my experience here.

I’ll stop posting, but I need to clear up one point: This was not a UU group. We’ve never been involved with a UU group. It was an interdenominational group run by a Methodist church. The leader was Methodist, and the other members were various denominations such as Baptist, Catholic, etc. Some evangelical Christian members walked out a year before I did.

[Tao Yin]

have you personally accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

Yes, I have.

[Godzilla]

Thank you and please forgive me, I did not want to appear to be insulting.

[MHGinTN]

Good find!

[GCC Catholic]

Thanks for posting this; it’s rather informative. I’ve often pondered at how “non-denominational” churches weren’t denominations in and of themselves, but never got around to asking anyone.

[dan1123]

When I go to a new non-denominational church (I have been to many, thanks to college and moving), I always carefully read their statement of faith, which is usually easy to find. I specifically look for a statement about Jesus being Lord and Savior, and the Bible as being inspired by God and final authority. Any liberal “church” organizations tend to weasel out of one or the other.

I wanted to add that Mathematically Set Theory specifically includes a null set, so statements such as Non-Denominational Denomination does actually make sense especially in the case that you must specify denomination as with the FR Religion forum caucuses.

[uptoolate]

I prayed a lot....
So thank you so much for the great work your churches are doing in leading people back to the Lord!!!!!

And thank you for praying!!!!
Something all the different "divisions" of Christianity have in common is recognizing the power of prayer.

A Pastor friend of mind recently spoke at our "non-denominational" church. He had a very wise take on the "divisions".

By separating us human sinners into smaller groups, God has thus limited the quarreling over the small doctrinal stuff inside the local congregation, which allows the Body as a whole to move forward more efficiently, thus having unity over the big stuff like the death, burial, and resurrection of God the Son to atone for the sins of the world.

Can you imagine what every service would look like if an argument broke out over immersion versus sprinkling?

The Gospel would never be heard.

[netmilsmom]

Amen to your Pastor friend!!!!

[raynearhood]

Is Non-Denominational a Denomination?

Hmmm. Yes and no. I attended a church that cosidered themselves non-denominational when in highschool. It was through this church and the leadership that the Lord drew me to him. I loved that church, and still do. However, I think they were wrong in calling themselves "non-denominational." Sure, they didn't fall under a council of churches or under a central church authority, but they were a Christian Church (of the Christian Church/Church of Christ variety) and held common doctrinal views with a national "conglomeration" of independent churches known as the Brotherhood of Christian Churches.

Now, the BoCC was not a governing authority or convention, rather a group of like-minded, independent churches that supported each other through missions, money, and love. But the group did have a set of beliefs (I cannot quote them b/c I can't remember them) that all the churches agreed to. Denomination? I don't know. Probably, but I don't really care. They all believed in the Bible and all applied that to the leading of their individual churches.

I've moved around alot, and today I attend an Independent Southern Baptist Church. I chose the church because doctrinally and theologically their beliefs are very close to mine. Where we differ, I choose to overlook (was it Calvin that said, "In what is necessary unity, in what is not necessary liberty, but in all things charity?" The differences are prophetic interpretation stuff, y'know, millenialism, pre-millenialism, post-millenialism... things I spend no time on in discussion). Just as importantly, I chose it for the fellowship. But, I'm not a Baptist.

I guess what it comes down to is that I am a non-denominational Christian. But I think that it's hard to label a church as non-denominational, because, what makes a denomination a denomination. A creed? A governing authority? A governing body? Or is it as simple as a set of stated beliefs? I've found five of six different definitions.

[raynearhood]

That wasn't one of the definitions I found.

And I don't think so. The church I attended in high school is called First Christian Church of Canton. So, FCC from here on out.

Not only was FCC a part of the BoCC, but also a group called the Fellowship of Local Churches, Stark County. This was/is an “inter” or “cross” denominational collection of local churches that supported each other in growth, local missions work, activities, youth activities, single adult activities (we called these the meet-to-marry group), and in fellowship. Churches involved from the Friends, Nazarene, Church of Christ, Church of God, Christian (as in BoCC), Independent Baptist, and unaffiliated denominations. Probably more that I either didn't know or don't remember.

So, the “non-denominational” congregation (as FCC called itself) that I attended wasn't ill mannered at all.

Nor were the “non-denominational” churches I attended while at college. They were all involved in similar groups as the Fellowship of Local Churches FCC belonged to.

I hope that your post wasn't intended to just be mean. Seems a bit unnecessary, if it was.

[colorcountry]

A agree. I attend some very lovely non-denominational Churches.

[Religion Moderator]

Your post was inappropriate for a "non-denominational caucus" and was therefore removed.

Only members of the caucus are to post on caucus threads. If the thread says "Catholic Caucus" and you are not Catholic, do not post there.