Maybe some help with non-denominational

[Reformed_Rob]

Just wanted to mention that in my neck of the woods (soCal) people “shop” for church. They think I’m the “strange” one. Tee hee!

Actually, at a wedding I went to close to San Jose, I met this girl who was a member of a non-denom congregation. And she told me she was searching for a church home and had narrowed it down to two. One was Calvinistic, the other wasn’t. And she was actually taking time to see if the Calvinistic thought was reasonable.

Probably at least one of them was a denomination, I don’t know.

It was dancing time before we could talk too long. But my point was there are many people that actually seek a congregation based on doctrine and not all fluffy stuff. But bottom line, the shopping will be more what the person agrees with.

Isn’t it always though??? Even if you’re Catholic looking for a different parish.

Of course, in the end

 

[Reformed_Rob]

What’s with me??? Why am I always talking about girls???

 

[ladylinguist]

For attendees of other, more moden non-denominational churches, like the Vineyard, it’s usually a bit different; the major reason a person attends the Vineyard is almost always something other than doctrine. Most people who go to such churches have given up (as I had) finding the doctrinally perfect church, and so they settle on one that has “good worship” (whatever their definition of that is) and ignore their doctrinal differences with the stance of the church.

Jeremy

So true! I’m currently attending a Vineyard Church, and one of the appeals for me was that they accepted anyone regardless of their doctrinal beliefs. It’s basically people who agree on the basics (Jesus is Savior, and there’s a Trinity) and leave the rest to personal opinion. You might discuss it privately, but even our Pastor refrains from stating personal beliefs that might alienate people during his sermons. It’s one of the things that’s been bothering me about protestant churches in general. So much of it is what you want to believe about Christianity. Take what you want, and throw away the rest as long as you believe Jesus is your Savior. I admit, I’m not convinced enough to actually convert to Catholicism yet, but the idea of single authority looks mighty appealing from where I’m standing! Although, I will say that I love Vineyard worship. They do know how to write a good song!

 

[awantz]

It’s basically people who agree on the basics (Jesus is Savior, and there’s a Trinity) and leave the rest to personal opinion. You might discuss it privately, but even our Pastor refrains from stating personal beliefs that might alienate people during his sermons. So much of it is what you want to believe about Christianity. Take what you want, and throw away the rest as long as you believe Jesus is your Savior.

I attend a four year old non-denominational church. My pastor says positive and negatves about every denomination. Not all newer non-denominational churches are the same.

 

[jemfinch]

So true!

I should know, I’ve been in that place

I’m currently attending a Vineyard Church, and one of the appeals for me was that they accepted anyone regardless of their doctrinal beliefs.

There’s a certain appeal to that, of course, but there was also a significant drawback: I was active in small groups and Bible studies, and there was so little “meat” that could safely be discussed. I felt much like the author of Hebrews, “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity.” Sometimes I wanted to stand up and yell, “Let us move on from this milk and start eating meat!”

It’s basically people who agree on the basics (Jesus is Savior, and there’s a Trinity) and leave the rest to personal opinion.

And again, there is a certain appeal in that, but these are matters of truth, and I couldn’t bring myself to believe some of the fundamental matters of doctrine were unresolved after 2,000 years.

It’s one of the things that’s been bothering me about protestant churches in general. So much of it is what you want to believe about Christianity. Take what you want, and throw away the rest as long as you believe Jesus is your Savior.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.”

I admit, I’m not convinced enough to actually convert to Catholicism yet, but the idea of single authority looks mighty appealing from where I’m standing!

Authority is, indeed, the most basic reason I converted. How could I teach the Bible if I had no authority upon which to base my belief of what is the Bible? I saw in the Bible that the Church should have authority, but I saw that the churches I attended either didn’t have it or didn’t exercise it.

Although, I will say that I love Vineyard worship. They do know how to write a good song!

And that’s why I eventually settled on the Vineyard, telling myself, “I don’t need as much help with learning as I do with worshipping.” Here at Vineyard Columbus, they have an amazing service, the best such one I’ve been to (and I’ve been to several).

But when it boiled down to it, I couldn’t any longer worship God only in spirit; I know that He was seeking worshippers who would worship Him in spirit and in truth, so I had to find the Church, the pillar and foundation of the truth, and worship with it.

Now my Sundays might not be filled with the best singing (Catholics are generally horrible singers, and not remarkably good songwriters either, it seems), but what I do have is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, something I’d vacuously hoped in but never really received at my Vineyard.

If you ever want to discuss more the sort of transition from Vineyard to the Catholic Chuch, by all means, feel free to private message me.

Jeremy

 

[Syele]

Now my Sundays might not be filled with the best singing (Catholics are generally horrible singers, and not remarkably good songwriters either, it seems)

There are always Vineyard Cds for when you aren’t at mass. I’m leaving the Vineyard but taking my CD with me!

 

[NonDenom]

Hello, any non-denominational Christian please respond, or anyone that may have anything relevant to say.

What is the non-denominational appeal? I mean, basically from what some have told me, they don’t want to be tied down to a denomination, it’s certain doctrines or that certain way of worship. But all the non-denom congregations, if they are active and growing, they end up more and more like having structure and their own history and wanting to expand. Basically, become a “denomination” just not be called by that term.

Hi All
The first thing I want to say here is that most Protestant churches hold to the same core beliefs. I know that some play instruments and some don’t, or some are Faith only, but the core commandments are the same. My Wife’s family are all Catholic and her Sister believes in reincarnation, and her Uncle thinks that all but about 10 percent of people will go to Heaven because “God is a loving God”. My point is that if you think for ONE MINUTE that every Catholic believes everything your church teaches, then you’ve got your head in the sand. People in your church have come up with their own ideas of God just like in other Protestant churches, so before arrogantly slinging mud around you better start with your own church first.
In Him and Only Him