Maybe some help with non-denominational

[Reformed_Rob]

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.

So what is the appeal? Is it the totally fresh approach that lures people? I must admit, it does look being non-denom would be a hip and cool thing to be.

Maybe there is an appeal in being different and that makes people feel closer to Christ. Being unique with Him and not part of the mob of denominations.

 

[Syele]

I have grown up in non-denominational churches my whole life, so choosing it wasn’t so much like well… choosing it.

Non-denominational church has an appeal that in theory is very much like the appeal of the Catholic church being the “True Church.” While not exactly successful in it’s unity , it adheres to the concept that Christ’s church was not ment to be divided by denominations. Now, I know 50 Catholics are going to jump in and declare that it IS a denomination, but the point of non-denominational is to remove denominations (i.e. Divisions). I’m not saying they are successful in their goal… but it is a goal nonetheless.

This is one of the main reasons that the Statements of Faith for non-denominational chuches are rather vague and the reason they tend to vary so much from one to another. (Generally according to who the pastor is.) They do not want to exclude any true follower of Christ because of ‘minor’ issues.

I find it appealing in that all are welcome to attend. People from all walks of life felt comfortable to go and worship together at my church, even homeless people. I liked that I could worship God as He moved me to on any day and not feel I was makeing a scene (Like if I raise my hands or clap ( A few people felt such joy they occasionally danced) but worshipping more sedately was certianly just as acceptable.)

I am in the process of leaving the non-denominational church to attend the Assembly of God. The main two reasons for this are 1. the non-denominational church does not succeed in it’s goal to me more unified anyhow and 2. vague theology leads to almost no theology.

 

[Nekic]

I have grown up in non-denominational churches my whole life, so choosing it wasn’t so much like well… choosing it.

Non-denominational church has an appeal that in theory is very much like the appeal of the Catholic church being the “True Church.” While not exactly successful in it’s unity , it adheres to the concept that Christ’s church was not ment to be divided by denominations. Now, I know 50 Catholics are going to jump in and declare that it IS a denomination, but the point of non-denominational is to remove denominations (i.e. Divisions). I’m not saying they are successful in their goal… but it is a goal nonetheless.

This is one of the main reasons that the Statements of Faith for non-denominational chuches are rather vague and the reason they tend to vary so much from one to another. (Generally according to who the pastor is.) They do not want to exclude any true follower of Christ because of ‘minor’ issues.

I find it appealing in that all are welcome to attend. People from all walks of life felt comfortable to go and worship together at my church, even homeless people. I liked that I could worship God as He moved me to on any day and not feel I was makeing a scene (Like if I raise my hands or clap ( A few people felt such joy they occasionally danced) but worshipping more sedately was certianly just as acceptable.)

I am in the process of leaving the non-denominational church to attend the Assembly of God. The main two reasons for this are 1. the non-denominational church does not succeed in it’s goal to me more unified anyhow and 2. vague theology leads to almost no theology.

I agree.
It’s why the Catholic Church is not a denomination - it is the True Church. Everything else is a, for want of a better word, perversion.

Though, some non-denoms are weird.
One of my closest friends confesses to non-denominationalism, yet attends an Anglican Church… hmmm…

 

[Syele]

Though, some non-denoms are weird.
One of my closest friends confesses to non-denominationalism, yet attends an Anglican Church… hmmm…

LOL Are they weird because they are weird or something because of your friend?

I can identify with your friend, Growing up non-denominational means that when you move to a new place there sometimes is no church Just like the one in the place where you left. I will be attending the Assembly of God, but I doubt I will become an “official” member there. I was also Epispopalian for about a year when I moved to another state.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Hi,
I was raised episcopalian and left as a teenager. When I decided I needed to go back to church, I was looking for what church taught biblical principles. I ended up at a baptist church. After 8 years there the church was dying due to pastor problems and I was not being spiritually fed so I was looking for another church. A non-denom definition never even entered my mind. I,again, was looking for a church that adhered to biblical principle. I knew people who went to my church so I finally,after 2 years, decided to go to visit my now church. It was a whirlwind for me. I ended up joinging right away and I love it. I think beside their biblical based theology, the people is what drew me in. In three years, I have not met anyone in my church who is faking it. Let’s face it, alot of people go to church and that is it. They are essentially playing church. They are not involved otherwise. I would say most of the people at my church are involved in different ministris at my church. They also bear much fruit in their spiritual walk. They are genuine in wanting to follow Christ and help other people as well.

I consider them my second family. If I ever had a problem I can say without a doubt they would be there for me. I also agree with Syele that you can be who you are and not feel uncomfortable.

I also feel that mainstream denominations are falling into liberal hands. They are gradually falling away from biblical truths and watering them down. I am conservative so many mailine denoms do not fit the bill anymore.

AFH

 

[jemfinch]

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

I was formerly a non-Denominational Christian, having been raised in non-instrumental Churches of Christ and instrumental Christian Churches, and having attended Christian Churches and the Vineyard as an adult prior to my conversion to Catholicism.

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.

The two major appeals of non-denominationalism are in this statement in seed form.

For many Restoration-movement people, there is significant appeal in “not being a denomination”–that is, in refusing to take a name other than Christ. You’ll find many Church of Christ people who emphatically refuse even to put the name of their church on their building, instead putting only “Church of Christ,” and taking the location as the only proper name for their church.

Another appeal, especially to those hailing from the Restoration movement, is the autonomy of the local church. They consider the lack of any government outside the local church to be a good thing, since they think it prevents them from experiencing the denomination-wide liberalisation that many mainline denominations are experiencing today, or the sort of abuse scandals the Catholic Church is experiencing.

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

 

[Syele]

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

Yep the chruch I’m in the process of leaving is a Vineyard. One of the main reasons I went there whn I moved here was that I was unable to find a church with acceptable doctrines. I accepted it because they had no Doctrine I disagreed with and a strong focus on missions. The problem is that the reason I had no disagreements is that the Vineyard has very little of any sort of doctrine to agree or disagree with. Their Doctrines are too vague for there to be one to need to ignore. The beliefs in their belief statement are basic Christian things like “We believe in the Trinity.”, “God is the Creator” “Satan Rebelled against God” there are only about 12 of them and they are all easily agreed with.

 

[Reformed_Rob]

Thanks yall for your thoughts and contributions.

What has been some of your experiences, for those who have such experience, what happens when a non-denominational church “splits.” That’s a vague question I know, but if I get more specific, then I would limit the possible responses.

 

[Syele]

The only experience I have ever had with a church split was when a building we wer ein was too small and half the people lived in a nearby town… so we made it two churches… one in each town. Our Pastor drove to both for several months until they found a new pastor for the other town.It was weird cause we still used the same Bulletin and announcements and we all kept getting confused about what event was at which building.

But I don’t think thats what you ment.

 

[Denise_Shae]

My friend says he’s Non-Denominational, because he’s still searching for the Truth.

God Bless!

 

[StCsDavid]

How’s that saying go?..“There or few true Catholics, but many, many Popes?” Non-denominational is simply the freedom to be your own pope. Some folks need to start their journey to the Tiber there…they choose a non-Catholic denomination as they camp out on the banks for the Tiber…and then, with the grace of God, they wade into the truth and cross the Tiber to the only Church Christ gave to humanity.

 

[scylla]

I spent time in Calvary Chapel which is pretty much the epitomy of non-denominational. It is from Calvary Chapel where Vineyard came from.

Chuck Smith the founder of Calvary Chapel hit upon a great idea, " a church for seekers which is very open and enjoyable to go to"

Putting the Band up front and setting up small faith groups with personal involvement, without need for formal scholarship opened the door for most people to be involved without much debate or division.

No deep study in doctrine allows for debate to be kept at a minimal and a liberal approach to truth allows for unity to be kept.
Only a strong feeling for truth would allow for splits which is what keeps Calvary Chapel together, as they stress just being Christian.

It is a good place to be introduced to reading the Bible, just once you realize that you are part of a relatively new faith tradition and start seeking is where you have problems, which is what happened to me. Most people from Calvary Chapel would look at you crazylike if you mention that there might be more to Christianity. This is it we are Christian there is no more. The appel is being just “pure” Christian. “Why stress over differences just come to our Church and stop wasting your time”, “You worry too much we are all Christian” etc…

Catholicism is something most non-denominationals come from not go to. I have never met a non-denominational person who was Catholic who understood Catholicism correctly, but there are plenty of experts of Catholicism in non-denominational churches.
And most wont waste their time investigating Catholicism as they have found “Christianity”.
(Even if I ask 10 people from Calvary Chapel who founded it, maybe 2 know Chuck Smith did about 41 years ago.)

You might as well tell a devout Catholic to study Hinduism as that is true. Usually even the devout Catholic doesn’t know too much about Hinduism, just that it is wrong, that is the same way many non-denoms feel about Catholicism.

It is a difficult type of thinking to overcome and dialogue with,
God Bless
Scylla

 

[awantz]

At my non-denominational church we have members who are catholic, omish, menanite, pentacostal, and many other denominations. I always thought of it as a safe place for people of all christian faiths to go and worship together. We don’t favor one denomination over another. My church is independant from all other non-denominational churches, because we don’t agree with their way of doing things. We are trying to create unity in the church. The catholic church should know what I am talking about, because the pope is trying to bring about unity as well. My pastor’s sermon is always focused around scripture. I have my statement of faith I got when I became a member. If you have any questions about what is on it, I’ll read you the answers right from the statement of faith itself.

 

[auhsoj88]

To me the term “Non -Denomination” is an oxy-moron. No such thing. Non-denominational Churches big or small are denominations unto themselves. They abandon set traditions of other denoms and unknowingly place some of there own. Like abandaning others traditions is tradition they claim.

In Christ!

 

[Syele]

At my non-denominational church we have members who are catholic, omish, menanite, pentacostal, and many other denominations. I always thought of it as a safe place for people of all christian faiths to go and worship together. We don’t favor one denomination over another. My church is independant from all other non-denominational churches, because we don’t agree with their way of doing things. We are trying to create unity in the church. The catholic church should know what I am talking about, because the pope is trying to bring about unity as well. My pastor’s sermon is always focused around scripture. I have my statement of faith I got when I became a member. If you have any questions about what is on it, I’ll read you the answers right from the statement of faith itself.

Your church sounds more inter-denominational people retain their denominational “titles” (couldn’t think of a better word) but feel comfortable being together for worsip. I went to a church like that once, instead of focusing on removing the denominations they said they were inter-denominational and foccused on unity with differences. It’s hare to explain the difference between non and inter… but there definately is one.

 

[movingmom]

Just wanted to mention that in my neck of the woods (soCal) people “shop” for church. Depending on their needs at a specific time in their lives, a suitable church is looked for. Do they have a lively band? Do they have childcare? A coffee lounge (believe it), can you wear flip flops? Crazy! Many of my friends change churches yearly based on services offered and special little effects. When the topic comes up, I walk away. Otherwise they don’t include me, They think I’m the “strange” one. Tee hee!

 

[jemfinch]

I always thought of it as a safe place for people of all christian faiths to go and worship together.

But true worshippers must worship God in spirit and in truth.

My church is independant from all other non-denominational churches, because we don’t agree with their way of doing things. We are trying to create unity in the church.

Can I nominate this for the most ironic statement of the year?

Jeremy

 

[matthew1624]

Thanks yall for your thoughts and contributions.

What has been some of your experiences, for those who have such experience, what happens when a non-denominational church “splits.” That’s a vague question I know, but if I get more specific, then I would limit the possible responses.

If you get a chance, listen to Rob Evans’ (The Donut Man) conversion story. He goes into how “splits” in his non-denominational church eventually led him to the Catholic church.

Journey Home 9/11/2006 program
Marcus Grodi w/Robert Evans, “The Donut Man”
Former Non-denominational Layminister (Real Audio Format)

God Bless…

 

[Steven_Merten]

Hello Reformed Rob,

When I was twentyish, I went to a “non-denominational” bible study. Going in, the name “non-denominational” gave me the impression that all Christians were welcome there. I quickly realized that I, a Catholic, was not welcome there. Well unless I converted to their, what we would understand as denominational, beliefs.

I believe that the “non-denominational” church uses this terminology to give the image that they are open to all Christians and have no boundaries or belief structure to bind them down like other Christian churches. This is not the case though. The “non-denominational” church is a denomination just like other denominations. This is the way I see it anyway.

 

[Irish_eyes]

I was raised in a “non-denominational” church and converted to Catholicism when I was 31 years old. (You can imagine the hoopla that created in my family!) But having been thoroughly catechized in their Sunday Schools I can tell you the appeal they have for Protestants and Catholics alike.

Many Protestants coming from more liberal mainline denominations find, as a previous post mentioned, that their church was drifting away from traditional and biblical Christian morals – easy divorce, adultery and homosexual issues – for example. The non-denom churches generally espouse the same doctrines as their evangelical brothers in structured denominations like the Assemblies of God.

Their raison d’etre is that God did not found many churches. He founded one. Therefore they seek to re-establish the New Testament church in all its supposed simplicity (re: no liturgy or hierarchy) and purity (“no creed but the Bible”). They refuse to acknowledge that they are Protestant, because their church somehow subsisted in underground house churches during the bad old days between the apostolic age and today. There is no attempt to discover what the early church was really like by investigating early church sources, such as the early church Fathers.

Therefore they betray that they are indeed Protestant. Their appeal to Protestants, then is an affirmation of Sola Scriptura is a purer form than creedal denominations.

For Catholics who are not rooted well in their faith, these churches have the same appeal as other evangelical churches. Easier morals, (you can be divorced, remarried, and still be pastor of the Church!!), birth control is OK, and one isn’t bogged down with having to confess sins to a priest. Why confess when you can shrug off your sins with a simple, “Oops, I’m sorry, God.” Being Protestant means never having to say you sin. An excommunicated Catholic really likes that part.