Non-denominational Christians

[jack_hawkins]

The church I attend is non-denominational. So far I’m the only one attending, but we–or I–are always open to anyone. I greet people at my front door (nobody yet), then go to the basement for the sermon, which I preach. That’s what we call ourselves: The Church in the Basement. Big drawbacks: I haven’t learned anything new from the sermons yet, and the offerings are sort of tricky to handle.

Plus side: no questions of authority or heterodoxy
complete unity in fact, no prospect of schism

 

[ALLFORHIM]

From my website at jmcrae.christian.net —

The seven Sacraments of the Church are:

1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Holy Communion
4. Holy Orders
5. Marriage
6. Penance
7. Last Anointing

The Sacraments are outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace. A proper disposition (including membership in the Catholic Church, at least the Catechumenate or other form of instructions in the faith) is necessary before receiving the Sacraments.

The Sacraments are interconnected and interdependent. Their goal is to provide us with the means to a personal and meaningful relationship with Christ.

…]

Penance

The Sacrament of Penance is also known as Confession, and as the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is one of two healing Sacraments in the Church. (The other is the Sacrament of Last Anointing.) The Sacraments of Healing can be repeated as often as necessary.

The ordinary minister of the Sacrament of Penance is the priest. The penitent approaches the priest in a private space (usually a Confessional or Reconciliation room, which is specifically designed for privacy, but any private space where they will not be overheard is acceptable) and makes a straightforward account of his sins to the priest within the context of a short liturgy that contains various short prayers, dialogue, and often, a short reading from Scripture.

Jesus established the Sacrament of Reconciliation when He healed the paralyzed man through the forgiveness of his sins. This is recorded in Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:18-26; and Mark 2:1-12.

Jesus authorized the Apostles to continue this work in Matthew 18:18, after first giving it to Peter as part of his Petrine ministry in 16:19. He provided them with the ability to do so in John 20:22f. St. Paul refers to the Church’s ministry of Reconciliation in II Corinthians 5:18-20.

…]

Thank you–got it:thumbsup:

 

[ALLFORHIM]

When we Catholics talk about reconciliation, we are talking about a sacrament. This sacrament is also known as penance or confession. Since sacraments are administered licitly only to Catholic members of the Christian faithful by Catholic ministers, non-Catholic Christians cannot receive absolution in the sacrament of reconciliation.

As an aside, I have heard that some non-Catholics go to confession and discuss their sins with the priest. Fr Benedict Groeschel, who lives in NYC, says that he has Jewish people come to confession. There is no problem with the priest listening to their sins; however, he cannot give absolution to non-Catholics. I think this just goes to show how necessary it is for people to talk about their sins. If you don’t have a confessional, where do you go? Many people have replaced the confessional with a bar or a psychologist’s office. Also remember, the priest absolutely cannot repeat what you tell him in confession. This is strictly enforced.

This is what the CC believes about the Sacraments and who can licitly receive them:
vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2T.HTM

Can. 840 The sacraments of the New Testament were instituted by Christ the Lord and entrusted to the Church.

As actions of Christ and the Church, they are signs and means which express and strengthen the faith, render worship to God, and effect the sanctification of humanity and thus contribute in the greatest way to establish, strengthen, and manifest ecclesiastical communion. Accordingly, in the celebration of the sacraments the sacred ministers and the other members of the Christian faithful must use the greatest veneration and necessary diligence.

Can. 842 §1. A person who has not received baptism cannot be admitted validly to the other sacraments.

§2. The sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Most Holy Eucharist are interrelated in such a way that they are required for full Christian initiation.

Can. 844 §1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and ⇒ can. 861, §2.

THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE (Reconciliation) (Cann. 959 - 997)

Can. 959 In the sacrament of penance the faithful who confess their sins to a legitimate minister, are sorry for them, and intend to reform themselves obtain from God through the absolution imparted by the same minister forgiveness for the sins they have committed after baptism and, at the same, time are reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by sinning.

Thank you:thumbsup:

 

[JohnPaul]

I disagree. The Catholic church is quite denominational. They exclued all other churches and the non-denominational church welcomes people of all denominations.

There is a LOT of Catholic-bashing that goes on in “non-denominational” faiths.

 

[6YRSHOME]

The church I attend is non-denominational. So far I’m the only one attending, but we–or I–are always open to anyone. I greet people at my front door (nobody yet), then go to the basement for the sermon, which I preach. That’s what we call ourselves: The Church in the Basement. Big drawbacks: I haven’t learned anything new from the sermons yet, and the offerings are sort of tricky to handle.

 

[DB_AND_ALI]

If only Catholics would realise their attitude to Protestants is a factor in disunity as well!

If i had it my way i would form a world body consisting of representatives from ALL the churches…and their brief would be to achieve christian unity…i say this , and you bloggers know by now that half my family is protestant and the other half catholic ; and all i have ever seen coming from both ‘camps’ is genuine love and affection ! Perhaps where you live there are only a few catholics ; or perhaps you have never met a pleasant catholic ? [HEAVEN FORBID !]. If however you do meet an unpleasant catholic , then Jesus may just expect you to reach out and give him/her a big hug…i am not lecturing you as i am faced with someone i know at work is ‘champing at the bit’ to disprove catholicism to me…he doesn’t realise my family background and is in for a pleasant surprise ! I hope you find or rather [perhaps] have found the answers you have been looking for…peace from africa !!!

 

[jack_hawkins]

If i had it my way i would form a world body consisting of representatives from ALL the churches…and their brief would be to achieve christian unity…i say this , and you bloggers know by now that half my family is protestant and the other half catholic ; and all i have ever seen coming from both ‘camps’ is genuine love and affection ! Perhaps where you live there are only a few catholics ; or perhaps you have never met a pleasant catholic ? [HEAVEN FORBID !]. If however you do meet an unpleasant catholic , then Jesus may just expect you to reach out and give him/her a big hug…i am not lecturing you as i am faced with someone i know at work is ‘champing at the bit’ to disprove catholicism to me…he doesn’t realise my family background and is in for a pleasant surprise ! I hope you find or rather [perhaps] have found the answers you have been looking for…peace from africa !!!

The biggest problem is breaking down the initial barriers I’m sure - once both sides destroy the myths and propaganda, they will see how much they have in common.
This is just a personal view, but I think sometimes we get too carried away with defending our own position and that we should leave people who are not amenable to persuasion to think what they want. If we are secure in our position with the Lord then any flaming arrows of accusation hit the breastplate of whatsitname - out of Pilgrim’s Progress anyway.
The ladies at RCIA are such a delight, they are such loyal servants of the Lord - no one could say that they are true Christians. I know equally devoted Pentecostals inc my late mother of course.
PS I went to church in South Africa during my studies, Rhema Church.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

I’m a member of a non-denominational group. It is called The Church. We are not a faction. I attend Divine Liturgy every Sunday and share in all seven sacraments. I love the successor of Peter as the vicar of Christ on earth. We didn’t break away from anyone. We are a faction of anything. We are what Christ established on earth also known as the Kingdom of God, The Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ and the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

CDL

 

[jmcrae]

I’m a member of a non-denominational group. It is called The Church. We are not a faction. I attend Divine Liturgy every Sunday and share in all seven sacraments. I love the successor of Peter as the vicar of Christ on earth. We didn’t break away from anyone. We are a faction of anything. We are what Christ established on earth also known as the Kingdom of God, The Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ and the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

CDL

Yeah, I’m in that one, too!!

 

[Janet_S]

The church I attend is non-denominational. So far I’m the only one attending, but we–or I–are always open to anyone. I greet people at my front door (nobody yet), then go to the basement for the sermon, which I preach. That’s what we call ourselves: The Church in the Basement. Big drawbacks: I haven’t learned anything new from the sermons yet, and the offerings are sort of tricky to handle.

And, of course, your church is free of the baggage of a messy past. You don’t have to deal with the scandals of the Inquisition, the Crusades, or burning heretics at the stake.

What you have done is establish a pure, untainted church; that is until you do something sinful. Then you can split from yourself, establish a newer, purer church, and start all over again.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

And, of course, your church is free of the baggage of a messy past. You don’t have to deal with the scandals of the Inquisition, the Crusades, or burning heretics at the stake.

What you have done is establish a pure, untainted church; that is until you do something sinful. Then you can split from yourself, establish a newer, purer church, and start all over again.

If one understands history one begins to understand the none of those three are really the problems they are made out to be by the enemies of Christ and His Church.

CDL

 

[StevenFrancis]

Thinking about things and listening to what Catholics have to say here, I have come to the conclusion that the only Christianity that makes any sense to me is non-denominational Christianity. Are there many non-denominational Christians here?

I’m sure there are some here. I believe all the faiths are represented here. Everybody wants to take an anonymous swing at a Catholic, after all. But would it be too much to ask what precisely has led you to this conclusion, other than “listening to what Catholics have to say here”? That’s pretty broad to be basing something so important as your faith on.

Just be fair, and let some of us here have a direct crack at answering some of your own specific interior questions, rather than making a life decision based on a driveby.

Sound reasonable? Speaking for myself, I’ll patiently answer or find you an answer for whatever you would like to ask. I can’t, of course guarantee you’ll like the answer. That’s not what life’s about. But many of here WILL guarantee to find you the truth, or the closest we can come to it, and if it is something with some wiggle room, we’ll let you know that too.

Have you been attacked somewhere along the line at this forum? I find that many who make statements like this have been. Not everybody will do that. You can ignore those who do. Easier said than done, I realize, but anyway…

What has led you to your conclusion?

Thanks and Peace,

Steven

 

[Janet_S]

On a more serious note (than my previous post, that is), it is true that Catholic churches are notoriously “cool” in their fellowship. I’ve been actually TRYING to convert for a month or so, and can’t get anyone at the church to get back to me.

I am sorry that no one got back to you at the local CC, but please keep trying.

I suggest you make an appointment to speak with the priest or deacon. If you have no luck with one parish, try another.

I was a member of the RCIA team, and I would have been thrilled to have someone like you in my class.

And I think you are right. Catholic churches are not as warm as some of the Protestant ones. I’m not sure why it is this way, but it shouldn’t be. We could learn a few things from our Protestant brothers and sisters.

 

[jmcrae]

On a more serious note (than my previous post, that is), it is true that Catholic churches are notoriously “cool” in their fellowship. I’ve been actually TRYING to convert for a month or so, and can’t get anyone at the church to get back to me.

Keep trying.

If your parish is like most, you are competing with literally thousands of other people for your priest’s attention.

Meanwhile, keep coming to Mass, and make yourself known to the priest at the coffee hour (this is not the time to do the interview, though - let the office schedule the interview - but if he recognizes your name, then it may get to the top of the list a little quicker).

 

[ohiocatholic07]

proud triumphalism

One thing I always liked about being Catholic is that I never heard a homily where the priest made a reference or little cut about another denomination in order to make a point.

There are large non-denominational groups in the USA like Campus Crusade for Christ. I first learned about them during my freshman year of college when some of their members knocked on my dorm and tried to convert me to Christianity.:banghead:

 

[levi86]

Read “Mere Christianity” - and it isn’t “christianity” but Christianity.

It is somewhat disconcerting when you take the works of a fiction writer as authorities. A church truly founded upon Christ has a very clear understanding of authority. Firstly there is a clear hierarchy of authority in order to maintain order and theological consistency

Acts 15 Council of Jerusalem

James 5:14
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

Acts 14:23
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

I Timothy 3:1, 5
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work…For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Secondly, there is a firm understanding that the laity is not permitted to decide for themselves on matters of faith and morals,

I Peter 5:1-2
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Hebrews 13:7, 17
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.…Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Does your church resemble the biblical church with respect to authority? Do you submit yourself to any authority other than your own interpretation of scripture?

 

[awantz]

Which teachings would those be?

I don’t know what you are asking.

 

[awantz]

Originally Posted by jmcrae
I am not talking about individuals. When did an entire denomination forswear its heresies, attempt to reunite with the Church, and was refused?

Which are the heresies that you think should be abandoned by the Catholics?

What are heresies? My Chatholic husband doesn’t even know.

 

[awantz]

There is a LOT of Catholic-bashing that goes on in “non-denominational” faiths.

I don’t know what you are talking about. There is no Catholic bashing going on at my church.

 

[guanophore]

I don’t know what you are asking.

If you click on that little blue arrow, it will take you back to the post being referenced. But, I will past it here:

Originally Posted by awantz
.

They are commited to their teachins. It is just that the Catholic teachings are very similar to ours. He doesn’t teach Catholicisim to them. They let him work with the kids, usher, be a greeter, and other things like that.

I was wondering what teachings were alike or different. I actually found your answer in another post after I left this.