Anyone may answer, but for Christians, especially non-denominational Christians..?

Question

Again, I will say, first and foremost I respect all beliefs, but stand strongly by my own. I recieved many wonderful answers to my question posted here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

I recieved one answer that I thought was particularly interesting. It basically stated that being non-denominational doesn't exist, you are just creating another denomination? I agree with this from some points and from other points I don't. Please give your opinions on this. Thank you so much, and God bless!!

Kiara

p.s. (yes i realize i have already posted this question, but i believe i put the title in wrong wording so people took offense, which I didn't mean to do)

Answer 1

I blogged about this and poured over the idea for a while...here are my thoughts:

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition: A large group of religious congregations united under a common faith and name and organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy.

WordNet ® 2.0: a group of religious congregations having its own organization and a distinctive faith

Wikitionary.org: A class, or society of individuals, called by the same name; a sect; as, a denomination of Christians.

Wikichristian.org: Although there is only one universal Christian Church, there are tens of thousands of Christian denominations or churches. These denominations have formed and divided since the time of Christ, because Christians have had differences in beliefs and practices. Some of the main groups include the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Roman Catholic Church, Protestant churches, and Pentecostal churches.

Wikipedia: Religious Denominations

A religious denomination, (also simply denomination) is a large, long-established subgroup within a religion that has existed for many years. However, in Islam such subgroups are referred to as "sects", not denominations.

Denominations usually have a significant degree of authority over their member congregations, although the term is also used to describe religious groups when the congregations have authority over the "denomination", such as Congregationalist church governance such as the Unitarian Universalist Association, the United Church of Christ, the Disciples of Christ and the numerous Baptist associations.

Denominations often form slowly over time for many reasons; due to historical accidents of geography, culture, and influence between different groups, members of a given religion slowly begin to diverge in their views. Over time members of a religion may find that they have developed significantly different views on theology, philosophy, religious pluralism, ethics and religious practices and rituals. As such, in any of a myriad of ways, different denominations eventually form. In other cases, denominations form very rapidly, either as a result from a split or schism in an existing denomination, or as people from many different denominations share an experience of spiritual revival or spiritual awakening, and choose to form a new denomination based on that new experience or understanding.

Wikipedia: Christian Denominations

Expressions of Christianity, in modern times, exist under diverse names. These variously named groups, Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Catholics, etc. are colloquially called denominations.Some denominations are large (e.g. Roman Catholic, Lutherans, Anglicans or Baptists) while others are just a few small churches, and in most cases the relative size is not evident in this list. Also, modern movements such as Fundamentalist Christianity, Pietism, Evangelicalism, Pentecostalism and the Holiness movement sometimes cross denominational lines, or in some cases create new denominations out of two or more continuing groups (as is the case for many United and uniting churches, for example). Such subtleties and complexities are not clearly depicted here.


What Is a Denomination? By D. Gene West

...As a matter of fact, when one begins to read the history of the religion called "Christianity," he will find that from almost the time of its beginning heresies arose in the midst of Christians that eventually divided the church and formed new churches, or what we call denominations. The biblical word for heresy and heretics has reference to those teachings (doctrines) and teachers who "split" the early church with their false views, forming new denominations...

...The source (dictionary) then names a religious body as an example. However, when this has been said, we have insufficient information to really tell us what a denomination is. Two other important things must be added. (1) There must be an organizational concept added into which the local churches are drawn for the purposes of identification and function. Hence, denominations are organized collections of churches. (2) There is collective function (government) or activity.

...Still another characteristic of a denomination is that it has some kind of formal creed that sets forth, usually in few words, the fundamental beliefs of that body....

...In addition to these things, denominations wear special and peculiar names that designate such things as one of their outstanding ceremonies (baptism), their form of church government
(presbyterian), the name of the person whom they claim as founder....

The common thread in all of these statements goes back to the first two definitions that I gave: faith and organization. Faith is the common beliefs that a group of churches large or small have in common, and organization is how they unite themselves together. Even these characteristics of denominations still leave a great deal of ambiguity. It seems that it would allow for a denomination of denominations. Such a group would be something like he Baptist World Alliance which is a grouping of smaller Baptist denominations from all over the world. And even larger than that is the World Council of Churches. These structures are somewhat stratified, but there are also networks of churches, such as the Willow Creek Association. This group is formed from churches that are part of other groupings. Overall, the term denomination is somewhat ambiguous.

Because of the perceived trappings and discontentment with denominational thinking, some churches have declared themselves nondenominational. Nondenominational means "not restricted to a particular religious denomination." A nondenominational church then under this context in does not subscribe to a particular grouping, but is independent. In order to truly be nondenominational, the particular church could not cooperate on any level with any church. If the church were to agree with another church on a common goal, and pooled their resources (monetary or not) with another church to accomplish the task then they would in essence be part of a denomination. Even nondenominational churches, although they may not officially subscribe to a particular sect, often doctrinally will agree with a particular denomination, although the denomination may not be officially a denomination, such as Baptists.

Interestingly enough, many mainline denomination where formed based on the doctrinal persuasions of certain theologians although they themselves had no desire to be separatists.

Martin Luther: "I ask that men make no reference to my name, and call themselves not Lutherans, but Christians. What is Luther? My doctrine, I am sure, is not mine, nor have I been crucified for any one. St. Paul, in 1 Cor. 3, would not allow Christians to call themselves Pauline or Petrine, but Christian. How then should I, poor, foul carcass that I am, come to have men give to the children of Christ a name derived from my worthless name? No, no, my dear friends; let us abolish all party names, and call ourselves Christians after Him Whose doctrine we have."

John Wesley: "Would to God that all party names, and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world, were forgot and that the very name [Methodist] might never be mentioned more, but be buried in eternal oblivion."

Anti-denominational thinking among Baptist is nothing new. Charles Spurgeon wished that the Baptist name would disappear. "I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptist living! I hope that the Baptist name will soon perish, but let Christ's name last forever." The idea of only church denomination being the church that Jesus started in the first century is nothing new either. Their are many denomination that trace their lineage back to this church and not through the schisms that happened over the centuries.

I personally have mixed feelings about denominations, even my own the SBC. But anytime there is a group of churches gathered together whether 2 or 200,000, there is always going to be bickering and politics involved. Cooperation at the cost of politics may be the only way to cooperate. And avoiding cooperation because of politics doesn't seem to be biblical and downright impossible in some regards. I do like what C.S. Lewis said, "Our divisions should never be discussed except in the presence of those who have already come to believe that there is one God and that Jesus Christ is his only Son." If somehow those who have never believed could see the church without seeing the denominations and schisms, then it would be great. And rather than trying to share the Baptist Faith and Message with someone, I think I would be better off sharing the gospel.

Answer 2

Non-denominational is a denomination in itself.

Here are some definitions I found online.

(uncountable) The act of naming or designating.

(countable) That by which anything is denominated or styled; an epithet; a name, designation, or title; especially, a general name indicating a class of like individuals; a category; as, the denomination of units, or of thousands, or of fourths, or of shillings, or of tons.

(countable) A class, or society of individuals, called by the same name; a sect; as, a denomination of Christians.

According to the first definition, when they "name" a church non-denominational, they are giving it a denomination.

Seems a little confusing, doesn't it.

Although non-denominational churches often say that they do not preach the doctrine of any certain denomination, when the Bible is preached, doctrine, or a set of teachings, has to be preached.

The definition of the word church is a body of believers which have similiar beliefs, customs, and doctrines.

So, according to the definitions of these two words, when a church designates itself as non-denominational, it is, therefore, creating its own denomination.

Perhaps, a better name, and one not so confusing would be "independent". It would designate that these churches stand alone, apart from any major denomination, or church associations.

Hope this helps a little.

Signed,
The Old Time Preacher.

Any time you would like to discuss this further, feel free to e-mail me at [e-mail].

Answer 3

Here's a question for ya'. Do you think there are denominations in heaven? If you were to move to a new town, would you go to a church because of it's denomination? Or would you "shop around", so to speak, and find a church that speaks the gospel that you can plug into and get God's work done?

... I have always considered myself non-denominational and have pretty much always gone to non-denominational churches. In fact, I just realized, I answer that way when asked. But... I go to a baptist church.

I only consider one denomination, the one that teaches that Jesus is the son of God, He died for our sins, and rose in three days. He is alive today petitioning for us. That's something that we just can't disagree on.

Answer 4

No, that person has it backwards. Denominationalism is something Jesus prayed would not happen. The Bible predicted that it will happen and warns against it. In the first century, there was only One church. Over the years, Satan has divided religions into the numerous sects we have today. The word "denomination" signifies a part of a whole, a class, or division. When one searches the Scriptures he finds that no where is it suggested that the church of our blessed Lord is made up of divisions. Our Lord prayed for unity-- the very opposite of division. Jesus died for unity, not division. Before Jesus' death all men fell into two classes, Jew and Gentile. There was enmity between the two. Our Lord reconciled "both in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Eph. 2:15-16). Consider this...if Jesus died that men might not be "two," how could He be pleased with men being divided into thousands of denominations?

Answer 5

Hi Kiara,
I too am non-denominational and believe me there is such a thing. it simply means that we follow strictly whats in the Bible and nothing else. we dont have a pope or anything like that because God is our leader. you are Not creating another denomination because well we are NON-denominational. Im glad that there is more people out there that believe the same beliefs as my friends and me. Bless You!

Answer 6

recently at a very unprofessional job during my "probation" I was asked if I was a "believer" I said yes but kept it vague

they pressed, and I said I believe in the person and acts of Jesus, and they said "non denominational?" I said- Sure.

they still pressed...if you died right now, do you know where you would go, Heaven or Hell?

I said no way of knowing, only believing. If I really died it wouldn't matter too late and then take it from there

They flipped out and deemed me not a believer. I told them believing would not get me a paycheck, actions and my knowledge or application of my skills would. They did understand that, however. Cons are not welcome there, but they believed in a con scheeme without proof or evidence based on thier greed and selfishness which is inherent. (Paul says Christ is selfless, so should we, but we are motivated by selfishness to save our butt from a hell and have to believe in a hell and purchase fire insurance with a confession and statement for payment)

My point is (besides I quit thier probation period as it was not for me) they found and pushed for a point of division (denomination) and it's hard to view any religion without focussing on differences rather than similarities or common denominators

I am speaking mathmatically

just the word Christian is a denomination in itself

it separates with a cut ----- Us/Them

it's funny Jesus wasn't a Christian...he just lived his acts and became the miracle, just like we can

There is currently 41,000 variables of "Christianity" today and rising exponentially

all mathmatical puns were very intentional..., for all intents and purposes

Answer 7

HI VW.... while i'm not sure, I know that First Baptist's are usually a great community. I want to echo the sentiments about "pastor chris", sadly, on this board all he has shown is a hate and contempt for anyone who doesn't think exactly like himself. It's pretty scary and a wicked throw back to harder times. While I am Catholic, I have numerous friends who are Baptist and none of them have ever shown the concept and hatred of this man. I have also have the joy of working with the First Baptist pastors conference for 6 years as well as Mt Zion Baptist's. If there are either of those parishes in your neck of the woods.... I know they would welcome you with open arms!

Answer 8

I think the Non Denominational are Christians that are tired of belonging to a denomination. Large denominations are controlling and you cant vary from their teachings. Names don't mean anything to me, except I consider myself Pentecostal.

Answer 9

Yes non-denominational does exist - I don't belong to any denomination - I belong to the Church that Jesus created while He was here.

Answer 10

I believe it will be denominational... trying to link to your question.

It will be denominational inthe regards that the "leader" will have a set of beliefs that will be fostered. I say that, because there will be a leader. And unless he is swayed by every wind and doctrine that is presented.... it will become denominational.

Sorry I still can't link to your question..... the system is busy.....

Answer 11

I think there is value in being non-denominational in that you show at least in principle that you do not want to push your own group above others. Our group tries not to have a name because we want to be part of something bigger, but people keep wanting to tag us because it is convenient.