Think about it. we start off with christianity. there are different sects of it, catholic, lutherian, methodist,etc., each have values that allow them to be different. non-denominational follows its own rule and forms its own name under christianity, its own sect, its own denomination. (anyway, wasn't catholicism 1st and therefore everyone else sprang off them? forcing catholicism to be labeled as a denomination) PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTION IN ( ) IN ( ) SO I CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE. THAT WOULD BE SWELL.
2006-10-17 16:35:25 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think that some of them are evolving into their own denomination. They claim to be non-denominational, but can you go in there and pray the rosary? Would the service look Anglican or Presbyterian? No. In every one of them I've been into, they're Fundamentalist in their outlook and modes of worship. Which means that, while technically non-denominational, they're not broadly encompassing all of Christian practice, either. You can expect a certain type of worship in these churches, which would be the hallmark of sectarian religious practice.
2006-10-17 16:47:17 · answer #1 · answered by thaliax 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, your correct it could become another denomination.
We need to go back to the book of Acts to answer this question. They were the first real church and no they were not catholic. The catholic church made this link by claiming their first pope from Peter because Jesus said 'Upon this rock I will build my church' I don't see this connection and this was not said in scripture and I for one don't believe this.
The christians in the book of Acts were true followers of Christ and did not label themselves as catholic, protestant etc. The protestant movement only arose as a backlash against the early catholic church that was repressing the people and keeping them in darkness not allowing them to read the bible in their own language etc. Have a look at Martin Luther and the reformation if you are interested.
This is why when someone asks me what I believe I say I am a christian and don't tell them my denomination because it doesn't matter.
The true and only church is not a denomination or a building but a worldwide group of authentic followers of Christ. It doesn't matter is your catholic, baptist whatever - that isn't what saves you - the only thing that saves us is faith in Christ and the penalty he paid for our sins on calvary.
2006-10-17 23:48:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You made the statement, "they all start off with Christianity". The key is to never leave that pure beginning, and if you have found out you have left it, to restore it.
This is exactly what the church of Christ is trying to do. We don't want to hold onto any man-made doctrine. We don't want to reform a man-made church. We want to restore the church as it was at its beginning.
Notice in Acts 2, about 3000 all heard the same message. They understood it the same way, believed it the same way, and obeyed it the same way and became Christians, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Then they "continued steadfastly" in the same doctrine.
This is the type of unity that Paul pleaded for in 1 Corinthians 1:10. Notice what he said:
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
How do we get back to this unity? We speak where the Bible speaks, we remain silent where the Bible is silent, we do Bible things in Bible ways and we call Bible things by bible names. In short we rely on the scriptures as our source of authority.
The scriptures can be used for our doctrine, to correct error, and to teach truth. Using them this way we can be completely furnished with everything we need to know to serve God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) What man-made doctrine can improve on this?
Truth can be known (John 8:32) and it must be studied and handled correctly! (2 Timothy 2:15) All Christians should return to the only truly non-denominational doctrine there is, the Bible!
2006-10-21 21:51:00 · answer #3 · answered by JoeBama 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The difference is that a denomination is led by a structured organization of leadership. For example, you have national leaders of all the major protestant denominations, to include The Assembly of God and the Southern Baptist Church.
A non-denominational church has no centralized or structured control. It is based on the bible and is affilliated, only loosely, with other churches, to include denominational churches. Non-denominational churches.
2006-10-17 23:49:09 · answer #4 · answered by Privratnik 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After reading everyone's answer, I have to agree more with you than the others.
The statements "we don't follow a denomination we follow the Bible." aren't quite true.
From talking to many who go to Non denomination churches (one of the benefits of being a Jehovah's Witness)
I have found that they believe what their minister says about the bible.
If they don't like or agree with this minister they change churches to find a minister who teaches their interpretation of the bible.
As to the Catholic Church, they weren't the first.
The first century Christians were, The Catholic Church came about in the 4th Century.
I've found that Non denomination Churches are denominations without a name.
2006-10-18 18:55:32 · answer #5 · answered by TeeM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are ALL denominations IF the denominations are $10, $20, $50 & $100......
2006-10-18 00:07:18 · answer #6 · answered by More Lies & More Smoke Screens 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"(anyway, wasn't catholicism 1st and therefore everyone else sprang off them? "
No. The catholic Church would like you to believe they were first. Just study history for the truth. The catholic leaders have done more harm than good though out history.
2006-10-18 00:56:18 · answer #7 · answered by SEOplanNOW.com 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Non denominational churches have no denomination.
The denomination churches pick a few passages and build a doctrine off it.
Non-denom...take the Bible as the Word of God. They don't add or ignore any other passages. Martin Luther who started the "Protest" against the Catholic church, read the Bible and learned the truth. He told other people to read the Bible for themselves. When I was a Catholic, the Priest was to "read" and interpret the Bible for us. The Priest was who we confessed to instead of going directly to God. When I became "born again" and the Bible came alive, I realized the difference. I was trying to find out where the Pope and bishops were in the Bible, etc. I realized that the Catholic church had too many barriers to God where Bible believing non-denom churches let you read God's word and talk to Him directly.
If you belong to a "denomination" you have to learn their "rules" and "beliefs". Now that I don't have a "denomination", I read the Bible and believe all of it.
2006-10-17 23:55:42 · answer #8 · answered by megmom 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Non-denominational Churches follow no edicts of Church leaders or elders. They follow the Bible and every decision is referenced by the Bible. It is true that all religions began this way, but non-denominational actually put a great deal of effort into following what the Bible says only and not allowing a great deal of interpretation by man.
2006-10-17 23:44:12 · answer #9 · answered by reformed 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A "non-denominational church" is an oxymoron. Even if the denomination is a single church it's still a denomination.
AND the Catholic Church WAS first and thus is the only true non-denominational church in existence.
2006-10-17 23:46:19 · answer #10 · answered by Dysthymia 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋