isn't non-denominational still a denomination?

Question

i'll admit that i'm ignorant here, but i really want to know. how exactly does a non-denominational church operate? does it have it's own specific procedure that it follows for each service, or is it more of a potluck of all religions? in either case, it's still unique only to the non-denominational church. so what makes a non-denominational church non-denominational?

serena, so you're saying that they have practices that are unique to churches that are specifically non-denominational, right? doesn't that mean it's a denomination then?

Answer 1

very good question. i asked it once also,but i only got one answer,so i erased it. :)
Non-denominational,i think,its just a Christian church - simple as that. It may include several elements from some denominations but very few.
Non-denominational churches believe that Christianity is a relationship,not a religion,and that religion is like a "thief",putting people in bondage in terms of how grace operates in their lives,the way they worship, the way they manifest their belief out of the church,they way the pastor preaches,etc.

I wouldnt say non-deno.churches are a potluck of all religions. Their pastors and deacons decide the services "procedures".
I often listen to sermons preached by a non-deno. pastor (from singapore). He often mentiones they have their worship and prayer time,followed by the sermon and the Holy Communion.
I think their procedures are just a matter of option - they decide the services procedures. But i dont think they use this freedom in order to look more "unique" or different. They`re just Christians . Their authority is the Bible.

Answer 2

No, non-denominational churches are NOT a denomination in and of themselves. A denomination is a group of like minded churches. They carry the same doctrine, the same thinking. The doctrine is accepted among all that share that denominational name. If you walked into a United Methodist church in Georgia and then to one in New York, they will believe the same thing. They support the same doctrine.

A non-denominational church means they do not adhere to ANY particular denomination. They hold their own beliefs, own doctrine, practices, and so on. They are unlike any other church. The idea is having much more of a free style of worship and free style of belief rather than being bogged down by traditions. That is the way that it is seen by many people. Non-denom. churches are all different. They are founded by someone and started by someone. They all have a different history and different set of beliefs. They are not a denomination. Some people want to say that they are all one denomination because they are all called 'non-denominational'. That isn't true. They are called this because they do not adhere to ANY established denomination.

They all operate in different ways. They do have their own procedure and worship style. Most of them are a contemporary, and more laid-back style of worship. That is what is just been the trend with many of them. It doesn't mean that is what connects them all. It's just how it ended up. It isn't a potluck of all religions or denominations. They are Christian churches that choose not to be associated with any denomination. I hope this answers your question.

Answer 3

Many "non-denominational" churches are still denominational.

A denomination is larger than the local church, but smaller than the church universal. A single congregation by itself is not a denomination. The church as a whole. the church that Jesus built, is also not a denomination.

If a local church (which is not a denomination) goes directly to the bible and follows the things that were taught to the church of the Bible (which is not a denomination), then they are truly non-denominational. To be denominational, there has to be some organization or authority between the local church and Christ's church as a whole. There has to be some man-made organization or authority.

The reason some churches that call themselves "non-denominational" are still denominational is because they have chosen to adopt the doctrine of some denomination, or they have chosen a doctrine for themselves that does not come from the Word of God, but it comes from men.

They have, whether they recognize it or not, adopted some layer of authority between the local church and God's word.

Many "non-denominational" churches have broken off from established denominations because of some personal conflicts, but they keep mainly the same denominational doctrine. They, therefore are still denominational because of what they teach or practice.

To be truly "non-denominational" we should speak what the Bible speaks, be silent (in our doctrine) where the Bible is silent, do Bible things in Bible ways, and call Bible things by Bible names! (1 Cor. 1:10, Col. 3:17) If we do that, we are following the Word of God and not the authority of some man-made organization.

Answer 4

A denomination spouts off into interpreting the bible in different ways. A non-denominational church avoids all the major issues and lets the individual decide. Non-denominational can't be a denomination because all the churches under this category are different where as, all 7th Day Baptists believe in the 7th Day Baptist Doctrine. Non-denominational churches don't have a nation wide doctrine, each church has it's own set of ideas.

Answer 5

Not really, but I do not care about that. I attend a non-denominational church where they keep the Bible as the center of the teaching and they lead people to a life changing and life saving connection with Jesus Christ. We have contemporary Christian music, I just love to worship God in my church.

I have a Lutheran background, so I was baptized as a baby and confirmed at 15. However, now I believe that we are God's own until we reach the age of accountability, and the baptism should come after you decide to follow Jesus. So I was baptized again as an adult.

This church has taught me to seek God. Church is not a building, it is a community of the people. The church is a hospital for sinners. To me it is important that they teach the literal truth about the Bible. : )

Answer 6

Denominations, or sects as they are often called, generally rise within a religion as particular tenets are disagreed upon. i.e. Baptists believe that baptism should occur in adulthood, rather than in childhood as in other denominations. A non-denominational church simply takes the basic tenets of that religion, that apply to most denominations, or may offer all the different facilities for a range of denominations. To sum it up, a non-denomiational church is created for people of that religion, regardless of denomination.

Answer 7

If you really want an answer. Non-denominational churches accept no authority except the Bible. There are no national organizational groups. Each congreation chooses its own leadership. Elders and Deacons who meet biblical qualifications. Worships in its on manner as closely as possible to the way early Christians did, meaning those who actually knew Christ and neither adds (prophets) nor subtracts from the New Testament message. There is a lot more but I will never know it all.

Answer 8

sure, your ultimate suited it would desire to grow to be yet another denomination. we would desire to bypass lower back to the e book of Acts to respond to this question. They have been the 1st actual church and no they weren't catholic. The catholic church made this link via claiming their first pope from Peter simply by fact Jesus suggested 'Upon this rock i'm going to construct my church' i do no longer see this connection and this replaced into no longer suggested in scripture and that i for one don't have faith this. The christians contained in the e book of Acts have been actual followers of Christ and did no longer label themselves as catholic, protestant and so on. The protestant circulate purely arose as a backlash against the early catholic church that replaced into repressing the folk and keeping them in darkness no longer permitting them to make sure the bible of their very own language and so on. study Martin Luther and the reformation in case you have an pastime. for this reason whilst somebody asks me what i've got faith I say i'm a christian and don't tell them my denomination simply by fact this is not important. the actual and purely church isn't a denomination or a development yet a international team of genuine followers of Christ. this is not important is your catholic, baptist regardless of - that may not what saves you - the sole difficulty that saves us is faith in Christ and the penalty he paid for our sins on calvary.

Answer 9

i'm glad you're interested. to me, the answer is pretty simple.

a denomination says "(right or wrong), 'This' is what we believe." they get organized and say that "'This person'(ie the pope) is in charge." they don't want to hear anything else.

nondenomination says "we have no leader but god. we follow no man. if i'm wrong, show me in the bible and i'll change my thinking accordingly."

Nondenomination is based on faith rather than on Religion

it's a question of organization (or eh, nonorganization).

it's like religion - politics = nondenomination

got it?

Answer 10

I say it is...even though a non-denominational church calls itself non-denominational...I think they're still just another denomination...