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18th November 2010, 01:31 PM
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Reps: 579,001,527,035,067,776 (power: 579,001,527,035,071) | | Originally Posted by Faulty  My church, Calvary Chapel, considers themselves a non-denominational church. Sometimes I wonder why, but then I realize I really couldn't care less.
I consider myself non-denominational because I can (and have) attend a baptist church without agreeing with them on every gift of the Spirit matter, and I can (and have) attend a Weslyan church and not agree on their doctrine on the loss of salvation, and I can (and have) attend a charismatic church and not have to agree that I must bark like a dog to be "spiritual".
So, that's what non-denominational means to me, that I'm not bound to the beliefs of any particular denomination. I tend to agree with you on this subject! |
18th November 2010, 02:12 PM
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Reps: 830,516,638,748,403,072 (power: 0) | | The term "non-denominational" is commonly misunderstood. All it means is that a church is not affiliated with a larger organization. The term has nothing to do with doctrine, really. A church can have an identical statement of beliefs to that of the AOG, but if it's not officially associated with the AoG, then it's non-denominational.
Most non-denominational churches have statements of beliefs - usually available on their websites - just like the denominational churches do.
And being affiliated with a denomination doesn't guarantee that you're going to know what a church believes on certain issues. Even within denominations there are some variances in beliefs. There are some things that some of us believe are essential and important that never show up on the statement of beliefs (e.g. whether women can be church leaders). And not every church in any given denomination believes the same on those issues.
The only way to know for sure what a church believes and teaches is to attend the church for at least year. That's true whether it's denominational or not.
Originally Posted by JimB She still preferred a non-denominational church.
Did you ask her why?
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18th November 2010, 03:13 PM
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Reps: 1,053,806,370,079,596,032 (power: 1,053,806,370,079,612) | | Originally Posted by Faulty My church, Calvary Chapel, considers themselves a non-denominational church. Sometimes I wonder why, but then I realize I really couldn't care less.
I consider myself non-denominational because I can (and have) attend a baptist church without agreeing with them on every gift of the Spirit matter, and I can (and have) attend a Weslyan church and not agree on their doctrine on the loss of salvation, and I can (and have) attend a charismatic church and not have to agree that I must bark like a dog to be "spiritual".
So, that's what non-denominational means to me, that I'm not bound to the beliefs of any particular denomination.
Perfect explanation and one that I agree with.
The non-denominational churches that I have attended had beautiful worship and wonderful words of wisdom and all about our Jesus and did not overflow with legalism.
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18th November 2010, 03:18 PM
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Reps: 1,053,806,370,079,596,032 (power: 1,053,806,370,079,612) | | Originally Posted by Faulty My church, Calvary Chapel, considers themselves a non-denominational church. Sometimes I wonder why, but then I realize I really couldn't care less.
I consider myself non-denominational because I can (and have) attend a baptist church without agreeing with them on every gift of the Spirit matter, and I can (and have) attend a Weslyan church and not agree on their doctrine on the loss of salvation, and I can (and have) attend a charismatic church and not have to agree that I must bark like a dog to be "spiritual".
So, that's what non-denominational means to me, that I'm not bound to the beliefs of any particular denomination.
I totally agree with this.
The non-denominational churches I have attended had beautiful worship- wonderful words about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and did not overflow with legalism.
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18th November 2010, 03:31 PM
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Reps: 773,353,004,994,476,928 (power: 773,353,004,994,510) | | Originally Posted by SharonL I totally agree with this.
The non-denominational churches I have attended had beautiful worship- wonderful words about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and did not overflow with legalism. You're fortunate. I know some “independent” non-denominational churches in our region that are a legalist throwback to the 1940’s. One is a Oneness church that does not believe in the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. IMO, the name non-denominational means nothing. A non-denominational church could be anything, even a cult. ~Jim Love God. Love people. Period.
__________________ An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it. ~Jef Mallett It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them. ~Pierre Beaumarchais
Last edited by JimB; 18th November 2010 at 03:46 PM.
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18th November 2010, 03:45 PM
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Reps: 280,254,032,124,875,328 (power: 280,254,032,124,878) | | Originally Posted by SharonL The non-denominational churches I have attended had beautiful worship- wonderful words about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and did not overflow with legalism.
Same here.
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18th November 2010, 04:27 PM
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Reps: 517,129,023,310,743,552 (power: 517,129,023,310,748) | | Originally Posted by JimB You're fortunate. I know some “independent” non-denominational churches in our region that are a legalist throwback to the 1940’s. One is a Oneness church that does not believe in the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. IMO, the name non-denominational means nothing. A non-denominational church could be anything, even a cult. ~Jim Love God. Love people. Period.
Same here...there's a few around here you couldn't pay me to be a member of.
One, some friends of ours started going to several years ago and invited us...we had just left another church...go and visit, my friends had told the pastor that I was a music minister, so he asked me to sing...next thing I know he's trying to convince us to join and be the music minister there...something didn't seem right so I told him I'd pray about it...we visited a few more times, then I find out the Sunday School superintendent is a convicted child molester...the last time my wife and I walked in there I had an image flash before me of all the congregation having an orgy...I knew that was it, and we turned around and went home.
Come to find out a few months later the "church" was forced out of the neighborhood they were in...ended up moving into an old school building until they were forced out of there as well...I can only imagine what was going on. |
18th November 2010, 04:32 PM
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Reps: 136,831,488,553,016,608 (power: 136,831,488,553,033) | | Originally Posted by Big Drew Same here...there's a few around here you couldn't pay me to be a member of.
One, some friends of ours started going to several years ago and invited us...we had just left another church...go and visit, my friends had told the pastor that I was a music minister, so he asked me to sing...next thing I know he's trying to convince us to join and be the music minister there...something didn't seem right so I told him I'd pray about it...we visited a few more times, then I find out the Sunday School superintendent is a convicted child molester...the last time my wife and I walked in there I had an image flash before me of all the congregation having an orgy...I knew that was it, and we turned around and went home.
Come to find out a few months later the "church" was forced out of the neighborhood they were in...ended up moving into an old school building until they were forced out of there as well...I can only imagine what was going on.
Wow
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18th November 2010, 04:39 PM
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Reps: 517,129,023,310,743,552 (power: 517,129,023,310,748) | | Originally Posted by imperfectchristian Wow
Yeah it was creepy...our friends that were going there ended up getting a divorce...he had started sleeping around on her and she had started using drugs again...the pastor, who preferred to be called apostle, wanted all of the women to wear revealing clothing...he had some really strange teachings on the end times, can't remember all of them...but he had some idea about the mark of the beast being the veins in people's hands and foreheads twisting into the shape 666...they always kept a candle burning at the altar...I didn't know this, and I think it was the second time we visited we stayed after service because the pastor wanted to talk with us...he's turning off the lights and I go over to blow out the candle and his wife starts screaming, "No!! You'll blow the spirit out!" I was like, "Oooookaaaaay." |
18th November 2010, 04:47 PM
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Reps: 517,129,023,310,743,552 (power: 517,129,023,310,748) | | Oh another thing about this church...it's name was Masada...for those that don't know about Masada... The rampart was complete in the spring of 73, after probably two to three months of siege, allowing the Romans to finally breach the wall of the fortress with a battering ram on April 16. [5] When they entered the fortress, however, the Romans discovered that its 960 inhabitants had set all the buildings but the food storerooms ablaze and committed mass suicide. Masada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia | | |
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