Isn't Non-denominational Christianity self-contradictory?

[Silly Uncle Wayne]

Or maybe they consider themselves Christians first and foremost. Perhaps we should refrain from assuming the worst about our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I think that Albion was pointing out that their comments meant that it they identified as Roman Catholic first and foremost, so to put up the vague title of ‘Christian’ is wrong.

Using Christian means either you don’t identify as one particular denomination or that your denomination is not a factor in discussion. If both of those are untrue, you are intentionally deceiving others about your motivations in discussions.

 

[Albion]

Or maybe they consider themselves Christians first and foremost.

Yes, but that applies to almost all of us here!

So, while it is true, saying that and nothing more specific than that helps no one except perhaps the occasional atheist or Muslim who is more likely posting on a different thread anyway.

 

[Albion]

Maybe you could stop taking jabs at fellow Christians just because they don’t identify the way you want them to.

Well, you totally misunderstood what I wrote, Phil.

 

[Doulos 7]

I was talking about that with a friend (she got mad). I mean they claim they want to be just like the Church of the New Testament when most of them have their own theology that set them apart from other form of Christianity (even among themselves), specially the Apostolic Churches.

The root of denomination is to denominate or divide from something many of these "non-denominational" churches in there honesty know that they are a division of another church!!!

 

[Phil 1:21]

Well, you totally misunderstood what I wrote, Phil.

Perhaps, when you accused them of trying to fool people you intended it as a compliment?

 

[Albion]

The root of denomination is to denominate or divide from something many of these "non-denominational" churches in there honesty know that they are a division of another church!!!

I don't think we can say that they are a division of another church. Which one would it be, then?

But by the same token, I don't think we can say that they are not one more segment of the fractured body that is Christianity in just the same way that congregations which have a denominational affiliation are.

 

[Albion]

Perhaps, when you accused them of trying to fool people you intended it as a compliment?

You're running off in all directions now, Phil. Just read the original post with care.

 

[RDKirk]

I am non-denominational because I don't trust any other human on this planet, especially with the trajectory of my soul. Learning from others is no problem, and fellowship is paramount to growth. But, the division that says I am not allowed to read this book, or to interpret that book is what I do not condone.

My Father, and the Redeemer don't need me to be a part of an edifice full of people to receive His instruction and comfort - He has already told us He sent us a Comforter, and the Kingdom is within us. It is my responsibility to correctly divide the Word of the Most High God - I cannot say my pastor led me astray on Judgment day; the Most High God will ask me why I let a human lead me astray.

Also, by definition, denomination is division. Christianity, as it were, is supposed to be about unity.

This works to the extent that a non-denom can have fellowship with other non-denoms, rather than being a non-denom that denies other non-denoms.

 

[Kaon]

This works to the extent that a non-denom can have fellowship with other non-denoms, rather than being a non-denom that denies other non-denoms.

They can fellowship until you talk about beliefs. Then the "fun" begins.

It goes from being a brother or sister in Christ, to being spiritually derelict.

 

[Phil 1:21]

By contrast, I have gotten into discussions with people who listed themselves as "Christian," but their responses were very unspecific. Only well into the thread did it come out that they thought that the RCC was the one true church and the only one for them. That's fine--their preferences--but why fool everyone and make the exchange of ideas confused?

You're running off in all directions now, Phil. Just read the original post with care.

I'm only going by what you posted.

 

[Albion]

I'm only going by what you posted.

You've given up on the ridiculous accusation that I supposedly claimed Catholics are not Christians, then? That's a start!

 

[Tigger45]

Its common knowledge that there are a multitude of Christian sects and traditions, whos number increase almost daily. That when using a specific Christian sect title it doesn’t send the message that that person is saying that they are something other or less than what they have found as the best example of how the original church portrait themselves as from the beginning. Using the title such as Lutheran obviously sends the message that they are Christian but also much more depending on the other person’s knowledge of the tradition.

 

[parousia70]

I was talking about that with a friend (she got mad). I mean they claim they want to be just like the Church of the New Testament when most of them have their own theology that set them apart from other form of Christianity (even among themselves), specially the Apostolic Churches.

It's Easy to test their claim to be "Just like the Church of the New Testament"

The Church of scripture is one united ecclesial body (Eph 4:3-4; Eph 4:13-16; Jn 17:21; Mt 16:18) without schismatic divisions (1 Cor 12:25; Rom 16:17; 1 Cor 1:10; Jude 1:19; Gal 5:20; 3 John 1:9-10), with one teaching for all the churches (Acts 15:22-23,25,28/Acts 16:4-5; 1 Tim 1:3; 1 Cor 1:10; Eph 4:5; Jude 1:3), and one bishopric authorized of and by the apostles (Titus 1:5) by the laying on of hands in ordination (Heb 6:2; 2 Tim 1:6; 1 Tim 4:14; Titus 1:5), sharing ministers back and forth among all churches (1 Cor 16:3; Rom 16:1,3,9,21,23; Phil 2:19,25; Titus 3:12), receiving one another in fellowship and in greeting (Rom 15:5-7; Rom 16:16; Col 4:10,12,14; 3 John 1:9-10), where excommunication removes individuals from this one body (Matt 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-2,4-5), and which existed from St. Peter and the apostles unto today (Matt 16:18-19; Eph 3:21).

 

[Albion]

Leaving aside the several misinterpretations of scripture there, that overview unfortunately describes thousands of the church bodies we have today.

 

[Phil 1:21]

You've given up on the ridiculous accusation that I supposedly claimed Catholics are not Christians, then? That's a start!

It was a question. That's what the curvy thing with the dot under it at the end of the words means.

 

[PaulCyp1]

"Non-denominational" is just a term certain Protestant denominations use, in an effort to draw in new members from different backgrounds. If you don't think they are a denomination with fixed beliefs, try going into one of their meetings and sharing something that is contrary to their accepted beliefs.

 

[Albion]

Having said some things myself that are more or less in that vein, I think we should also acknowledge that non-denoms characteristically have FEW stated doctrines; and those that they do have are pretty basic to all Christians.

While I am not recommending it, this might mean that a person who does not think it is necessary to have formal tests of membership or excessive doctrinal demands that work like a kind of theological litmus test will be able to find a church home in a non-denominational congregation.

 

[Silly Uncle Wayne]

Division is a Mathematical exercise consisting of an Enumerator and a Denominator. The Enumerator is divided by the Denominator. Denominations are what divides the church. The "de-nom-inator" is a NAME of what is divided (NOM means NAME). The Church is therefore the Denominator in this division of what must not be divided.

It sounds good, but it is not really true. The Latin from which denomination or denominator derives is the name of groups: a classification of those groups. In coinage it refers to different coin types.

So denominator is just a category of fraction (halves, quarters etc.) strictly speaking you multiply the numerator (eg. three) and denominator (eg. quarters) to get three quarters or 0.75).

 

[dqhall]

I was talking about that with a friend (she got mad). I mean they claim they want to be just like the Church of the New Testament when most of them have their own theology that set them apart from other form of Christianity (even among themselves), specially the Apostolic Churches.

Jesus preached to a crowd on a mountain side. What denomination was that?

In Matthew 18:20 (WEB) Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."
Is this passage any different if it is read in a Methodist, Presbyterian or Catholic Church? Is it any more different if you read it in your living room rather than in an Anglican or Coptic Church?

In John 2:19 (WEB) Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews therefore said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?" 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body. How could a body be a church and if it is, what denomination is it?

Was Paul of a different denomination than Peter, James the brother of Jesus, Titus or John Mark? Was the apostle John of a different denomination than the apostle Matthew? They wrote different texts.

 

[Not David]

Jesus preached to a crowd on a mountain side. What denomination was that?

In Matthew 18:20 (WEB) Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."
Is this passage any different if it is read in a Methodist, Presbyterian or Catholic Church? Is it any more different if you read it in your living room rather than in an Anglican or Coptic Church?

In John 2:19 (WEB) Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews therefore said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?" 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body. How could a body be a church and if it is, what denomination is it?

Was Paul of a different denomination than Peter, James the brother of Jesus, Titus or John Mark? Was the apostle John of a different denomination than the apostle Matthew? They wrote different texts.

Totally missing out that Christianity was just born and they hold a single faith and belief.