I feel that non-denominational churches are the "true" Christian churches...

[fireof god98]

its hard when everyone in your family is a certain denomination and you are not. it makes for a awkward Christmas.

 

[SharonL]

its hard when everyone in your family is a certain denomination and you are not. it makes for a awkward Christmas.

Been there - done that - just hold your head up high and stick to your beliefs. I was disowned by my parents - I was raised Protestant and married Catholic - relationship never the same, always criticized and put down. Always tried to please everyone - it doesn't happen - please yourself and your family - they'll get over it - I wish I had done that - would have saved me a lot of grief.

 

[Andrea411]

When I go and look at all these Episcopal, Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, etc. churches, I've never, ever gotten the true "spiritual", "godly" feeling that I get when I go to the first, and only, true non-denom church I've ever been to. Also- I've never been prophecied to before by people with the gift of prophecy at any other church except this one (4 people in relation to this church known for prophecy all prophecied to me). My inner gut is REALLY telling me that denominations are somewhat wrong and the TRUE spirit really lingers in non-denom churches.

Every Christian I've met that has that pure ego-less, selfless, pure loving attitude and heart is all about non-denominational churches.


I'm not judging people guys, I'm just stating my observations. When I go to these non-denominational churches, the people there are NOT "bad" people by any means... but most of the Christians (if not all) that I have met that are truly pure in heart and REALLY dedicated to the gospel (from what I see) are non-denom. At all the other churches, I often meet people many people with lots of hang-ups in life, probably pride-related... whatever it is, they do not appear to really be giving it ALL up to God, because when you do, you are filled with the life-giving spirt that is such a beautiful thing to witness (which I crave more than anything).

What do you guys think? What is your opinion or experience on this (all pride/ego aside)?

I think you are in for a rude awakening if you think all those people are so perfect. I attend non-denoms too. Don't much care for the Mainline church dogma, it seems the older a church gets the weight of their rules and the first thing that gets strangled out is any movement of the Holy Spirit. If the service has to go over 10 minutes its like life or death....pleaseeeee. But for some people they function better in the predictable settings of their denomination.

 

[Colleen1]

its hard when everyone in your family is a certain denomination and you are not. it makes for a awkward Christmas.

Not fun. Hope things get better. If you're doing what God wants you to do between Him and you...then you go guy.

 

[Albion]

I think you are in for a rude awakening if you think all those people are so perfect. I attend non-denoms too.

IMO you've gone right to the heart of the matter there.

There's nothing special about a church calling itself "non-denominational." The congregations that call themselves by this term are like any other denomination, except smaller. Each has its doctrines and practices just like any denominational church does, and they differ from one to another.

HOWEVER, what we're really talking about if we set that term (non-denom) aside for a moment, is unaffiliated congregations. I agree that some of these are top-notch and probably the better for not being part of any denomination. They may well also be closer to the early church in government and organization, as has already been said.

There are unaffiliated congregations that are essentially Lutheran and others that are Baptist, etc. There are hardly any that have a truly unique approach to the Bible that no denomination also has--and that's what it would take to be actually "non-denominational."

 

[candle glow]

Jesus talked bout letting the wheat and the tares grow together. There is good and bad in every group just as there is good and bad in every person.

A lot of the dogmas, traditions, and teachings of all these various churches are really just a means of knowing who are the "good" guys and who are the "bad" guys. "Non-denomination" vs "denominational" is just another way of this.

Jesus referred to his teachings as the cornerstone. A cornerstone is a tool for measuring right angles. The walls MUST line up with the cornerstone in order to be straight. I think this is a good reason for why it is so important to look to the teachings of Jesus as the guide.

If a church is practicing his teachings, then they are PART of "the true church". If a church is not practicing the teachings of Jesus, then the opposite will be true.

 

[fireof god98]

I feel non-denominational churches do not have a lot of authority within there churches

 

[Colleen1]

Jesus talked bout letting the wheat and the tares grow together. There is good and bad in every group just as there is good and bad in every person.

A lot of the dogmas, traditions, and teachings of all these various churches are really just a means of knowing who are the "good" guys and who are the "bad" guys. "Non-denomination" vs "denominational" is just another way of this.

Jesus referred to his teachings as the cornerstone. A cornerstone is a tool for measuring right angles. The walls MUST line up with the cornerstone in order to be straight. I think this is a good reason for why it is so important to look to the teachings of Jesus as the guide.

If a church is practicing his teachings, then they are PART of "the true church". If a church is not practicing the teachings of Jesus, then the opposite will be true.

I agree a fair amount with what you have said. We must test things against all scripture in context wherever we are and I see 'church' as a whole regardless of the denomination if they are true believers of the Bible and have accepted God as Lord and Savior.

 

[candle glow]

I see 'church' as a whole regardless of the denomination if they are true believers of the Bible and have accepted God as Lord and Savior.

This is quite close to my own understanding, too, that only God really knows the true number of people and their identities, in his kingdom, and the only way for us to also know is to follow the guidelines he gave us.

But this presents a problem, because what if we see someone practicing Jesus' teachings, but is very different from our idea of what a Christian should be?

For example, what if we see an atheist caring for orphans and widows? He may have the wrong theology (i.e. not believing in the existence of God) but his actions are consistent with what Jesus told us to do.

James said that even the demons believe in the existence of God, but it doesn't do them much good if they are not prepared to follow God's instructions.

Our natural reasoning is to jump up and shout, "hey, he needs to read a bible, attend a church, get baptized, sing worship songs, pray, etc etc etc..."

But maybe God sees it differently. Like the parable of the two sons; one who agreed to go work in the vinyard but then didn't and the other who refused to work, but then later decided to go. The second son was commended because of his actions and not his words.

Anyway...

 

[Colleen1]

This is quite close to my own understanding, too, that only God really knows the true number of people and their identities, in his kingdom, and the only way for us to also know is to follow the guidelines he gave us.

But this presents a problem, because what if we see someone practicing Jesus' teachings, but is very different from our idea of what a Christian should be?

For example, what if we see an atheist caring for orphans and widows? He may have the wrong theology (i.e. not believing in the existence of God) but his actions are consistent with what Jesus told us to do.

James said that even the demons believe in the existence of God, but it doesn't do them much good if they are not prepared to follow God's instructions.

Our natural reasoning is to jump up and shout, "hey, he needs to read a bible, attend a church, get baptized, sing worship songs, pray, etc etc etc..."

But maybe God sees it differently. Like the parable of the two sons; one who agreed to go work in the vinyard but then didn't and the other who refused to work, but then later decided to go. The second son was commended because of his actions and not his words.

Anyway...

I hear you. Yeah, that's why I think the part about accepting Jesus (God) as our Lord and Savior is important. If we do that and love Him, then what is important to Him will be important to us and we will want to value those things. The things God mentions are important to Him in the Bible and how He leads us. Part of developing a deeper relationship with Him. He desires relationship with us.

The theme of the parable you brought up is an important point as well. It reminds me of David. He was a man after God's own heart not because he was perfect and above err but because he was truly repentant....sincere. Our heart / motives matter to God. One can read the Psalms and see that David loved God and God loved David. Psalm 139 is one of my favourites.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.


17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

 

[Redheadedstepchild]

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