What do you mean "Non-denominational"?

[RefrusRevlis]

I am wondering about the groups who regard themselves as non-denominational, there seem to be a lot of different meanings attached the the phrase.
I have seen the word used to mean:

Pan-denominational (we will fellowship with everybody, or at least most people)

Sub-denominational (when we get a few more congregations/members we will be a "real grown" up denomination).

Non-denominational (we are the church, all others follow falsehood).

Denominational (our denomination is non-denominational). ?????


Can you think of any others? What do you think the word Non-denominational means or how have you seen the word used?

Best wishes
Refrus

 

[4thefuture]

I am wondering about the groups who regard themselves as non-denominational, there seem to be a lot of different meanings attached the the phrase.
I have seen the word used to mean:

Pan-denominational (we will fellowship with everybody, or at least most people)

Sub-denominational (when we get a few more congregations/members we will be a "real grown" up denomination).

Non-denominational (we are the church, all others follow falsehood).

Denominational (our denomination is non-denominational). ?????


Can you think of any others? What do you think the word Non-denominational means or how have you seen the word used?

Best wishes
Refrus

I always took the term to mean that all religious views and belief's are accepted. We will fellowship with everyone.

 

[flyingsum0]

In means Jesus is #1
All the other fluff is #2

 

[FreeinChrist]

It simply means we are not under a central authority for doctrine and authority like the Catholic Church, or the Orthodox or United Methodist etc.

I have never seen it mean we are right and all others are false.

 

[morriska]

I'm with SumO

I was raised Episcopalian, became a Christ-follower in ( and attended for many years) a Baptist church and now attend a Nazerene church.

So- what denomination am I?

 

[staveoffzombies]

I choose to be non-demoninational because there isn't a denomination that exists that I can really put my full support behind. Simple as that.

 

[Faith2Faith]

To me non-denominational is a term used so when your way of belief or religion isnt usually listed to describe myself. I consider myself christian, but man has their own interpretation of christian. I find myself different from their interpretation. So therefor, I like to use non- denominational.

 

[darinh]

Well, I attend a "non-denominational church", which has been explained to me to mean that, like sum0 said, we believe the bible. everything else is really irrelevant. We don't report to any governing religious organization.

The English word denomination comes from Latin word denominationem which means "a calling by anything other than the proper name"

There have been other uses, such as denoting a religious sect, which arose as time went on.

Take money for example. You have 1's, 10's, 20's, etc. Each bill is a denomination, but they are all money.

Money is different from religion, when dealing with denomination, in that religious denominations are entirely nominal (meaning that they can only be classified by name -- they can't be ordered, or compared, and aren't proportional... i.e. 2 methodist churches doesn't equal one baptist church). Money is classified on the ratio scale. Two 10 dollar bills equals one 20 dollar bill.

So it's just a naming scheme used to describe differences, usually in doctrinal interpretation, or religious practices.

So, non-denominational churches may be very different from other denominations, as well as each other. One may play hymns for worship, because there are lots of older lay people, and one may play more contemporary music, because the congregation is younger. Some denominations may require that only hymns are played in order to have authentic worship.


i hope that wasn't any more confusing. (=

 

[GrannieAnnie]

I agree with....... staveoffzombies.....Jesus is my Lord and Savior, I believe in a triune God, but I find the different interpretations denominations have very confusing, so I keep my faith simple and just pray to Jesus. I don't think it's necessary to have all the....add ons,........ when Jesus Himself said....no one gets to the Father except through Me. So that's what I do...just go directly to Jesus.

 

[BethelArsonist]

Add to your list: Inter-denominational

This is the real meaning of non-denominational, because people and preachers in such churches actually bring a lot of their denominational ways with them, whether they claim to or not.

 

[BethelArsonist]

Also, add: Super-denominational

This is a church that thinks their denomination is better than all the other ones.

 

[BethelArsonist]

Then there is Anti-denominational, which I consider myself. Anyone who chooses Christ instead of the church would have to fit best in this category instead. They see the denominations as an impediment to them.

 

[AllTalkNoAction]

God & Jesus only nominated one way of salvation (and worship generally) - not just believing it's true what they say, but repenting (rejecting all other ways), being baptised (immersed in water) and receiving the infilling of God's Spirit (evidenced by speaking in tongues - Acts 2:4, 33-39; 10:44-48 etc)

To de-nominate it to break up this way and thereby make a name for yourself by offering an alternative.

The only non-denominational church are those that stich to God's way.

 

[RefrusRevlis]

Then there is Anti-denominational, which I consider myself. Anyone who chooses Christ instead of the church would have to fit best in this category instead. They see the denominations as an impediment to them.

Of course!
Thanks for your input.
How about
Antedenominational - the true church which existed before denominations.
Refrus

 

[Floatingaxe]

Non-denominational, to me, is a church that is not affiliated with any governing body, but rather operates as self-governed with Jesus Christ as head. That is really what is meant by non-denominational here, I believe.

Our pastors are members of a body for accountability, support and mentorship called MFI, Ministers Fellowship International.

If the varied answers here are really what people are ascribing to, then maybe I need to change my designation here in CF.

I will think on it...

 

[RefrusRevlis]

God & Jesus only nominated one way of salvation (and worship generally) - not just believing it's true what they say, but repenting (rejecting all other ways), being baptised (immersed in water) and receiving the infilling of God's Spirit (evidenced by speaking in tongues - Acts 2:4, 33-39; 10:44-48 etc)

I agree with most of what you have to say, except for

and receiving the infilling of God's Spirit (evidenced by speaking in tongues - Acts 2:4, 33-39; 10:44-48 etc

1 Corinthians 12:30 refutes the idea that all saved people do/can/should speak in tongues. The use of the Greek word mh (not) in the verse anticipates a negative answer ie "all do not speak with tongues, do they?" If they don't then it's not essential.

I suspect I have derailed my own thread, it might be useful to start a new thread on the issue.

Refrus

 

[AllTalkNoAction]

1 Corinthians 12:30 refutes the idea that all saved people do/can/should speak in tongues.

No it doesn't, "the gifts" passage is not about what different people get when they become christians, it's about different ministries in the church.
The context is that chap.11 Paul has been correcting the Corinthians about how the meeting should be run.

In 12:8-10 he says:-
" to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith . . tongues . . interpretation . ."

No-one ever suggests that only some christians have faith or knowledge, yet according to your useage of this passage this is what we have to believe, yet the letter begins by affirming that all have all inside (1:4-7) - that's why Paul has to reason with them not to all speak in tongues when they meet.

(Note also it says "to one", because in meetings, only one should speak at once)

The fact that Paul needed to reason with them not to all act as one member and specifically tell them not to all speak in tongues when they meet affirms what Acts shows - all Christians speak in tongues . . . it's "praying in the Spirit".

 

[Floatingaxe]

No it doesn't, "the gifts" passage is not about what different people get when they become christians, it's about different ministries in the church.
The context is that chap.11 Paul has been correcting the Corinthians about how the meeting should be run.

In 12:8-10 he says:-
" to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith . . tongues . . interpretation . ."

No-one ever suggests that only some christians have faith or knowledge, yet according to your useage of this passage this is what we have to believe, yet the letter begins by affirming that all have all inside (1:4-7) - that's why Paul has to reason with them not to all speak in tongues when they meet.

(Note also it says "to one", because in meetings, only one should speak at once)

The fact that Paul needed to reason with them not to all act as one member and specifically tell them not to all speak in tongues when they meet affirms what Acts shows - all Christians speak in tongues . . . it's "praying in the Spirit".

 

[A New Dawn]

Non-denominational, to me, is a church that is not affiliated with any governing body, but rather operates as self-governed with Jesus Christ as head. That is really what is meant by non-denominational here, I believe.

Our pastors are members of a body for accountability, support and mentorship called MFI, Ministers Fellowship International.

If the varied answers here are really what people are ascribing to, then maybe I need to change my designation here in CF.

I will think on it...

This is my understanding, also. It doesn't mean that we can't subscribe to a given soteriology, etc. (for example, you can see that I am a Calvinist), but we don't look to an institutionalized organization for leadership. We look to Christ.

 

[suprdrk]

It means Jesus is #1
All the other fluff is #2

.