Is Non-denomination Dangerous?

[vashweb2]

A couple months ago I was walking to my car at my University library and I was approached by two young men who told me if I wanted to hear about how God was actually a woman. I was not really familiar with any religions that believed that God was a woman so I wanted to hear more about what religion they were talking about. To my utter shock and horror, one of the men pulled out a Christian bible and showed me passages they believed to describing God as a woman. I had to stare at them in the face long enough to consider whether they were being serious or if they were some seriously confused people. If my memory serves me correct, they used passages from scripture describing the marriage support of the lamb as support for the Holy Spirit as being confused by most Christian, and is, according to them, a female God. I thought they were some type of Mormonist at first but when I asked them what denomination they were they told me Non-denomination Christian. Even more shocked then before because I attend a non-denomination church. Leaving these two behind I have been questioning the Non-denominations inability to choose a particular set of fixed beliefs held in scripture. I feel that if the church these two young men attend can claim Non-denomination, with their clear misguided standards of belief, then what is to stop the LGBT community or other liberal communities from coming in and using Non-denomination's lack of fixed standards to validate a dangerous doctrinal group with the label of Christian attached to it.

 

[SpoonJuly]

Since I have not been in every non-denomination church, I can not say which are right and which are wrong.
I do have some knowledge of the 6 in my area.
None of them have a statement of faith---what they believe---available for people to read.
Each was started by a pastor who came out of "main line" denominations that they disagreed with their statement of faith.
In speaking with these pastors, they are very vague it what they believe, but do seem to keep many of the beliefs of the denominations they left.
My thought is that one should thoroughly investigate any church, non-denomination or main line denomination before they attend or join.
If they can not give you a statement in writing of what they believe and teach with Scripture to support it , stay a way.

 

[dcontroversal]

A couple months ago I was walking to my car at my University library and I was approached by two young men who told me if I wanted to hear about how God was actually a woman. I was not really familiar with any religions that believed that God was a woman so I wanted to hear more about what religion they were talking about. To my utter shock and horror, one of the men pulled out a Christian bible and showed me passages they believed to describing God as a woman. I had to stare at them in the face long enough to consider whether they were being serious or if they were some seriously confused people. If my memory serves me correct, they used passages from scripture describing the marriage support of the lamb as support for the Holy Spirit as being confused by most Christian, and is, according to them, a female God. I thought they were some type of Mormonist at first but when I asked them what denomination they were they told me Non-denomination Christian. Even more shocked then before because I attend a non-denomination church. Leaving these two behind I have been questioning the Non-denominations inability to choose a particular set of fixed beliefs held in scripture. I feel that if the church these two young men attend can claim Non-denomination, with their clear misguided standards of belief, then what is to stop the LGBT community or other liberal communities from coming in and using Non-denomination's lack of fixed standards to validate a dangerous doctrinal group with the label of Christian attached to it.

Any religion that portrays God as a women is lacking any credible understanding of the Bible.....just another attempt in this GENDER CONFUSED IDIOTIC SOCIETY "by Satan" to confuse, cast doubt or void the word of God....

God is One and manifiest 3 ways just as I am one manifest three ways...

David<--male
Mind<-Father
Body<--Son
Spirit<-Spirit

 

[Nehemiah6]

Is Non-denomination Dangerous?

No. Non-denominational simply means that some Christians prefer to not be identified with any particular denomination. And that is quite scriptural.

There were no denominations in the New Testament churches, and Paul spoke out strongly against divisions within churches. However, each city had just one church (or gathering of believers), and each church was autonomous. At the same time there was communication and fellowship between churches.

Denominations arose after the Eastern Orthodox churches split off from the Roman Catholic churches (which meant two different groups). Then came the Reformation, and following that denominations came into existence. After that, many splinter groups and cults came into existence in the 19th and 20th centuries.

"Non-denominational" today should not mean "anything goes" since there are very clear instructions about what Christians should believe, and how churches should be constituted. Acts 2 provides an excellent pattern for any church. And every church should have a Statement of Faith based upon Scripture.

 

[Shamah]

Non-denomanational people can fall into falsehood just as denomanational people can... A membership certifacte of a church does not bring one closer to the Messiah.

John/Yahanan 10:16, "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd (4166 – poimén)."

Matthew 10:37-39, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 “And he who does not take up his stake and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 “He who has found his life shall lose it, and he that has lost his life for My sake shall find it.”

John 14:23-26, “יהושע answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he shall guard My Word. And My Father shall love him, and We shall come to him and make Our stay with him. He who does not love Me does not guard My Words. And the Word which you hear is not Mine but of the Father Who sent Me. These Words I have spoken to you while still with you. But the Helper, the Set-apart Spirit, whom the Father shall send in My Name, He shall teach you all, and remind you of all that I said to you.”

Mat 24:35, “Heaven and earth may pass away, but My teachings will not pass away.”

John/Yahanan 5:39, “You search the Scriptures, because you think you possess everlasting life in them. And these are the ones that bear witness of Me.”

John/Yahanan 14:26, “But the Comforter; the Holy Spirit which YHWH will send in My Name will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I (Yahshua/Jesus) have said to you.”

John/Yahanan 6:63, “It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words (Instructions) that I (Yahshua/Jesus) speak to you, they are Spirit, and they are life everlasting.”

John 14:23-24, “יהושע answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he shall guard My Word. And My Father shall love him, and We shall come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not guard My Words. And the Word which you hear is not Mine but of the Father Who sent Me.”

 

[SpoonJuly]

No. Non-denominational simply means that some Christians prefer to not be identified with any particular denomination. And that is quite scriptural.

There were no denominations in the New Testament churches, and Paul spoke out strongly against divisions within churches. However, each city had just one church (or gathering of believers), and each church was autonomous. At the same time there was communication and fellowship between churches.

Denominations arose after the Eastern Orthodox churches split off from the Roman Catholic churches (which meant two different groups). Then came the Reformation, and following that denominations came into existence. After that, many splinter groups and cults came into existence in the 19th and 20th centuries.

"Non-denominational" today should not mean "anything goes" since there are very clear instructions about what Christians should believe, and how churches should be constituted. Acts 2 provides an excellent pattern for any church. And every church should have a Statement of Faith based upon Scripture.

While I agree with the last paragraph in your post, unfortunately, "anything goes" seem to be the norm in the 6 non-denomination churches in my area.

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

A couple months ago I was walking to my car at my University library and I was approached by two young men who told me if I wanted to hear about how God was actually a woman. I was not really familiar with any religions that believed that God was a woman so I wanted to hear more about what religion they were talking about. To my utter shock and horror, one of the men pulled out a Christian bible and showed me passages they believed to describing God as a woman. I had to stare at them in the face long enough to consider whether they were being serious or if they were some seriously confused people. If my memory serves me correct, they used passages from scripture describing the marriage support of the lamb as support for the Holy Spirit as being confused by most Christian, and is, according to them, a female God. I thought they were some type of Mormonist at first but when I asked them what denomination they were they told me Non-denomination Christian. Even more shocked then before because I attend a non-denomination church. Leaving these two behind I have been questioning the Non-denominations inability to choose a particular set of fixed beliefs held in scripture. I feel that if the church these two young men attend can claim Non-denomination, with their clear misguided standards of belief, then what is to stop the LGBT community or other liberal communities from coming in and using Non-denomination's lack of fixed standards to validate a dangerous doctrinal group with the label of Christian attached to it.

Non-denominational churches are eerily similar to cans without labels in the grocery store. They sell them for fifty cents, but you takes your chance. It would be a nice can of soup or it could be a can of dog food. I passed on them.

 

[SpoonJuly]

Non-denominational churches are eerily similar to cans without labels in the grocery store. They sell them for fifty cents, but you takes your chance. It would be a nice can of soup or it could be a can of dog food. I passed on them.

Same can be said of Baptist churches.
I know because I am Baptist and there are some I have been in that were Baptist in name only.

 

[7seasrekeyed]

not everyone needs or wants a label to identify them in a way that underscores the beliefs of that label

your 'new friends' are not Christians

the Holy Spirit would never lead people into such error

not sure why you would possibly think non-denom is negative

God does not put any labels on us other than the ones in scripture...believer, saint, child, etc

denoms are not created by God to begin with...they illustrate divisions in interpretations of scripture

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

Same can be said of Baptist churches.
I know because I am Baptist and there are some I have been in that were Baptist in name only.

I agree . . . I call them Heinz 57 baptists. Also, I view the Bible churches in the same light. Many of them were originally baptist - but they became ashamed of the name, or feared that folks just wouldn't come.

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" (Psalms 127:1).

I'm ashamed of those that are ashamed of the rich, biblical heritage of baptists.

 

[memyselfi]

A couple months ago I was walking to my car at my University library and I was approached by two young men who told me if I wanted to hear about how God was actually a woman. I was not really familiar with any religions that believed that God was a woman so I wanted to hear more about what religion they were talking about. To my utter shock and horror, one of the men pulled out a Christian bible and showed me passages they believed to describing God as a woman. I had to stare at them in the face long enough to consider whether they were being serious or if they were some seriously confused people. If my memory serves me correct, they used passages from scripture describing the marriage support of the lamb as support for the Holy Spirit as being confused by most Christian, and is, according to them, a female God. I thought they were some type of Mormonist at first but when I asked them what denomination they were they told me Non-denomination Christian. Even more shocked then before because I attend a non-denomination church. Leaving these two behind I have been questioning the Non-denominations inability to choose a particular set of fixed beliefs held in scripture. I feel that if the church these two young men attend can claim Non-denomination, with their clear misguided standards of belief, then what is to stop the LGBT community or other liberal communities from coming in and using Non-denomination's lack of fixed standards to validate a dangerous doctrinal group with the label of Christian attached to it.

I completely understand your misgivings about non-denotational churches. Back in the day they were more back and white.... My fried who was a Baptist started speaking in tongs and believed healing was for today, so he started a non denominational church.

This just proves as believers we must read and know the Scripture for ourselves to test the spirits. You have dun a GREAT JOB. No matter what denomination someone is the spirits of that church need tested.... there are many denominations' now teaching homosexuality is of god. It's of maybe a god indeed, but NOT G-D!!!!

 

[garee]

Because we walk by faith..... the unseen eternal, the idea of non denominational simply does not make any biblical sense. The kingdom of God is not of this world .The kingdoms as denominations of this world will become the kingdoms of God in the new order, the new heavens and earth

The first sect or denomination listed on this side of the cross was the Nazarene.

There were perhaps hundreds of sects available at the time of Jesus . The Pharisees with Sadducees two sects who refused to be called sects, like the Roman Catholic with the Greek Orthodox put aside their difference to come as one against the Nazarene sect or called the Way .

They by the law of the fathers as commandments of men tried to prove all things written in the law and the prophets (sola scriptura) was heresy according to the law of the fathers as oral traditions of men .In other word they believed they were not a sect the English word for heresy. But could not without shooting their own self in the foot. It what the Catholics who must walk by sight after a law of the fathers again as oral tradition of men believe.

Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.(not the law of God) For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:Acts24:4-5

Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:Acts 24:13-14

The seven churches in Revelation were considered different denominations.

I believe because we are informed when two or three gather together in respect to the name or authority of Jesus which is written in the law and the profits (God's witness) he is there .

A husband and wife can qualify as a sect or denomination in that way.

 

[CherieR]

I go to a non-denominational church now. The teaching is good and they have an online statement of faith. ☺

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I go to a non denominational church, I grew up baptist, and attended many baptist churches all over the country. It got to the point I stopped saying I was baptist because so many different baptists have different way they believe or do things, and I was being stereotyped all the time with things which were not true.

The doctrines in my current church are really no different than the churches I grew up in, The gospel is no different, The differences in doctrines are really non essential thus not really an issue,

What is gone is the what I call "church presentation" of the same ole same old every sunday, Wed prayer meeting, where prety much most of the church membership did not come (they only came on sunday am, and are what I call part time christians) What is gone is the self righteousness of many people who thought they were Gods gift. The pastor who had yes men as deacons and who could get away with prety much anything until he would tear the church apart (witnessed this numerous times in a few churches) the legalism (not for salvation, but in our walk) the lack of discipleship. the lack of body life. the things I have witnessed in almost all denominational churches I have ever attended, or heard from friends who attend those churches.

Many non denominational churches just wanted to shift the focus off tradition and repetition, and bring people to a relationship with God, using the 4 means of growth mentioned in acts. where the church were devoted continuing in the apostles doctrine (We teach the word book by book, not 20 minute sermonettes) fellowship (we meet in home groups during the week, focusing on body life, discipleship and servantship, serving our people and community) Breaking of bread (we do not have few after morning service dinners, we eat dinner together before every home church meeting, Before prayer meetings, before cell group meetings, and many of our discipleship meetings happen during a meal) and prayer.

There is a danger, as people cna open any type of church they want, then again, There are many churches which are doing much more than mainstream churches which seem to be fading, I think it will be the wave of the future, While it is sad seeing all these conventional mainstream church buildings either empty and falling apart. or where "fellowship" non denom churches have moved into their building because the denominational church died, I also understand why.

My hope and pray would be that denominational churches change, and live, and not continue the same way,

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

There are exceptions, of course, but it seems that most of the old time Bible-believing Baptist churches are filled by baby boomers, while the youth are going to the mega-type churches. As these oldsters go home to be with the Lord, the once-vibrant, soul-winning churches are closing.

But is this not to be expected? Many believe that we are, indeed, in the last days and that the Laodicean age is upon us - meaning that the church age is nearing it's end.

I would not say that every non-denominational work is evil incarnate. If you recall, sometimes you get a nice cup of soup from those unlabeled cans. Now, dogs will be thrilled to find out that some of the cans you bought will be given to them . . . dogs in Scripture aren't always seen in the best light when used to illustrate church attendees.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

There are exceptions, of course, but it seems that most of the old time Bible-believing Baptist churches are filled by baby boomers, while the youth are going to the mega-type churches. As these oldsters go home to be with the Lord, the once-vibrant, soul-winning churches are closing.

But is this not to be expected? Many believe that we are, indeed, in the last days and that the Laodicean age is upon us - meaning that the church age is nearing it's end.

I would not say that every non-denominational work is evil incarnate. If you recall, sometimes you get a nice cup of soup from those unlabeled cans. Now, dogs will be thrilled to find out that some of the cans you bought will be given to them . . . dogs in Scripture aren't always seen in the best light when used to illustrate church attendees.

Most denominational church here where I am, when you go or talk to people. Are mostly filled with older set in their ways people. The younger people are largly missing. You may see a few. But for the most part. They are gone. The megga churches have more younger people here. Sadly, thats a bad thing not a good. Because most megga churches are that way for a reason..

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

Just means that Jesus is coming soon!

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Just means that Jesus is coming soon!

Have not seen where the baptist or other denominational churches losing members is the signs of the end, My church has a few thousands members in my city and satelight churches all over the world.. They church itself is not dieing, it is strong.

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

That depends on whether they are preaching a message of affliction or of prosperity . . . of what is going today for sound doctrine. If it isn't the message of Christ, the blood and the separated life, I have a difficult time equating them with the church that Jesus built.

 

[Dino246]

There are exceptions, of course, but it seems that most of the old time Bible-believing Baptist churches are filled by baby boomers, while the youth are going to the mega-type churches. As these oldsters go home to be with the Lord, the once-vibrant, soul-winning churches are closing.

I recall a seminary class where we were discussing what a ministry should look like 30 years in the future. I asked, “Should the ministry still exist?” It took a minute for that question to register. There is a time and a season for everything.

If the churches that were once “vibrant” and “soul-winning” are closing, it is because they ceased to be such, not because millennials prefer mega-churches.