Hello

[AudioArtist]

Hi,

I think I am going to start fellowshipping here as well as the spirit-filled forum. I am beginning to believe more and more that every denomination has its truths and things that are not so true-that they all have varying extremes which are no completely correct are are utterly spot on. My own beliefs are now combinations of ideas that I have gathered from all denominations and put against tradition and scripture.

Would that make me non-denominational, or have I missed the mark?

Thanks.

[Asaph]

Hi,

I think I am going to start fellowshipping here as well as the spirit-filled forum. I am beginning to believe more and more that every denomination has its truths and things that are not so true-that they all have varying extremes which are no completely correct are are utterly spot on. My own beliefs are now combinations of ideas that I have gathered from all denominations and put against tradition and scripture.

Would that make me non-denominational, or have I missed the mark?

Thanks.

Hi AA. Being non-denominational is more about not belonging or adhereing to any particular denomination. I see you display a pentecostal icon. There are many pentecostal congregations that cannot be classified as denonminations, but there are some that are. Assemblies of God is one that is actually a denomination I think. It merely means that the pratices of each individual congregation are governed and held to the authority of a central governing authority.

By the very nature of being non-denominational, we do not hold "tradition" to have authority in the same way we do the bible. Tradition is subservient to the scriptures.

Historic Christianity is also held to be subservient to the scriptures.

Neither is rejected out of hand just because they are not scripture, they are merely weighed against scripture.

Asaph

[AudioArtist]

Yes, you are quite right. I do not agree with people who put tradition before the New Testament in regards to things like spiritual gifts (where they are outright rejected because they are not "normal"), and when tradition is put before the Bible in general.

But we can still learn new, and perhaps more deep ways of interpreting scripture through various traditions in denominations.

I go to a Church of England service every week, where they believe in the spiritual gifts and have a free but quiet and tranquil style of worship. Little hype and lots of God. :)

[Asaph]

Yes, you are quite right. I do not agree with people who put tradition before the New Testament in regards to things like spiritual gifts (where they are outright rejected because they are not "normal"), and when tradition is put before the Bible in general.

But we can still learn new, and perhaps more deep ways of interpreting scripture through various traditions in denominations.

I go to a Church of England service every week, where they believe in the spiritual gifts and have a free but quiet and tranquil style of worship. Little hype and lots of God. :)

You know, I think you may be the first person I've seen on the boards that has said they attend Church of England.

For years I though CoE was the same as the Anglican church until a recent thread that said the Anglicans traced their roots back to a few hundred years or so after Jesus. So then am I right in saying that they are two different churches? CoE being more a part of the reformation?

Asaph

[The Lord is my banner]

You know, I think you may be the first person I've seen on the boards that has said they attend Church of England.

For years I though CoE was the same as the Anglican church until a recent thread that said the Anglicans traced their roots back to a few hundred years or so after Jesus. So then am I right in saying that they are two different churches? CoE being more a part of the reformation?

Asaph
:wave:
I am an Anglican, and so feel qualified to tell you that our church is indeed the Church of England.

The Church; ie. the Body of Christ, in Britain, has indeed been around from early centuries, but that is NOT the Church of England.

King Henry the Eigth invented our denomination upon being told by the pope that he couldn't divorce and remarry, which you'll recall was something he rather liked doing now and then...

Not a good start for a denomination, but as Audio Artist and I, among others, recognise, we don't have to throw out the baby along with the bath water.
There are certainly some genuine believers and Spirit-filled Christians within our ranks.

God bless you AA for seeing beyond denominational boundaries, and I pray you grow and mature in this discernment of good things among the people of God wherever you find them.

Blessings all, love Susana
(Posting today from Georgia USA! :D )

[The Lord is my banner]

(I probably should add that if you walk into a Church of England/ Anglican service anywhere in Britain you can never tell exactly what you'll find!
My own church is highly traditional on the whole, but you can find totally different styles and emphases everywhere, boith in preaching and worship.)

[Asaph]

Well, as much as I hate to, I've got to dig out my "History of Civilization" books I had so absent mindedly forgotten to unpack. Thanks guys. Will Durant is such an edifying read!....;) :D :D

Asaph