New at a Non-Denom. church!!! :D

[PACSUN]

Howdy!!!!! I have attended at Non-Denominational church the last two weekends. I used to be a member of a United Methodist Church, but felt God leading me elsewhere. :D This church is SOOOO awesome!!! The praise and worship band is AMAAAAAZING!!! The preachers are definitely awesome!!! There is more than one pastor at this church, and I really like that. It's nice to switch it up, and get different people preaching to me! We are doing a series on igniting your passion for Christ! Two Sunday's ago was my first week there, and they JUST started this new series. It was like God called me to attend this church just at the RIGHT time, so I could hear this series of sermons! (I don't believe in consequences) :P

Also, I was talking with my mom about the church, and I invited her to come with me last Sunday. She doesn't attend church, and I would LOVE to see her come to Christ in His timing! I feel like she is on her way. Well, she attended this new church with me, and she absolutely LOVED it! She was telling me there should be more churches out there like this, and also that if there were, more people would probably go to church! It IS an amazing church!! :clap:

Anywho ~ Just wanted to share that!!! I feel amazing at this church!!!!! :prayer:

[Reformationist]

First off, congratulations on your new zeal for God.

Secondly,...


(I don't believe in consequences) :P
Don't you mean coincidences?;) :D :P

God bless

[rainbowprism]

Congrats Ragamuffin! I'm very glad to hear that you found a church that "fits". That's also really great about your mother...I recently had my mother visit and she came with me to the church I have been going to for a year. Not only did she begin to cry during the service and go forward to accept Christ but she wants to move here now! God is faithful and good, He keeps His promises....it sounds like He is definetly wooing you and your mother. Don't lose that fire and sense of joy God has given you! And pray pray pray that God will continue to touch your mother's heart.

[PACSUN]

^_^ *laughing*!!!!!

Wow, what a mistake! Yes I did mean coincidences!!! :blush:

I will definitely pray pray pray :prayer: that God will continue to touch my mom! She was singing along, and at the end of the service, they even played a song she knew off the radio, and she was having a great time! The rest of the day she was laughing and cutting up with me and my boyfriend, GK. It was SO great! She seemed to have a joyfulness that came over her, that I have never seen before! :clap:

I am very glad that your mom went to church with you and now wants to move closer!!!! That's so awesome!!!

Praise God for all He does!!!

[Carico]

I consider myself a non-denominational Christian but I have never seen a non-denominational church much less been to one. Are they simply called a non-denominational church?

[CMmom]

I consider myself a non-denominational Christian but I have never seen a non-denominational church much less been to one. Are they simply called a non-denominational church?
Yes, my church is called non-denominational (I had never been to one until I started attending mine). It does have the phrase "Christian Church" in its name and we encourage ALL to worship and take communion in our church. Basically, we started out as a church plant of a larger non-denom, and have grown to a large (2000 or so member) congregation.
I've found most of the folks in the church are from Baptist or AoG backgrounds, along with all the Protestant denoms, many ex-RC's and even a few former LDS and JW's. A mixed-bag of backgrounds, if you will. I would say though that what attracts them is not the denomination (or lack of), but the wonderful people that make up the church body, the many ministries, and the church-sponsored Christian school.

[rainbowprism]

I consider myself a non-denominational Christian but I have never seen a non-denominational church much less been to one. Are they simply called a non-denominational church?

Some do in their name and some don't. I go to Vineyard, which are non-denominational but it isn't in the name!

[Anti-Fear]

OK, be VERY careful of churches that call themselves non-denominational.

You may like the feeling in the church, but it doesn't make it a good or Biblically correct church. Don't let your zeal carry you away. I am sure Mormon church can be fun, and Jehovah's Witness church can be fun, as can be other cults.

Can you tell us more about the church? what do they call themselves? waht Bible version do they use?

There are some so called "non-denominational" churches that are considered to be cults by some people. Most common of those is the "Recovery Church" that use Recovery Version Bible. They believe that people who go to different denominations will be in some kind of special limbo. They believe taht they're the only true church of Christ.

Also remember that when someone says "non-denominational" it may mean "we dont know whats right and whats wrong". Just be very careful.

Can you tell us more about it?

[Anti-Fear]

Once again, you may be very happy for your mom and like it inside the church, but it doesn't necessarily indicate that the church has the right teachings.

^_^ *laughing*!!!!!

Wow, what a mistake! Yes I did mean coincidences!!! :blush:

I will definitely pray pray pray :prayer: that God will continue to touch my mom! She was singing along, and at the end of the service, they even played a song she knew off the radio, and she was having a great time! The rest of the day she was laughing and cutting up with me and my boyfriend, GK. It was SO great! She seemed to have a joyfulness that came over her, that I have never seen before! :clap:

I am very glad that your mom went to church with you and now wants to move closer!!!! That's so awesome!!!

Praise God for all He does!!!

[Suffolk Sean]

OK, be VERY careful of churches that call themselves non-denominational.

You may like the feeling in the church, but it doesn't make it a good or Biblically correct church. Don't let your zeal carry you away. I am sure Mormon church can be fun, and Jehovah's Witness church can be fun, as can be other cults.

Can you tell us more about the church? what do they call themselves? waht Bible version do they use?

There are some so called "non-denominational" churches that are considered to be cults by some people. Most common of those is the "Recovery Church" that use Recovery Version Bible. They believe that people who go to different denominations will be in some kind of special limbo. They believe taht they're the only true church of Christ.

Also remember that when someone says "non-denominational" it may mean "we dont know whats right and whats wrong". Just be very careful.

Can you tell us more about it?
can you give more info on recovery version?

[Carico]

The reason I consider myself a non-denominational Christians is because i put Christ's words and the bible as my doctrine instead of a man-made doctrine. None of the words in the bible contradict each other. if there seems to be a contradiction, then the interpretation is faulty, not the bible. I attend BSF, an international interdenominational bible study where we use the NIV and disect every passage in the bible. The goal here is simply to understand the bible regardless of church doctrine. I would like to find a church that does this.

[Gorilla King]

I also go to a Non-denom church in Colorado and as a matter of fact, for the past two weeks, I've gone with Monkey Queen to this church she's been speaking of, and it is biblically sound and biblically centered. It's an amazing place with amazing people with amazing hearts for God. The sermons are not cut and paste like I have seen in other churches, but rather they are powerful and relevant and whats more, practical.

[PACSUN]

The church is called North Point Community Church. They teach directly out of the Bible, I am not sure which version they use, but I think it is the NIV. They have a very amazing relationship with God going, and an amazing community coming together for the Glory of God. I wish everyone could see just how amazing this church is. Also, NPCC has many activities during the week for people who attend, such as 7:22 on Tuesday nights. WOW what an amazing sermon!! It is a Christian singles gathering for praise and worship and an amazing sermon given my Louie Giglio. I wish I was allowed to post hyperlinks because I would give you the link to NPCC's website, and also to 7:22's website. On the 7:22 website, you can watch the different sermons on the web.

Here is the 7:22 website!!!! Enjoy!!!
http://www.722.org/flash/index_.html (http://www.722.org/flash/index_.html)

And here is the churche's website!! Enjoy this also!!!
http://www.northpoint.org/npcc_overview.shtml (http://www.northpoint.org/npcc_overview.shtml)

I don't want to live by anything but by God's word. I find that is the case here at this church! I don't understand why there are so many doctrines out there that distinguish one denomination from the other. That is called seperation of the church in my mind. And God wants us to be connected and to love him together. There are so many judgements on other churches and denominations if another church with a different denomination doesn't agree with what that other church is preaching. We should only be concerned about preaching what God wants us to, not worrying about thinking whatever denomination is bad because they do things differently. At NPCC I have found they only preach the word of God, and in a VERY VERY effective way for me to understand. They have a great way of reaching out to others, and bringing them to Christ. I was using my mom as an example. She believes in God, but she is not living her life completely for Him. Well, this church amazed her because it is so amazing, and because they preach the true, clean word of God. There are not any alterior motives. The only motive is to bring everyone to Christ. And the way that they accept people is so awesome.

I feel like a lot of people get burned by denominations sometimes, and it turns them away from God and going to church and fellowshipping with others. My mom grew up in a home that taught her that God is a punishing God, which is not true. He is the God of love, and He sent His son to die for us so we may be reconciled with Him. I was attending a United Methodist Church, and I wasn't accepted with a warm and loving welcome. I tried to get involved with the college group and was not welcomed into the group. Here at NPCC they have what is called grouplink! It's such a great system! They have a get together of people in the same town/area (people travel from different cities to come to this church) and they form a small community group for either couples/married couples or of small groups of people of the same gender and around the same age. They meet once per week, and fellowship together. How great is that? They really emphasize God and loving Him and one another. It's so great, and there are many other ways they are reaching out to others to come together and get involved so Christ can touch their lives!

I LOVE IT!! :clap::clap::clap:

NPCC is a church of 10,000 members, and other visitors!! How wonderful! They also have another church in/closer to Atlanta for those who live there that is a branch of NPCC, which has 6,000 or 8,000 members. I can TOTALLY see why there are so many members at this church! It truly shows the love of Christ and teaches the message in a learnable way!! And there are also people of ALL ages attending this church! I absolutely love it! I can't say enough good about North Park Community Church!!! God has truly touched this church with His hands! :D

I hope that everyone finds a church that they feel very comfortable at, and that reaches out to them in a way that DOES bring passion and zeal into their lives for God. That should be one of the goals of the church!!!

[Anti-Fear]

Sure. The Recovery Version is the supposedly the version that has some things other versions don't it has a TON of footnotes in it, all written by a man named Witness Lee. He is pretty much like the theological leader of the "Recovery Churches"

They believe a number of following things:
- they believe they're truly non-denominational
- they believe that all denominations like Catholicism and denominations of protestanism are "whores of babylon" and "spiritual fornicators"
- because of the above statement they call themselves the true church.
- when asked they respond by saying that they believe that people CAN reach salvation outside of their church, HOWEVER, they believe that people who are outside of their church will be in some kind of special limbo for people who were in one of those denominations.
- Inside the church they arrange the chairs in a CIRCLE facing inwards.
- There is no pastor or leader, they all shout out things as they feel.
- particularly they like to scream out "OH LORD JESUS" 3 times
- They believe in a concept of "locality" of church.
THey claim since the churches in Biblical times were one per city then there should be one church per city in modrn cities disregarding the validity of theological disagreements.

Read a lot about their group here http://www.apologeticsindex.org/l40.html


can you give more info on recovery version?

[Suffolk Sean]

Sure. The Recovery Version is the supposedly the version that has some things other versions don't it has a TON of footnotes in it, all written by a man named Witness Lee. He is pretty much like the theological leader of the "Recovery Churches"

Thanks, the above part sounds like "Science and Health" that Christian Scientists use to interperate scripture. I don't care for the Watchman Nee bashing from the link however. But the article provides some good insight to their doctrine.

Thanks.

[Anti-Fear]

That is just one site. There are many others that you can search on the internet. This is another good site where their doctrines are discussed http://dazuma.freeshell.org/lcinfo/
I have personally had experience with these people on my campus.
The members of their group are not bad people at all. They're very devout followers of Christ.
However, they know that their organization has some shady aspects to it, so I later found out that they were not honest with me when I talked to them at the Bible study. They said "lets talk about it later"
So the problem is they made themselves look like normal non-denominational church while in reality they didnt dislclose some other beliefs of theirs.

Thanks, the above part sounds like "Science and Health" that Christian Scientists use to interperate scripture. I don't care for the Watchman Nee bashing from the link however. But the article provides some good insight to their doctrine.

Thanks.

[specialk]

OK, be VERY careful of churches that call themselves non-denominational.

You may like the feeling in the church, but it doesn't make it a good or Biblically correct church. Don't let your zeal carry you away. I am sure Mormon church can be fun, and Jehovah's Witness church can be fun, as can be other cults.

Can you tell us more about the church? what do they call themselves? waht Bible version do they use?

There are some so called "non-denominational" churches that are considered to be cults by some people. Most common of those is the "Recovery Church" that use Recovery Version Bible. They believe that people who go to different denominations will be in some kind of special limbo. They believe taht they're the only true church of Christ.

Also remember that when someone says "non-denominational" it may mean "we dont know whats right and whats wrong". Just be very careful.

Can you tell us more about it?
I'm a member of a non-denominational church---SugarLand church of Christ. And we believe that there is only one church authorized by God.

[Anti-Fear]

Is that a joke? SugarLand church?

I'm a member of a non-denominational church---SugarLand church of Christ. And we believe that there is only one church authorized by God.

[PACSUN]

Is that a joke? SugarLand church?
I think we need to remember here that this is a discussion - rational discussion. ;) Everyone is free through God, and we have no right to judge. God is the final judge. So let's just discuss what is being brought to the table, and try to accept everyone's comments as their own.

I am not trying to be mean or anything, I just want to make sure it stays nice in here, since this topic of other denominations is obviously a controversial topic.

Thank you! :D

specialk, can you describe SugarLand church a bit more? Is that the name of the church because of the town you live in, or is it the name because of the denomination?

[specialk]

Is that a joke? SugarLand church?
No joke. SugarLand is just the name of the city where it's located

[specialk]

I think we need to remember here that this is a discussion - rational discussion. ;) Everyone is free through God, and we have no right to judge. God is the final judge. So let's just discuss what is being brought to the table, and try to accept everyone's comments as their own.

I am not trying to be mean or anything, I just want to make sure it stays nice in here, since this topic of other denominations is obviously a controversial topic.

Thank you! :D

specialk, can you describe SugarLand church a bit more? Is that the name of the church because of the town you live in, or is it the name because of the denomination?
Sorry!:) I should have made that more clear that SugarLand is just the location.

[PACSUN]

No no specialk - I was talking with anit-fear about keeping it nice ;) I just want to make sure this is a clean discussion! :D

I was figuring that was the name of the town you lived in! That's an awesome name for a town! Makes me want to eat lots of candy! Woohoo! :clap:

[Anti-Fear]

I keep it nice, so relax. What I write about dangers of so called "non-denominational" churches is something everybody should know becuse there are many dangerous cults you should be aware. These groups draw you in and don't want to let you go.



No no specialk - I was talking with anit-fear about keeping it nice ;) I just want to make sure this is a clean discussion! :D

I was figuring that was the name of the town you lived in! That's an awesome name for a town! Makes me want to eat lots of candy! Woohoo! :clap:

[ShaunJ]

I keep it nice, so relax. What I write about dangers of so called "non-denominational" churches is something everybody should know becuse there are many dangerous cults you should be aware. These groups draw you in and don't want to let you go.
You have a good point Anti-Fear. Hearing about these kinds of churches makes me wonder how someone could get mixed up and believe unbiblical things like that in the first place. Do they prey on innocent newbies in Christ?

Howdy!!!!! I have attended at Non-Denominational church the last two weekends. I used to be a member of a United Methodist Church, but felt God leading me elsewhere. :D This church is SOOOO awesome!!! The praise and worship band is AMAAAAAZING!!! The preachers are definitely awesome!!! There is more than one pastor at this church, and I really like that. It's nice to switch it up, and get different people preaching to me! We are doing a series on igniting your passion for Christ! Two Sunday's ago was my first week there, and they JUST started this new series. It was like God called me to attend this church just at the RIGHT time, so I could hear this series of sermons! (I don't believe in consequences) :P

I am very happy that you have found a good church. From reading your posts I don't think you should have anything to fear from them. :thumbsup:

[Guardsman]

I felt the same way when I started to go to a Non-Dem church when I first got saved. Now after ten years I'm going through a theological crisis as I see only a small number of people, of the 5,000+ members, still attending as were there when I started. It's still 5,000 strong but those are mostly people coming and going. And why is that? Is it because Christians are church-hoppers? Or maybe they got offended. Could be.

That's not why I left. Through these ten years I've seen and known many people who have "heard from God" to do one thing, or another, and know very few who are doing it now. Of course things take time sometimes, but I'm talking about people who were going to see things happenning soon (health, financial prosperity, ministry take-off, etc.) and nothing of this sort ever came to pass. In fact, I see about the same percentage of people healthy and prosperous in denominational churches as in non-dem.

It's great people are getting saved but I'm tired of all the mind-control. If you say or question anything your labeled as a "fault-finder" or being "negative" etc. And I'm talking as one who actively engaged in this when I heard others questioning church doctrine I'd been taught to say "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all." Thus thereby shutting off the minds of any who would think contrary to what was being taught. For their own good, of course.

So yes, I would be cautious when entering any church these days. There was one non-denominational church in my city where the pastor began to teach a doctrine of "inclusivism" which said everybody is saved whether they've heard the Gospel , or not. And this pastor had been recognized as a great Christian leader, a bishop even.

[PACSUN]

I keep it nice, so relax.
I wasn't being mean about asking for the discussion to stay nice - I just want to make sure we don't offend anyone. :)

What I write about dangers of so called "non-denominational" churches is something everybody should know becuse there are many dangerous cults you should be aware. These groups draw you in and don't want to let you go.
I do appreciate all that you are posting about! I'm glad you're expressing your concerns, and I thank you. I wouldn't want to get drawn into something like that ever. Thank you for making me aware there are churches out there like that.

All I have to say is I am very much looking forward to going to heaven! Then we won't have to think about all of these denominations, and all of the doctrines to follow. We get to worship God and give Him all of our praise! :clap::amen:

[RevJoshua]

All I have to say is I am very much looking forward to going to heaven! Then we won't have to think about all of these denominations, and all of the doctrines to follow. We get to worship God and give Him all of our praise! :clap::amen:[/QUOTE]
Amen to that!!!!!

[PACSUN]

I'm glad you liked that RevJoshua!! :thumbsup: That is what I look forward to!

[mythbuster]

Anti-fear

Why not go to www.lsm.org (http://www.lsm.org/) and find out for yourself what we in the local churches really believe? Almost every book by Watchman Nee, and Witness Lee, including the entire Recovery Version of the Bible is available on-line for anyone to see.

Screaming "Oh Lord Jesus?" It is more like "calling on the Lord." Do you not believe that calling on the Lord is scriptural? The Lord's children have been calling on the Lord since the days of Enosh and continue to this day. Calling on the Lord is everywhere in the Bible.

We all just shout out whatever we feel? It is more like testifying and speaking one by one in meetings as we share what we have enjoyed of our precious Savior. We enjoy Him , love Him, eat Him and drink Him. Therefore we do not sit in silence and pay someone else to speak, but rather we speak.

We are the true church? The church is the body of Christ comprised of all genuine blood washed, born again, redeemed, justified, Spirit filled, Christians and I daresay you are a member of that one true church yourself, are you not?

Sure there are a LOT of footnotes in the Recovery Version of the Bible, and so my wife has a LOT of footnotes in her Nelson NKJV Study Bible.

As far as local churches go, the way the saints met in the New Testament was by locality. There was the church in Rome, the church in Corinth, the church in Jerusalem, the church in Sardis, the church in Ephesus, the church in Smyrna, Philadelphia, and on and on. You don't have to agree but realize that we believe what we do based on what we see from the Bible.

Christ is our all, in all. He fills our every need. In Him we have died and in Him we are resurrected. In Him we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, in Him we lack nothing, and in Him there is no division. We are all one in Christ Jesus our Lord. And we give thanks to the Father for sending His Son and for including us in His eternal purpose and for giving us His Holy Word, the Bible.

What shall I give unto the Lord? I'll take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord!
Hymn.
Drink a river pure and clear thats flowing form the throne,
Eat the tree of life with fruit abundant fully grown,
Look no need of lamp nor sun for here there is no night.
Take freely the water of life!

Do come. Oh do come says Spirit and the Bride
Do come. Oh do come let him that heareth cry
Do come oh do come let him who thirsts and will
Take freely the water of life!

[PACSUN]

Mythbuster

Thank you for all of that insightful information! Are you a member of the kind of church Anti-Fear is talking about? I totally agree with you that we are *all* one in Christ. I believe we don't have a right to judge another person or another religion, because in all denominations there are those who have true faith in Christ and those will go to heaven with our Lord, and then in every religion/denomination there are those who do not truly have faith in our Lord who will not make it into heaven, but who are we to judge? Only God knows their hearts and their intentions. :D

Anti-Fear

I think we all need to be careful of all things in this world as we don't truly know the intentions to be from our Lord unless He confirms it to us. They could very well be from Satan -- He does come to us as an angel, and then manipulates us to thinking what we are doing is okay, or good, or right. He doesn't allow us to see the consequences of our actions. Confusion is not from the Lord, so when peace is within us about a situation, it is from our Father. I have been trying lately to think a lot about everything that is coming out of my mouth to others so I can make sure I am sharing God's love with those I come in contact with. Even followers of Christ can be manipulated by the devil and say things that are not of God.

^_^