Why are you a non-denominational Christian?

[jinc1019]

I have been searching for a church home for quite some time now. I became a true Christian (despite growing up in the Catholic Church) about 2 1/2 years ago after spending a great deal of time researching the roots of Christianity and the history behind the movement. I always believed in God, but for me, it took a lot of reading and praying to get to the point where I was convinced about Christ as the Savior.

Once I reached that point though, my next big problem was finding a good denomination to call home. Since becoming a Christian, I have devoted hundreds, if not over a thousand hours, researching and writing about early Christianity. For me, finding the right church home is about getting as close to the teachings of the early church as possible. If it is good enough for the Apostles, it is good enough for me!

This is obviously easier said than done. But I think after 2 years, I feel pretty comfortable that all denominations, on one issue or another (and it's always more than one), haven't matched what the early church was teaching...Or, in some cases, a denomination will teach something to be definitively true when early Christians disagreed on an issue and there is no real historically accurate and definitive answer (this is the case far more often than most realize).

For that reason, and because I believe in the principal of sola scriptura (although not exactly how Luther taught it), I have managed to narrow things down to Lutheranism (confessional) and non-denominational. I won't go into my several big problems with Lutheranism here (since this is not the place for that), but I would like to know, prior to making the plunge into a non-denominational church, why you (if you are non-denominational or Evangelical) choose to be in a non-denominational church? What are your theological reasons for doing so? Why are none of the numerous denominations a good fit for you?

I have my problems with "typical" non-denominational and Evangelical theology (which mostly has to do with the sacraments), but I was hoping to find out more about why people enjoy it rather than problems they have with it.

Any experiences, thoughts, feelings, or theological concerns or suggestions are all welcome.

Also, just as a note...I already have a really great Evangelical non-denominational church picked out as a good match if I choose to go in that direction, but at this point in time, I just can't seem to convince myself to make that commitment.

 

[JHM]

Curious about whose deeds GOD hated, I researched the term "Nicolaitanes" in "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance" and found an extensive coded message pertaining to them. Interestingly they are connected to "The Church Of Laodicea", which Christ will spew out of his mouth. The coded message also gave enough information to enable me to identify the "Church Of Laodicea" as "The Church Of North America", so though I firmly believe in GOD, I choose not to be a member of any North American Church

 

[Tigger45]

Wow if someone would of switched our usernames I would of believed I was the OP. I consider myself an inter-denominational Christian who attends a LCMC church. The LCMC is non-confessional but all in all Lutheranism has good solid theology but like you I don't agree with it 100% either. At this point in my spiritual journey I have three main points that have to be met for me to call a church home. 1st as I stated good solid theology. 2nd genuinely caring, with many wise proven believers and 3rd the historic teaching and practice of the sacraments. Numbers 1 and 2 are highly likely to be found in a ND church but I was hard pressed to find number 3. After attending an EO church last fall and winter I had a "woman with a blood issue" type of experience with the Eucharist.
Luke 8:46-48

New King James Version (NKJV)

46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer;[a] your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”.

 

[Yahu]

The biggest problem with denominations is they dictate doctrine you must believe. A non-denominational church only dictates with a SoF based on biblical backing but doesn't dictate many of the specific doctrines that bring division.

You are free to believe as you are led by the Holy Spirit as opposed to the traditions of man in religion. For example the non-denominational church I grew up in as a teenager was Charismatic but was not WoF verses non-WoF. It was not Calvinist or Armenian. You were free to accept teaching from the pulpit as valid or not based on your own testing of the teaching.

 

[SharonL]

Most non-denominational Christians have been Spirit Filled and are only looking for a relationship with Jesus and being the Servant the Lord has for us.

I was raised strict Protestant, married a Catholic - after years in his church and years in my church, I found the Spirit Filled life and all of the man made rules became so unimportant - a lot of the churches are so busy telling us what we can't do that they fail to tell you what God can do.

I don't claim any denomination - only a close relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit and I am a God loving servant of the most high God.

 

[jamesjhnstn]

You know it's kind of arrogant to call yourself a "true" Christian, because what you consider "true", other churches (Catholic, Orthodox, Episcopal, Methodist, etc.) might consider false or heresy.

 

[jinc1019]

Curious about whose deeds GOD hated, I researched the term "Nicolaitanes" in "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance" and found an extensive coded message pertaining to them. Interestingly they are connected to "The Church Of Laodicea", which Christ will spew out of his mouth. The coded message also gave enough information to enable me to identify the "Church Of Laodicea" as "The Church Of North America", so though I firmly believe in GOD, I choose not to be a member of any North American Church

Interesting...but I absolutely disagree with your interpretation.

 

[jinc1019]

Wow if someone would of switched our usernames I would of believed I was the OP. I consider myself an inter-denominational Christian who attends a LCMC church. The LCMC is non-confessional but all in all Lutheranism has good solid theology but like you I don't agree with it 100% either. At this point in my spiritual journey I have three main points that have to be met for me to call a church home. 1st as I stated good solid theology. 2nd genuinely caring, with many wise proven believers and 3rd the historic teaching and practice of the sacraments. Numbers 1 and 2 are highly likely to be found in a ND church but I was hard pressed to find number 3. After attending an EO church last fall and winter I had a "woman with a blood issue" type of experience with the Eucharist.
Luke 8:46-48

New King James Version (NKJV)

46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer;[a] your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”.

First of all,
I agree that the similarities seem astounding! I too have been considering the EO and the only Lutheran church I am considering is the LC-MS. I am not exactly sure how much we agree on what Luther got right, but I agree with the overwhelming majority of it. I do have some trouble with some of his Augustinian tendencies on original sin, the idea that the papal office is the Anti-Christ, literal six 24-hour days of creation, and several other issues as well (but those are basically the biggest ones).

Why, might I ask, did you end up settling on LC-MS vs. something else?

Additionally, I am not sure I understand your reference regarding the "woman with a blood issue" comment. I can see the words flying over my head rather quickly even as I type this!

 

[jinc1019]

The biggest problem with denominations is they dictate doctrine you must believe. A non-denominational church only dictates with a SoF based on biblical backing but doesn't dictate many of the specific doctrines that bring division.

You are free to believe as you are led by the Holy Spirit as opposed to the traditions of man in religion. For example the non-denominational church I grew up in as a teenager was Charismatic but was not WoF verses non-WoF. It was not Calvinist or Armenian. You were free to accept teaching from the pulpit as valid or not based on your own testing of the teaching.

Very good point. One of my biggest problems is that I seem to have a problem with every denomination! Always in the details too.

However, while it is certainly tempting to join a non-denominational church for the reasons you outlined, it somehow feels like I am "making up" my own faith or that I am joining a church that doesn't stand for anything specific. Do you know what I mean? It just feels like an excuse to get out of tough questions....I guess you could make the same argument about joining a denomination though (when one joins one and then defers to whatever they teach no matter what).

 

[jinc1019]

You know it's kind of arrogant to call yourself a "true" Christian, because what you consider "true", other churches (Catholic, Orthodox, Episcopal, Methodist, etc.) might consider false or heresy.

I can understand why you would misread my statement considering the way it was written so let me make myself clear: When I said "true" Christian, I meant I actually started believing Jesus was God. Before that, I never did. I identified myself as "Catholic," which I still did even after I found faith in Jesus for some time, but I didn't actually believe in Jesus or most of what Christianity taught. That's what I meant. I didn't mean it the way you are accusing me of stating it.

 

[jinc1019]

Most non-denominational Christians have been Spirit Filled and are only looking for a relationship with Jesus and being the Servant the Lord has for us.

I was raised strict Protestant, married a Catholic - after years in his church and years in my church, I found the Spirit Filled life and all of the man made rules became so unimportant - a lot of the churches are so busy telling us what we can't do that they fail to tell you what God can do.

I don't claim any denomination - only a close relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit and I am a God loving servant of the most high God.

I certainly can understand your position! I have had a somewhat similar path...However, where I think we might differ is that I do believe that getting the doctrine right is very important and I think good theology is important. Worship is definitely important too! Don't get me wrong! But the teaching is essential for the worship to make sense. I worry that in a non-denominational church, even a good one, the theology might be lacking. I don't know...just a worry!

 

[Yahu]

Very good point. One of my biggest problems is that I seem to have a problem with every denomination! Always in the details too.

However, while it is certainly tempting to join a non-denominational church for the reasons you outlined, it somehow feels like I am "making up" my own faith or that I am joining a church that doesn't stand for anything specific. Do you know what I mean? It just feels like an excuse to get out of tough questions....I guess you could make the same argument about joining a denomination though (when one joins one and then defers to whatever they teach no matter what).

A non-denominational church allows you the freedom to disagree. Of course basic doctrines of salvation (milk) tend to be similar.

Now I have presented teaching that led to two different churches splitting off from their parent denomination. They accepted the teaching I offered but had to reject core doctrines of their parent denomination to do so. They became independent non-denominational churches. Of course they carried some of the baggage from their former denomination. Splits are not a bad thing. It generally occurs when a congregation overcomes error they find in the core denominational beliefs just as the reformation was driving by the errors within the RCC.

 

[Yahu]

I certainly can understand your position! I have had a somewhat similar path...However, where I think we might differ is that I do believe that getting the doctrine right is very important and I think good theology is important. Worship is definitely important too! Don't get me wrong! But the teaching is essential for the worship to make sense. I worry that in a non-denominational church, even a good one, the theology might be lacking. I don't know...just a worry!

I wouldn't worry that. You should have a variety of teachers, not following the doctrine of a single man. It should be run by a board of elders, not a single pastor. You may get different doctrinal teaching from both sides and allowed to test that doctrine and study for yourself instead of being force fed what you MUST believe.

You should get a broader variety of teachings because of the non-denominational status.

 

[Tigger45]

First of all,
I agree that the similarities seem astounding! I too have been considering the EO and the only Lutheran church I am considering is the LC-MS. I am not exactly sure how much we agree on what Luther got right, but I agree with the overwhelming majority of it. I do have some trouble with some of his Augustinian tendencies on original sin, the idea that the papal office is the Anti-Christ, literal six 24-hour days of creation, and several other issues as well (but those are basically the biggest ones).

Why, might I ask, did you end up settling on LC-MS vs. something else?

Additionally, I am not sure I understand your reference regarding the "woman with a blood issue" comment. I can see the words flying over my head rather quickly even as I type this!

I go to a LCMC church not LC-MS. Although I like LC-MS over all. My main point was Lutheranism has good theology I'm just not in 100% agreement with any denomination. I give denominations grace on non-essential doctrines. I'm sure my biblical interpretation isn't in 100% with God's either so I think it's more important to fellowship with other believers. The EO taught me about church history and the lifes/deaths of the ECFs. I felt the EO takes the veneration of the Virgin Mary and the ECFs too far but I don't think modern evangelical churches give enough time and respect to this subject. As far as "the woman with the blood issue" goes. Last June of 2012 I lost my job. The stress was so bad it was like a boa constrictor was crushing my chest. The EO's liturgical service is very beautiful and they take the Eucharist very seriously. As a Catechumen I wasn't allowed to take communion but I noticed as the priest and his entourage paraded the Eucharist through the sanctuary the congregants kept reaching out and touching the robe of the priest. I told myself next week I'll reach out and touch the priest's rob while carrying the Eucharist. That next week as the priest pasted by I reached out and as soon as my figure touched his rob I literally felt a power flow through my arm and filled my chest with a warm glow. It lasted several hours. Man did I need that. It just melted all my stress away. I will never look at the Eucharist as merely symbols ever again.

 

[Kurama]

Just a question of interest, as a non denominational Christian, do you affiliate yourself with Protestantism?

 

[Yahu]

Just a question of interest, as a non denominational Christian, do you affiliate yourself with Protestantism?

Of course. If your not in a denomination, you can't be part of the RCC thereby making you protesting of the RCC's dictation of doctrine. There is no such things as a non-denominational Catholic.

 

[prov1810]

Just a question of interest, as a non denominational Christian, do you affiliate yourself with Protestantism?

Strictly speaking I'm not "in full communion with Rome" in faith, sacraments and pastoral governance. However, my identity is in Christ - with everyone else who believes. Jesus loves us all.

 

[Kurama]

I go to a LCMC church not LC-MS. Although I like LC-MS over all. My main point was Lutheranism has good theology I'm just not in 100% agreement with any denomination. I give denominations grace on non-essential doctrines. I'm sure my biblical interpretation isn't in 100% with God's either so I think it's more important to fellowship with other believers. The EO taught me about church history and the lifes/deaths of the ECFs. I felt the EO takes the veneration of the Virgin Mary and the ECFs too far but I don't think modern evangelical churches give enough time and respect to this subject. As far as "the woman with the blood issue" goes. Last June of 2012 I lost my job. The stress was so bad it was like a boa constrictor was crushing my chest. The EO's liturgical service is very beautiful and they take the Eucharist very seriously. As a Catechumen I wasn't allowed to take communion but I noticed as the priest and his entourage paraded the Eucharist through the sanctuary the congregants kept reaching out and touching the robe of the priest. I told myself next week I'll reach out and touch the priest's rob while carrying the Eucharist. That next week as the priest pasted by I reached out and as soon as my figure touched his rob I literally felt a power flow through my arm and filled my chest with a warm glow. It lasted several hours. Man did I need that. It just melted all my stress away. I will never look at the Eucharist as merely symbols ever again.

Praise God!

It is always heart warming when one of my separated Protestant brethren feel the power and supernatural of the Eucharist!

I've never had such a chance...I actually took Communion without being baptised lol (I've never been baptised, hard to practice my faith in China), one of the worst of mortal sins...

Of course. If your not in a denomination, you can't be part of the RCC thereby making you protesting of the RCC's dictation of doctrine. There is no such things as a non-denominational Catholic.

In the eyes of the Church, any Christian who is not in communion with the Bishop of Rome (except for the Great Schism denominations such as the Orthodox, Coptic etc) is a Protestant.

Some non-denominationals have told me that they're not Protestant because they want to be independent of all the mainstream denominations. Trouble is that this is a contradiction, one is Protestant is they reject Catholic theology.

Strictly speaking I'm not "in full communion with Rome" in faith, sacraments and pastoral governance. However, my identity is in Christ - with everyone else who believes. Jesus loves us all.

I see, this belief is maintained by most Protestant denominations as well (apart from some Luthern and Episcopal ones that still take the Eucharist).

I believe that the non-denominational movement does a lot of good among the Protestant denominations, it unites you all in common faith in our Lord.

 

[Kurama]

I have been searching for a church home for quite some time now. I became a true Christian (despite growing up in the Catholic Church) about 2 1/2 years ago after spending a great deal of time researching the roots of Christianity and the history behind the movement.

I understand that you talk about becoming a true Christian by the fact that you acknowledged Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. However I don't understand what you mean ''despite growing up in the Catholic Church.''

Are you implying that the Church does not teach Christian values and theology? I tell you, even if Catholicism was false and the Church has no divine authority, I could never accept the fact that God would look upon the heart of a Catholic and not find love.

Catholics venerate Mary, pray the Rosary, take the Sacraments, sing....all in our love for Jesus.

 

[SharonL]

The difference in the non-denominational is when we have a question, we go to the Bible and do our research. I've listened to so many different churches and man made laws that I want nothing to do with what they decide. If you are really listening to the Holy Spirit, He will guide you without all the confusion. My husband and I do our Bible study and what one or the other does not understand, we start our research until we come to the answer the Holy Spirit shows us. Much less confusing and a closer understanding of your relationship with God.

It's not like we have not had any teachings - I am 77 and my husband is 81 - churched all our lives - Nazarene, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Lutheran - not knocking any of these - but it gets confusing - moved 7 years ago and unable to find a church, have tried many, but they are so dry. We have a very close relationship with God and find peace.