Independent Christian Churches

[WiredSpirit]

It seems like most of the non-denominational churches around here are Independent Christian Churches from the Stone/Campbell Restoration movement. This is especially common with the megachurches, which usually are non-denominational and give no indication of their history.

I was wondering how many of your churches fit that category and should we have a subforum or something?

Edit: I did look over the "No Creed but Christ" forum and it seemed to me that was for the a cappella Churches of Christ. The posters in there seem to be very right-of-center as the Churches of Christ are probably the most conservative group to come out of the Restoration movement.

 

[jive4005]

My ministry is Independent Baptist. Large denominations always scare me.

rev

 

[HeyHomie]

The "No Creed but Christ" sub-forum was meant to include all churches that descended from the Stone-Campbell movement. This would include the Independent Christian Churches.

That the sub-forum is mostly made up of people from a capella Churches of Christ is just a result of numbers, I guess.

 

[Amisk]

The "No Creed but Christ" sub-forum was meant to include all churches that descended from the Stone-Campbell movement. This would include the Independent Christian Churches.

That the sub-forum is mostly made up of people from a capella Churches of Christ is just a result of numbers, I guess.

What is the Stone-Campbell movement. I haven't heard of them before.

 

[WiredSpirit]

I think its odd that you can lump together the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with the Church of Christ along with us ICCers. They're about as similar as Catholics and Protestants.

 

[LawsonAlan]

The discussion of the difference between the "Christian Church" and the "Church of Christ" reminds me of an incredibly funny scene from Monty Python.

I'm not drawing any parallels. I'm just saying that the discussion reminds me of this scene. I'm a Nicene, by the way.

The clip focusses on the feelings of the "People's Front of Judea" toward the "Judean's People's Front" and goes on to mention the "Popular Judean Front" as well as the "Judean Popular People's Front," and maybe a few others.

Edit-after finding some slight language in the clip, I decided not to post it here. However, if one were to serch on Youtube with "life of brian judean" and click on the first video, they'd see the clip of which I speak...

 

[HeyHomie]

What is the Stone-Campbell movement. I haven't heard of them before.

You'll get a much better explanation on Wikipedia than what I can provide here, but the gist of it is that the teachings of Messers Stone and Campbell led to the founding of several congregations based on similar principles. The basic idea is in attempt to "restore" worship and other aspects of church life to the model set forth in the New Testament.

 

[jive4005]

Wondering... how can a church call itself independent and still affiliate itself with other groups?

rev

 

[HeyHomie]

Wondering... how can a church call itself independent and still affiliate itself with other groups?

rev

When there's no "headquarters" making decisions for the local congregations.

 

[jive4005]

THAT makes sense... kinda like semi-Independent, locally automomous!

rev

 

[IisJustMe]

Wondering... how can a church call itself independent and still affiliate itself with other groups?

When there's no "headquarters" making decisions for the local congregations.

What real difference does that make? You don't need a national headquarters to have a common doctrine. It seems that no matter how simple some of these "independents" try to make their theology, they wind up having to define it and redefine it and re-redefine it to the point that it winds up looking very similar to a lot of other church and denominational doctrines.

That fact is, the "no creed but Christ" forum makes no sense whatsoever. If you follow their discussions, they have several different views of the Savior and King. If He is a single creed, how is that possible? In reality, there is a great deal of diversity in biblical interpretation and doctrine, and the disagreements over those points are what makes for several denominations. It really isn't possible to have a truly "non-denominational" forum either, because people with conservative evangelical views and people with pentecostal/charismatic views can all consider themselves "non-denominational." I myself attend a non-denominational church, but come from a Southern Baptist background. Seven of our 12 pastors graduated from an SBC seminary, as did I. My views will not allow me to deny the Baptist Faith and Message, as it most closely represents my beliefs. Yet I can still agree to the statement of faith for this forum.

I refer back to my previous and numerous statements, that if we can agree to the Nicene Creed, we all worship the same God, and the doctrinal differences should be put aside for the sake of fellowship. Further separation is a bad idea, given this current atmosphere within our churches to seek unity

 

[jive4005]

Sharing doctrine and values is one thing... sharing power in financial and official ways is quite another.

rev