Non-Denominational Christianity

Non-Denominational Christianity

One of the most widely used terms in the postmodern world of religion is "nondenominational." Like many other terms in popular usage, it is of imprecise meaning. It is often misused and sometimes used deceitfully. This term was created to describe a situation that evolved in the last 250 years.

In the early years of the Christian age there were no denominations, only Christians in the church established by Christ. Later as the church became corrupted and devolved into Roman Catholicism, dissidents who refused to participate in its corruption, protested and separated themselves. They were soon crushed or driven into exile by the ruthless Catholic authorities. When the dissent reached major proportions in the early 16th century, revolt broke out in numerous places and resulted in the birth of the first Protestant denominations. They have continued to multiply in number to this day.

Those who are champions of denominationalism are forced to defend it in the face of scripture that calls for unity in Christ (John 17:20-21) and condemns division among His disciples (I Cor. 1:10-11). The more spiritually minded among them have always bemoaned their divided state. As the division multiplied and the shame and failure of it grew more evident, different means were formulated to overcome denominationalism.

Some pretend that really there is no division. They reason, "We are all Christians. We are just traveling different roads to heaven."

Some have labored to unite their denomination with one or more others. Thus Northern a Southern Methodists and Presbyterians reunited. The Congregational Church, the Christian Connection Church and Evangelical and Reformed Church united to be come the United Church of Christ. Disciples of Christ has been pursuing such union. At the end, each of these is still nothing more than a Protestant denomination.

Still others launched a massive world-wide effort to establish ecumenical unity. Early on this was known as he Federal Council of Churches, then the American Council of Churches and finally the World Council of Churches. Their goal was to create a powerful, governing body with vast social and political power. Each denomination involved retains its own identity and structure.

Some sensing the shame of denominationalism and its distastefulness to the public, have declared themselves to be undenominational or non denominational Churches. There are several varieties in this camp.

Some do in fact break their ties with the denominational governing bodies and operate independently.

Others declare their independence but still subscribe to the same doctrines and practices of the denomination they have left.

Some just create their own new denomination, which they control. It is often the preacher who controls such churches.

Some claim to be non-denominational but that is for advertising purposes only, since they quietly retain their affiliation with their former denomination. For them, "non-denominational" is more of a marketing ploy than a reality.

Some groups are actually multi-denominational or inter-denominational since their membership is open to any who professes Christ regardless of their denominational membership or beliefs.

Different from all of these are churches of Christ. We have no national or international organization to govern our congregations, license our preachers, determine our doctrine or arbitrate our problems. Christ is our only head (Eph. 1:22). Each church is autonomous, answering only to Him (Acts 14:23). We have no humanly devised creed to which we must subscribe. We are guided by the Bible alone. We wear no denominational names. Each member is a Christian (Acts 11:26). Collectively we are churches of Christ (Rom. 16:16). The church is his by right of purchase (Acts 20:28). We protest not only against Catholicism, but against denominational as well. Rather than trying to unite denominations we encourage all believers to abandon them for a place in Christ's church and leave their denominations to sink into oblivion. We are truly non-denominational Christians in the same way those were of whom we read in the Acts of Apostles.

Sincerely,

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