In our society today I see a great flood of people pursuing the free movement of non-denominationalism. People are rushing to churches with no affiliation to one particular denomination or another. Why is this?
I am sure the most common argument from those riding the wave would be the corruption or hypocrisy of most major denominations, but this argument does not hold water with me.... another post for another time. My personal thoughts on non-denominational "church" fellowships is automatically slanted to the negative quite simply because of their lack of dedication to biblical doctrine. Isn't that what they are proclaiming by being "non-denominational"? That they are not going to adhere too or force the instruction of say Baptist doctrine or the doctrines in Pentecostalism? Many find that this type of environment freeing and enjoy it because it is "self expressive" and "unhindered". This is what concerns me about the growing movement.
This is word for word from the website of one of the largest non-denominational churches in Brmingham, AL.
"What a joy it is to introduce you to our church! You'll discover that our passion is to provide a place where people just like you can have a life-changing experience with God.
At ###### ## ### ##########, our doors are wide open to people from all backgrounds, regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey. What people usually notice first about us is the life-giving nature of our ministry. Our goal is to infuse life and God's love into people and families through engaging, powerful worship services that offer biblical truth in relevant and practical ways.
But it won't take you long to discover that we're more than just a Sunday church. In fact, we're actually a network of small groups. And if you'd like to develop authentic and enduring relationships with others, you'll be glad to know there are opportunities to join a group all the time.
Together, we're striving to become the kind of church described in the Bible, where there's relevant teaching, heart-felt worship, honest friendships, constant prayer, and compassionate care for those in need. In short, we'd like to have the kind of contagious Christianity that can influence and encourage the entire community, one life at a time.
So whether you're a spiritual seeker who's just starting to ask questions about God, or a committed Christian who wants to sink the roots of your faith even deeper, you can find a home here at ###### ## ### ##########.
In our relationship with God, our family, our friends, and our world ... it's where new heights begin. We invite you to worship with us this Sunday!"
I have blotted out the name of the church because I do not want their particular fellowship to become the topic of discussion, rather I would like to point out some truths concerning their statement.
- Since when is it our place to create or "provide" a place for a person to have a life changing experiences with God? John Newton (Author of Amazing Grace) was called out by God on a ship in the middle of the sea...... The Apostle Paul was on a dirt road..... Conversion has NOTHING to do with LOCATION.
- "What people usually notice first about us is the life-giving nature of our ministry" -- What??????? Shouldn't you be promoting Jesus as the life giver and not yourselves?
- "Contagious Christianity"???? What the snap is that? Since when does someone repent and trust in Christ because they "caught" it from someone else? What happened to being confronted with their sin before a holy God?
- "A spiritual seeker"??
- John 6:44 -- 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
- Romans 3:11 and also Psalm 14 -- 1 The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.
2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
3 They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.
This movement is of great concern to me first of all as a Christian and secondly as a pastor and teacher. My emotions, my words, my clothing, my cool music nor a created environment will EVER convict a person of their sin. Faith in Christ comes ONLY by one way, "So now faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God" Romans 10:17.
Regardless of what you have heard on TBN or have been told from many pulpits today, you are NOT at liberty to worship God any way you please. There is but one way to worship and that is in spirit and truth. Granted spirit and truth worship may have many different forms derived from many different cultures, but the underlying doctrines MUST be the same and MUST never be billed as unimportant.
Inviting non-Christians to church is a good thing and places them in a prime positions to respond in faith by hearing the word of God preached. However, to "create an environment" is a sad attempt on our part to do the sovereign work of God. My fear is that the only environment that is being created is one that makes the sinner feel right at home in his/her wretched state. The prophet Ezekiel makes it clear to us even today:
Ezekiel 33:1-6
"1 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’"
Almighty Father and God, forgive me for not sounding the alarm to many of whom you have placed in my path. May I be a pastor that does not rely on my abilities to coax the lost into a false conversion but may I be one who stands strong on the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit and Your sovereign Word. Lord, I pray for more time to grow Your kingdom prior to the return of Your Son Jesus Christ, yet I also long for Your quick return so that I may be united finally with the author and finisher of my faith. He must increase, but I must decrease.
6 comments:
If non-denomination equals no doctrine(and in alot of cases it does) I want no part, but if it means identifying myself with Christ more than a particular group of people, count me in.
Let me explain;
I go to a church fellowship that has the label Baptist, but if you ask me what I am, the last thing I will tell you or want you to label me is Baptist. The only thing I want to be known as is a Christ-follower, Christian.
I agree with ruh! I just want to be labeled a born again Christian. We came from a non-denominational church in Illinois that very much preached the Word of God with no apologies. In fact, it was very similar to the Baptist Church we now attend.
Unfortunately, there are many out there that take "liberties" with The Word and that is where we get into trouble. We just need to be careful not to lump all Non-denominational churches into the same catagory. We are all called to examine what a preacher says with The Bible and if we truly do that the Holy Spirit won't let us be swayed.
Great responses! I agree with you totally about not lumping all non-denominational churches into the "negative" category and that was not my intentions in the original post. There are definitely independent churches and pastors who are preaching and teaching the Word of God.
The same goes for baptist congregations, presbyterian, etc... It is not our denomination that gives us eternal life, it is Christ and Christ alone.
However, doctrinally speaking, the baptist faith and messages provides a general understanding of what we state to be the truths of God with a direct affiliation (and references) to the scriptures.
What I see taking place, is churches that are providing vague (or in some instances sound)doctrinal statements that look good on a website or on paper, but their teachings and congregations reflect an attitude of feeling or emotion instead of biblical principle.
My greatest concern is for those who are not grounded in the scriptures getting caught up in something that "feels good" and being lead by their emotions rather than the instruction of the Spirit.
These teachings are subtle and extremely close to the real thing. In comes the analogy of the flu shot. You get just enough of the real thing to keep you from truly contracting the real thing. I fear that many churches (not just those with the non-denominational label) are inoculating people from Christ.
It feels good, it looks good, but when weighed against the scriptures it is dead.
Spurgeon says it well ---
"We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians. We did not commence our existence at the reformation, we were reformers before Luther and Calvin were born; we never came from the Church of Rome, for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the apostles themselves. We have always existed from the days of Christ, and our principles, sometimes veiled and forgotten, like a river which may travel under ground for a little season, have always had honest and holy adherents. Persecuted alike by Romanists and Protestants of almost every sect, yet there has never existed a Government holding Baptist principles which persecuted others; nor, I believe, any body of Baptists ever held it to be right to put the consciences of others under the control of man..." —Charles H. Spurgeon
If the church has removed the preaching of God's Word to create an environment that is non-threatening to the lost, then the Church is WRONG. This happens with both nondenominational and denominational churches that fall into this trap. They adopt a doctrine of making folks comfortable and providing an atmosphere where they can meet God on their own terms. They would rather have a church environment where they can invite their lost friends to come and enjoy church. Then if the friend doesn't respond, nobody is offended and they can go on living life without having to talk about it again.
The gospel should never be put to the back burner just to make someone feel comfortable. God has called us to stand boldly on the Word.
I may sound like the devil's advocate here, but I don't mean to. Maybe I just have a hard time understanding words that I read, maybe I'm spiritually naive, maybe I lack theological education to decipher certain things, but here's what I saw. (I realize that there is more to this 'church' than the information we've been given, but my judgement is based solely on their description you gave.)
As far as the non-denominational thing, I think the point has been made well. I grew up in one as well and I go to the church I go to now because the Word is preaced truthfully and faithfully.
As far as providing a place where people can have a life-changing experience with God, the focus is obviously on the wrong thing. Woman at the well, Spirit and Truth, enough said.
Life giving nature of our ministry...yah.
Contagious Christianity. Here's where I may make some people mad, and maybe where my lack of knowledge in all things theologic comes into play. Did not the woman at the well have contagious Christianity. No, people didn't 'catch' salvation, but did God not use her radical experience to draw others to Himself. I thought about this a lot today and figured out that I'm not necessarily on the Contagious Christianity boat as I am the on the Magnetic Christianity boat. So many 'Christians' today, including myself sometimes walk around like there's nothing to be happy about. Who would want to give their life to our Jesus? I think our Christianity should be contagious or magnetic. Are we not to be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks (us) to give an account for the hope that is in (us)? Granted, this may not be contagious but we are to be living sacrifices. Not many people are going to be changed in the middle of the sea or on a dirt road.
A far as 'Spiritual Seekers'...At one time, I was a 'spiritual seeker'. Some Christians, let alone lost people, don't realize that their 'seeking' is really God's 'calling'. And I will stand behind the sovereignty of Almighty God here. If He is calling someone (and they think they are 'seeking'), He will complete the good work He started if He's willing. And then they will realize, if this 'church' is built on false doctrine, that it is not of God.
By the way, how do you make those pretty little flower bullets?
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