Nondenominationalism

[AnthonyB]

I think we can all agree that it is a sorrowful thing that division exists within Christ's body.
However divisions will occurr because of some falling into error, others just forming parties around an individual or just not taking the time to realy understand each other and comprehend that perceived difference maybe not what we thought they were.

I have always believed in being only a christian, that denominations are secular institutions (in the original meaning of the term secular, meaning of this age) and that in the reality of heaven there will be no borders or division between disciples of Jesus. Therefore I have been a member of various churches, were the other members may have considered themselves to be part of a division but i have always refused to recognize the labels or apply them to myself.

When I look at Paul writing about divisions within the church, he doesn't tell them that they cease to be Christians because they are divided and are wearing divisive lables but calls them back to the unity in Christ. So I whilst I see labling and dividing as wrong I have never believed it ceased from including those doing it from being in Christ. When I read Paul, one of the groups was claims to be "of Christ", as well as "of Paul" or "of  Apollos", I believe that even if you are claiming the right name, you can be a part of creating factions, and that is what is wrong.

So I would like to understand why so many RM folk value being nondenominational, in the sense of being a seperate part of body, rather then just treating denominations from God's point of view as being human created divisions within the body which we ignore and work to call all back from division even those who are wearing the correct name or group badge?

[Culsey]

I think we can all agree that it is a sorrowful thing that division exists within Christ's body.
However divisions will occurr because of some falling into error, others just forming parties around an individual or just not taking the time to realy understand each other and comprehend that perceived difference maybe not what we thought they were.

I have always believed in being only a christian, that denominations are secular institutions (in the original meaning of the term secular, meaning of this age) and that in the reality of heaven there will be no borders or division between disciples of Jesus. Therefore I have been a member of various churches, were the other members may have considered themselves to be part of a division but i have always refused to recognize the labels or apply them to myself.

When I look at Paul writing about divisions within the church, he doesn't tell them that they cease to be Christians because they are divided and are wearing divisive lables but calls them back to the unity in Christ. So I whilst I see labling and dividing as wrong I have never believed it ceased from including those doing it from being in Christ. When I read Paul, one of the groups was claims to be "of Christ", as well as "of Paul" or "of  Apollos", I believe that even if you are claiming the right name, you can be a part of creating factions, and that is what is wrong.

So I would like to understand why so many RM folk value being nondenominational, in the sense of being a seperate part of body, rather then just treating denominations from God's point of view as being human created divisions within the body which we ignore and work to call all back from division even those who are wearing the correct name or group badge?

+1

[DaveW]

So I would like to understand why so many RM folk value being nondenominational, in the sense of being a separate part of body, rather then just treating denominations from God's point of view as being human created divisions within the body which we ignore and work to call all back from division even those who are wearing the correct name or group badge?

Because they (at least the old line conservatives) do not consider the "denominations" to be a part of the Body of Christ.  So if the CoC were to become a denomination they would lose their salvation.

They do not see themselves as "being a separate part of body;" rather they see themselves as the ENTIRE body.

[notreligus]

Antho

I think we can all agree that it is a sorrowful thing that division exists within Christ's body.
However divisions will occurr because of some falling into error, others just forming parties around an individual or just not taking the time to realy understand each other and comprehend that perceived difference maybe not what we thought they were.

I have always believed in being only a christian, that denominations are secular institutions (in the original meaning of the term secular, meaning of this age) and that in the reality of heaven there will be no borders or division between disciples of Jesus. Therefore I have been a member of various churches, were the other members may have considered themselves to be part of a division but i have always refused to recognize the labels or apply them to myself.

When I look at Paul writing about divisions within the church, he doesn't tell them that they cease to be Christians because they are divided and are wearing divisive lables but calls them back to the unity in Christ. So I whilst I see labling and dividing as wrong I have never believed it ceased from including those doing it from being in Christ. When I read Paul, one of the groups was claims to be "of Christ", as well as "of Paul" or "of  Apollos", I believe that even if you are claiming the right name, you can be a part of creating factions, and that is what is wrong.

So I would like to understand why so many RM folk value being nondenominational, in the sense of being a seperate part of body, rather then just treating denominations from God's point of view as being human created divisions within the body which we ignore and work to call all back from division even those who are wearing the correct name or group badge?

Anthony, I appreciate you and your spirit.   

What you are describing is interdenominationalism.   The best church I ever found was an interdenominational church.  The members came from a wide range of denominational backgrounds, but I never once witnessed any in-fighting over denominational-based doctrine.   The pastor had a ThM degree from Asbury Seminary and had left the Methodist Church.   Unfortunately he and his family moved back to their home state and a new pastor stepped in who had a definite doctrinal slant and things were never the same.   

What defines a denomination is the doctrine.  The name is really not a factor.   God sees His children as individuals, and this is irrespective of the group name we assign to it.   The Body of Christ is what the Apostle Paul called the new man in Christ.   

[DaveW]

What defines a denomination is the doctrine. 

The way the CoC defined a denomination was by the existence of an organized structure.

The name is really not a factor.

They said it was.  If the sign out front did not say "church of Christ" or some other phrase THAT APPEARS IN SCRIPTURE, your worship there was invalid and not accepted by God.

[Culsey]

What defines a denomination is the doctrine. 

The way the CoC defined a denomination was by the existence of an organized structure.

The name is really not a factor.

They said it was.  If the sign out front did not say "church of Christ" or some other phrase THAT APPEARS IN SCRIPTURE, your worship there was invalid and not accepted by God.

The old liners of the CoC believe they are the only ones going to heaven. They do not accept any other church is valid. Of course Paul agrees with this and started the CoC personally and made several supporting statements in the NT text. NOT 

[marc]

I've come to believe that it's imperative for those of us in the Church of Christ to speak up against this practice of saying we're the One True Church. I mentioned the book Escaping-Self-Idolatry earlier, and when I saw this thread I remembered something from that book. This comes right after the author quotes David Hersey equating the "works of darkness" in Ephesians 5 with "denominations".

And we don't do this in an innocent, harmless way; we do this in a way that consigns those who disagree with us to Hell. And in so doing we insist that our salvation is dependent on how 'well' we read the Bible, that it is incumbent on our intellect and our 'honesty' (a rather ironic use of the word, since it hangs on an intellectually dishonest reading of the passage.)

Not only that, the damage isn't only done to those outside of our churches. Like the Pharisees, we cause our own members to pick up burdens too heavy for them to bear. We make following God a chore, a tough, thankless task that causes us to lose sleep worrying about whether we've accidentally lost our salvation.

Christianity should be a natural way of life, not a forced march. I love the way that Eugene Peterson worded Matthew 11:28-30 in The Message:

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

This is life. This is truth. This is Christ.

[notreligus]

DaveW,

I don't dispute what the C of C claim about their "non-denominationalism" as I very well know their rationale.   I don't agree, even after over 40 years with the Restoration Movement.   It's something that was thrown at me that never did stick.