re: The appeal of non denominational churches

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Most are motivational speeches and a concert. Biggest one here in Bham area doesn't even have a cross in the "church".

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This is kind of what I'm talking about. You say that as if they're inherently heretical things and not opinion based. If God's word is not being used in the messages, of course I would agree that that's not a good thing. Preaching the gospel is pretty much inherently a motivational speech in a sense though. People don't believe the gospel so you give a message to motivate them to repent and believe the gospel, thus making it a motivational speech.


As far as the music goes, who cares if your church sings with only voices or has guitars and drums? Does the bible condemn the playing of guitars in worship? If not, it's just an opinion.

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Every time I hear people arguing over which denomination is most correct and crapping on the others, I'm just reminded of the disciples arguing in Luke over who is the greatest.

As long as we agree on the essentials, the core doctrine that Christ was and is the Messiah and we trust in him alone for our salvation, I really don't care if you like traditional music or contemporary music better. All this bickering and splitting over things that aren't all that consequential is ridiculous and just breeds elitism and clinging to ritual when Christ himself tore people's rituals a new one and said they do not save you.

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Spot on. It seems like discussions around denominations devolve into which one interprets this or that correctly or who is best. We stop focusing on Christ when we do that. I don’t really care about denominations, as long as we’re spreading the Gospel and growing closer to Christ.

I go to a non-denominational church, and have had a similar experience. The only difference was they felt like the Southern Baptist Convention was getting too liberal on teachings, so they separated. I joined after it became non-denominational, but I appreciate the more conservative teachings. I know many Methodists and Episcopalians would probably like a clean break from their governing bodies too.

It definitely is larger than I like, but they do a good job of trying to minimize that by starting satellite campuses instead of just growing the main campus.

At the end of the day, they have amazing stuff going on for my kids, which is the biggest thing for me. I want my kids to have a great base for their faith, and my church provides it.

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the pastor of the mega non-denom that my wife and daughter attend has a personal net worth of $110 million, he had to step down as pastor last year because an inappropriate sexual relationship he had with a 12 year old

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and you let your daughter and wife attend this non sense church?

frick that

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I don’t get going to church in a strip mall or the opposite, a billion square foot mega church.

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“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment”

John 7:24

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him being non-denom has zero to do with it.

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but the being worth $110 million as the result of the mega church part is

My parents raised me baptist, then they switched to ND when i went Catholic. I go to their church when I visit them and it's just K-Love karaoke with a ten minute speech in the middle of it about Jesus with no scripture being read. I don't get it. It's the most bland and empty "worship" I've ever seen.

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I go to a non-denominational church, and have had a similar experience. The only difference was they felt like the Southern Baptist Convention was getting too liberal on teachings, so they separated.

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i grew up southern baptist. in texas there are two flavors of SBC. Baptist General Convention of Texas and Southern Baptists of Texas. I didn't know the difference but in college my now wife and I started dating and the church i was at (BGCT) didn't have much of a college ministry so i moved over there (SBTC) with her. Only real difference to me was no altar calls every sermon.

When we moved about 6 years later and started visiting churches, we went to other baptist churches (all BGCT) and realized we were not baptists any more and ended up at non-denominational.

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I joined after it became non-denominational, but I appreciate the more conservative teachings. I know many Methodists and Episcopalians would probably like a clean break from their governing bodies too

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Presbyterians and Methodists both had their split in the last 20 years.

It's probably different based on location, but the majority of my church leadership went to Southern (Louisville) and Dallas Theological Seminary. If they went there, we're probably going to agree on most issues.

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I know a lot of people who attend these churches and while most are really good people, they usually use the excuse that these churches are more loose with their teachings and more flexible than other organized religions.

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i go to a non-denominational Bible church and the opposite of this is why i go.

very orthodox conservative views of the scripture with a strong reformed bent. they can get a little social justicy on race issues, but it's never been divisive. every time somebody gets liberal or wants to change our church's views or bylaws they are very quickly shown the door.

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This has been my experience as well.

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While I'm not Catholic, I grew up in a Catholic community

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I grew up Catholic, as did my wife.

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and appreciate the norms there.

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There is a comfort in tradition, but also a danger, from a spiritual point of view.