Re: Which Denomination?
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2014 3:05 pm
Hi Bart,
If there are no non-denominational churches in your city, and you feel that it is important to be non-denominational, why not meet in the name of Christ alone with a few other like-minded people? Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Actually the only true churches are non-denominational. They are local expressions of the one and only Church (or should I say "Assembly") which Messiah Jesus founded. That one True Church is not divided into denominations. In my opinion, denominations are a set of clubs. The chief mark of a club, is that it has a membership role, and one must join the club in order to enjoy full privileges. Isn't that the case with every "denominational" church? But one cannot join the Church which Christ founded. The Lord alone can make you a member.
...And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47 NKJV)
No one could join that apostolic Church which Christ founded. It was only when a person was being saved that the Lord added him to the Church.
I have met with three different expressions of the true Church. None of them had a membership role. All three recognized persons who were already members of the true Church, and when such persons were recognized, they enjoyed full privileges. Each of the three shared the eucharist or communion every Sunday. In some respects, the theology of the three groups differed, but there was harmony with respect to recognizing and loving fellow brothers and sisters, and in serving Christ as one's Lord.
I think the main characteristic of a club, as opposed to a true expression of the Church, is that the club has a formal membership role, and that membership is required in order to fully share in all activities and privileges.
If there are no non-denominational churches in your city, and you feel that it is important to be non-denominational, why not meet in the name of Christ alone with a few other like-minded people? Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Actually the only true churches are non-denominational. They are local expressions of the one and only Church (or should I say "Assembly") which Messiah Jesus founded. That one True Church is not divided into denominations. In my opinion, denominations are a set of clubs. The chief mark of a club, is that it has a membership role, and one must join the club in order to enjoy full privileges. Isn't that the case with every "denominational" church? But one cannot join the Church which Christ founded. The Lord alone can make you a member.
...And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47 NKJV)
No one could join that apostolic Church which Christ founded. It was only when a person was being saved that the Lord added him to the Church.
I have met with three different expressions of the true Church. None of them had a membership role. All three recognized persons who were already members of the true Church, and when such persons were recognized, they enjoyed full privileges. Each of the three shared the eucharist or communion every Sunday. In some respects, the theology of the three groups differed, but there was harmony with respect to recognizing and loving fellow brothers and sisters, and in serving Christ as one's Lord.
I think the main characteristic of a club, as opposed to a true expression of the Church, is that the club has a formal membership role, and that membership is required in order to fully share in all activities and privileges.