A non denominational church can actually be any kind of Christian place of worship, but many of them follow a pattern familiar to those who seek out this sort of congregation. Basically, these are gatherings of believers who have no allegiance to any worldly governance than their own elders and pastor. The size, order of worship, and even day set aside for fellowship will vary widely.
Denominations are national or international governing bodies that determine doctrine for their members, craft by-laws, and set procedural rules. For example, Catholics have communion at every service, while protestant churches often do this celebration once a month. The central group may function mostly in an advisory and dispute-settling capacity, or they may actually appoint ministers, regulate the size of fellowships, and even issue dietary guides. They often supply local groups with literature, provide funds, and host conferences for ministers and elders.
As the times change, denominational fellowships have suffered from internal conflict. The Episcopal denomination is one which has seen splits over doctrine and disputes over physical property in recent years. Congregations which choose to break away from the parent entity sometimes find that their physical house of worship belongs to the governors rather than to the fellowship.
Many believers like belonging to a structured belief system, whether because they grew up in it or because it fills their spiritual needs. Americans are familiar with Roman Catholic, Southern Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Pentecostal groups. Other organizations are known as Mormon, Adventist, Jehovah's Witness, Amish, Mennonite, and Christian Scientist. This partial list shows how diverse belief systems have become.
The simplest division is Catholic or protestant. Protestant refers to those who left the Roman Catholic rule during the Reformation, based on the teachings of Martin Luther, and off-shoots of them that developed later. All Christian churches can be traced back to the first gathering of believers under the Apostles in Jerusalem after Jesus ascended to Heaven. Catholic monasteries devotedly preserved and copied sacred texts for centuries before the printing press made the Bible available to the masses.
Believers who want only the authority of the Bible will often seek out a non-denominational congregation. They expect the minister to teach Scriptural principles and the fellowship to give those precepts their obedience. People gather for 'house churches' in private homes or come together in huge auditoriums for praise, worship, prayer, and instruction.
These more independent churches have their own structure, often in the charismatic mode. They have enthusiastic worship, with praise singers and musicians and the words of the songs shown on screens in front of the congregation. They often advertise Bible-based, spirit-filled worship and teaching, and the ministers rely on divine inspiration as well as scriptural teaching for their messages at every service.
Of course, the true church is the body of believers, who make up the corporal body of Christ according to Scripture. All doctrinal and procedural differences should defer to the essential truth of Jesus as the way to salvation from sin and eternal life with God in Heaven. A non denominational church should support these truths.
Denominations are national or international governing bodies that determine doctrine for their members, craft by-laws, and set procedural rules. For example, Catholics have communion at every service, while protestant churches often do this celebration once a month. The central group may function mostly in an advisory and dispute-settling capacity, or they may actually appoint ministers, regulate the size of fellowships, and even issue dietary guides. They often supply local groups with literature, provide funds, and host conferences for ministers and elders.
As the times change, denominational fellowships have suffered from internal conflict. The Episcopal denomination is one which has seen splits over doctrine and disputes over physical property in recent years. Congregations which choose to break away from the parent entity sometimes find that their physical house of worship belongs to the governors rather than to the fellowship.
Many believers like belonging to a structured belief system, whether because they grew up in it or because it fills their spiritual needs. Americans are familiar with Roman Catholic, Southern Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Pentecostal groups. Other organizations are known as Mormon, Adventist, Jehovah's Witness, Amish, Mennonite, and Christian Scientist. This partial list shows how diverse belief systems have become.
The simplest division is Catholic or protestant. Protestant refers to those who left the Roman Catholic rule during the Reformation, based on the teachings of Martin Luther, and off-shoots of them that developed later. All Christian churches can be traced back to the first gathering of believers under the Apostles in Jerusalem after Jesus ascended to Heaven. Catholic monasteries devotedly preserved and copied sacred texts for centuries before the printing press made the Bible available to the masses.
Believers who want only the authority of the Bible will often seek out a non-denominational congregation. They expect the minister to teach Scriptural principles and the fellowship to give those precepts their obedience. People gather for 'house churches' in private homes or come together in huge auditoriums for praise, worship, prayer, and instruction.
These more independent churches have their own structure, often in the charismatic mode. They have enthusiastic worship, with praise singers and musicians and the words of the songs shown on screens in front of the congregation. They often advertise Bible-based, spirit-filled worship and teaching, and the ministers rely on divine inspiration as well as scriptural teaching for their messages at every service.
Of course, the true church is the body of believers, who make up the corporal body of Christ according to Scripture. All doctrinal and procedural differences should defer to the essential truth of Jesus as the way to salvation from sin and eternal life with God in Heaven. A non denominational church should support these truths.
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