It’s amazing to think about when Jesus prayed for unity for all believers, on his way to death, that today we see many facets of Christianity today. Denomination; that “D� word that makes some people shudder and others become so proud of that they are part of their own. Even I have found myself in the battle of this ideal that there are no set views about it, but more of what seems just stereotypes and generalizations. Even though we might that “D� word or not, we have them and so with that we must understand that we are most likely going to be stuck with them for a while.

As a worship leader at a “Non-Denominational� church in Southern Indiana, I grew up in a Baptist church and currently go a Baptist Seminary, so what’s the difference? The real question is though, is a “Non-Denominational� church a denomination? Honestly, that question is just as silly if you were to ask me, “Is Atheism a religion?� Now don’t misunderstand me as saying, “How can you put atheism in a discussion with religious denominations?� Well I’m not, but the answer both of them is an emphatic “yes� and “no�!

Just as Atheism is actually a religion, because even though you don’t have an “other� higher authority, it is yourself. Even though you may not have rules, regulations, or creeds, you do live according to your own beliefs and therefore your religion is yourself. With many non-denominational churches becoming more prevalent in the Western-culture there needs to be an examination of reasons. Many denominations were too strict, others too relaxed, and some were just unbiblical in every form. Some were afraid of the stereotypes placed on them and didn’t want to attach themselves either. So when ministers tried to think of ways to reach a lost and dying culture, they created churches with their own set of beliefs (as long as it was biblical). Personally, I see nothing wrong with this at all. Non-denominational churches are self-supported; whereas those who are denominational are support by a whole. The Southern Baptist denomination supports financially and ministerially all churches within its own convention. Non-denominational church function separately on their own.

To ask the question if it is a denomination, then yes! Even though they aren’t attached to a network or anything; they are still recognized with all the other non-denominational churches in America. Each church will have their own beliefs, set of creeds and values that are scriptural, but yes it will be a denomination. One that is common but separate. They are still categorized in someplace because they must be recognized somehow for the believers in Christ that they represent.

Second, they aren’t a denomination. Thinking structurally, they lack a unity and working of themselves with other churches. Every atheist might be part of the atheistic religion, but each person’s set of ideas and beliefs will be different. They live their own lives and what they believe in themselves. Non-denominational churches might be categorized together, but each one will have its own set of creeds or ideas. Again, one denomination that I speak much of is the Southern Baptist one. All churches are connected not just organizationally, but all beliefs are to be the same within the denomination. On the other hand, non-denominational churches do not have to conjoin with other non-denominational churches because it is self-supported in their own beliefs and finances.

After all of this, non-denominational churches are part of the “Non-Denominational� organization, but they are not in the sense that each churches will work separately and not together. The question is not which one is better, but what church or denomination is more biblical and being able to show how God is relevant to a lost and dying culture?

Before I came to the church I was at, I made sure to read the beliefs and statements of it and see if it was scriptural. I found nothing wrong about which made my convictions clear. Now that denomination that I grew up might frown a bit that I serve outside of it, but we are all one in the body of Christ. Whether Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, or Non-Denominational, Christ has called us to be as one body with different parts. Divisions are never fun, but they do help make the ministry diverse to reach a greater audience.

If you are considering or concerned about a particular church, do three things. First, find out what they believe and back it up with the Bible. Second, talk to the pastor or leaders of the church and see why it is what it is and what they do there. Third, see how much this church really has a passion for worshipping and serving Christ to their community and throughout the world. A church or “denomination� that doesn’t want to get their hands dirty for Christ is not healthy. God blesses those who bless him with their whole heart and lives.

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