Denomination
Ask any of the other members and they’ll tell you I tend to get myself into discussions/debates fairly quickly with my big mouth… It is how I best learn. Recently I had a great conversation with a pastor. We were discussing doctrinal backgrounds and beliefs of his church. Meanwhile, another member of the church overheard our discussion and was disturbed that I was asking him so many questions and demanded that I stop. Although the pastor stepped in and told the woman we were having an excellent conversation and that I was trying to learn from him, she continued, very agitated:
“If you’re going to bombard us with these questions than you had better tell us what faith background you are. You could be Mormon or who knows what…”
“I’m Christian.”
“That’s not good enough.”
“Excuse me?”
“What is your denomination?”
“I grew up in a non-denominational Christian church.”
“Are you Lutheran?”
“No.”
“Catholic?”
“No.”
“Episcopalian?”
“No…”
The conversation finally ended when she got up and left as the pastor and I tried to begin our former conversation again. But the damage was done and the whole episode really deepened my distaste for denominations. The fact that she had to know my denominational background before she would allow me to ask questions bothered me. I am not a denomination. I am a living, breathing, thinking human being with my own unique beliefs and understanding. Why must I be put into a box? And where in the Bible does it tell us as a Christian body to separate ourselves on the basis of doctrinal beliefs? Isn’t one of the primary messages of Christ to love others and be ONE body in Jesus Christ? (Eph 4: 4-6, 15-16) Why is separation and competition such an innate human attribute that we allow it to infiltrate even our religion and our love of God? These are all questions I have been struggling with ever since this conversation…
This topic isn’t new to me because we are asked almost daily what denomination Latreia belongs to. Our answer is that we are Christian multi-denominational. But the term denomination is just starting to grate on my nerves. Now don’t get me wrong. I understand that denominations do have many uses and that it is a great way for people to be able to gauge where a church body stands before they even walk through the door, but how cool would it be to have to learn where the church stands through studying scripture and their covenant rather than reading a label on a sign! I know I’m being an idealist here but I can’t help it. I am tired of our focus being on labels instead of on the cross. So I think I’m going to try something different for awhile… If I have to ‘claim’ something, I want it to be Jesus, plain and simple. I want Jesus Christ as my denomination.
Kelly
5 Comments:
I can remember a time in my IS 101 class last year where we were supposed to tell what denomination we were. I was the only one to say "Christian." When all the people were tallied and the denominations were shown, I was the only one who belonged to the Christian group. The teacher asked who this person was and I raised my hand. One individual in class actually asked "what denomination is a Christian?" I joyfully responded, (and am so empassioned by your story) that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the body of Christ. What an awesome reminder that some day the one church which is you and me that make up the body of Christ will be united as one congregation... void of indoctrination, theological views, and political disagreements.... What an awesome reminder to serve others as well, and remind them of the love Jesus has for all of us no matter who we are or what group we belong to.
Blessings, Grace, and Peace,
-Tom P.
When we spoke about this incident shortly after it transpired, you didn’t know quite what to make of it. It’s clear to me that you’ve prayed about it and thought it through, and that God has given you an important nugget of wisdom to glean from your encounter with your ‘younger sister’. I refer to her in this way for a reason. From your description of events, I think it quite probable that she is a young believer, spiritually speaking—one who has not yet grown to spiritual maturity.
You blame her behavior, at least in part, on the innate human attributes of separation and competition. I wonder if it might be equally or even more attributable to two other characteristics common among immature believers: pride and fear. Pride that ‘her church’ has all the answers and understands everything about God. But also an underlying, perhaps unrecognized, fear—fear that maybe they really don’t have all the answers; fear that they might not understand God as well as she thinks they do.
Then along comes this young lady from Iowa (Iowa, of all places!) who starts asking questions about her church’s belief structure. That’s when the fear kicks in. Instead of embracing a fellow believer in Christ and basking in God’s shared blessing of grace, she fears that maybe you’ll uncover a flaw in her pastor’s thinking, or even worse, a chink in her church’s doctrine.
You are correct, Kelly. Doctrine is important. Its source is scripture, its illumination is the Holy Spirit, and it is the road map the Church should refer to in order to collectively keep to the ‘narrow road that leads to life’(Mt. 7:13). But what good is the road map of doctrine if we angrily wave it in the face of our fellow travelers and condemn them for not reading it properly?
Finally, I’m with you in claiming Jesus Christ as our true denomination. And I think we’re in pretty good company:
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
—1CO 2:1-5
Kelly, It is difficult to be a label, but sometimes a comfort too. But then... "Christian" itself is a label. We need to be a label at times in order to make the Word known with credibility. I'm not crazy about denominational labels either, and I am actually called as a pastor of the people.. who happens to serve in a "denomination" church. I love that denomination, but know it is not without problems. When we do a corporate confession and forgiveness in church on Sunday, my words are "As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by His authority..." no denomination, just Jesus. I find it a gift to be able to share Jesus Christ, and if it is because I am a denomination, then I will take it. Just don't stop talking about Jesus, please. DADBILL
I'm with you on that one, Kel. I have searched the scriptures many times for anything that might allude to the fact that the separation of the church into specific denomonations is more than societal... but I have yet to find evidence of that in the Word. If I thought for one second that the Lord was going to inquire about my specific structural denomination once I reach His Kingdom... I might pay a little more heed to the argument that I need to be defined by a denomination. For now, however, I will be defined by Christ.
Dear Latreia,
As the overseeing pastor of the church where the denominational altercation took place, first of all let me extend my appreciation to you for coming and serving our local Body. Also, let me apologize for the skepticism of a few and lack of trust expressed. I do believe we should know who is visiting our church and who is ministering to our flock. I am the pastor of a non-denominational ministry and whenever I'm asked what denomination I am, my statement is "Christian". I chose to be non-denominational with the hope that I would have the liberty to minister to people of all denominations. I also agree with Scripture that we are one Body and all those who are born again share the same heritage. I regret the fact that I was away while you visited; I would have liked to have had more fellowship with you. I hope that our church took good care of you while you were here because our motto is, "Distributing to the necessity of saints, given to hospitality." Romans 12:13
Eternally Yours In Christ, PFM
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