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All About the Non-Denominational Christian Movement
There is a non-denominational movement among young adults seeking churches based on needs, not denomination. But what are those needs, exactly, and how does non-denominationalism strive to meet them? This article seeks to discuss what the term "non-denominational" means, what some of its tenets are, and some basic criticisms and rebuttals toward the movement.
Non-denominational--which should not be confused with interdenominationalism--is a Christian term that refers to institutions and churches that are not formally aligned with or supportive of an established denomination. These churches are officially autonomous from standard congregations. That being said, not acting as part of an official denomination does not preclude an identifiable standard or code among nondenominational congregations. In fact, these congregations do establish a means of policy and worship as well as a doctrinal base. The difference is that there is no formal external direction or oversight in these proceedings, which some non-denominational churches outright reject as a matter of principle. To them, each congregation must remain autonomous. Non-denominational structures have two basic forms of independence: theological, in which the belief structures are unique, and political, in which the congregation has no central headquarters.
The members of non-denominational churches often call themselves simply "Christians;" however, a de facto doctrinal identity may be established by the acceptance of a particular doctrine or practice (such as a stance on baptism or the nature of God). Thus each non-denominational church obliquely defines itself through the beliefs and practices of denominational churches. The practices of each non-denominational congregation are unique, but most are still culled from centuries of denominational tenets. Hence, one of the most basic criticisms of non-denominationalism is its dual nature. Some non-denominational churches could be said to be autonomous in name only, but definitely not in practice.
While the general move is toward a more ecumenical church body, it may also be used a marketing ploy. Sometimes it may be as subtle as a church calling itself "non-denominational" only to increase attendance or enrollment. This approach focuses on the quantitative response rather than the actual quality of the community. At the same time, this practice is not the norm and is found to be quite rare.
Another criticism that has been leveled toward the non-denominational movement, advanced by Stephen Prothero of Boston University, is that it represents a dumbing down of Christianity into a comfortable "general moralism" rather than serving to focus churchgoers' spiritual growth and personal and cultural complexity. Not only that, he argues, but it also encourages scriptural ignorance, thereby reducing overall religious literacy. The danger in this? It increases the potential for religious misunderstandings and conflict.
Yet the popularity of non-denominational churches continues to rise, especially among youth and young adults. The reasons for this have yet to become clear; some youth may see these churches as a non-threatening way to practice spirituality outside the perceived narrow confines of conventional denominationalism. Whatever the reason, non-denominationalism is a movement that requires further investigation and reflection because of what it reflects about the changing religious standards of our country.
About the Author Impact Community Church (http://www.impactcommunity.com/)is a non-denominational Christian Church. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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