Why I’m Not Denominational
I’m young. I don’t know everything. Sometimes I feel like I do. And I have to humble myself by listening and learning from those older and more experienced than me. But there’s something that just needs to be said for those across the board and all ages. Christians need to stop placing so much importance on their denomination. Now that I’ve probably offended some people, let me explain why.
- Most denominations, whether you like it or not, were started by a man. A man who has sinned. A man who is not righteous. A man who does not fully understand God. To say the least, an imperfect human being. When you define yourself by a denomination, you define yourself as a follower of that man, or a group of people who agreed upon that belief.
- It barricades yourself from other believers. When you set up walls physically, emotionally, and spiritually between other believers because of your legalism, you are rejecting the essential and embracing the non-essential. The essential is unity and the non-essential is legality.
- It looks highly hypocritical to outsiders. When people look to churches for a sign of God what they usually see is bickering, rules, and many different churches with their own systems and beliefs. It’s easy to look at this mess we’ve made and realize that you don’t want to be a part of it.
Here is what I’m trying to say. Be a Christian and let that be enough! Christ paid the ultimate price so that you could be free from the tyrannies of each other and instead love and follow Him. Why trade that in for a lifetime of do’s and don’ts. It didn’t work in the beginning and it won’t work now. Faith must come first, and true faith manifests itself in good works. First, love God, then love others. If you can’t do that, then your theology doesn’t matter at all! Focus on the essential.
I’m not saying that you need to leave your church and go join a “non-denominational” church. That term in itself is almost becoming a denomination. What I’m suggesting is that we be content with defining ourselves with Christ. It’s okay to go to a Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Church of God, Church of Christ, etc church. But don’t be so prideful in your own, possibly errant, beliefs that you reject the unity needed as a church. Go read the Bible for yourself. See what conclusion you come to. Theology is great. I love it. I love to debate and talk about different view points and beliefs, but it can’t take the place of love. Love wins every time. And I’m confident that if you read the Bible for yourself, the only true conclusion you can come to, is love.
