This is kind of a follow-up on my post (De)nomination, from May 24, 2020. You can read this without reading that one, but if you're interested in my thoughts at that time, you can go back and look at it.
A lot of churches nowadays claim to be non-denominational. Even churches that are affiliated with a denomination are routinely taking the denomination out of the name on the sign outside the church. What does this mean? Why is this happening? Is it good, bad, or neither? What does it mean to be part of a denomination anyway? If we can answer that, we can answer another the question of what it means to be non-denominational.
When someone asks, "What denomination is this church?" they might be asking one of two questions. Most commonly, what they really mean is, "What does this church believe? With what vein of church history does this church most closely align?" They want to know if this church is more like a Baptist church, or a Pentecostal church, or a Presbyterian church, or a Methodist church, or something else. They know what these different churches teach and believe, and want to know what they're getting into if they visit this church, so they ask for the denomination. However, the second question that could be intended when asking "What denomination is the church? is, "What hierarchy is this church part of?" When people ask the question, meaning the first definition of it ("What does this church believe? With what vein of church history does this church most closely align?") people will commonly give the answer to the second question, "Oh, we're not answerable to any higher authority of churches. We're independent." Even though this sounds like an answer, when the question was worded, "What denomination is this church?" it might not actually be the answer the person meant to ask for. I will give a few examples, in order of the "non-denominational-ness." This is not an exhaustive list of denominations by any means. It is an illustration of the progression between completely independent churches and very srong denominations, and all that comes between.
Woodland Hills Christian Church, in Alexander, Arkansas, is a lively little church. They partner with our ministry. We have been so blessed by this small congregation. They are Bible-believing and very evangelistic, and are constantly seeing people saved and discipled. I hold them in high regard, as my son was saved at their Vacation Bible School. They are non-denominational. In their case, they are 100% independent, not in any way affiliated with any similar churches (though they have friendships with many churches in the community). They are not accountable to any sort of hierarchy. They're not part of any group at all. They are as non-denominational as it gets. Their beliefs about the specifics of the faith (things Christians may differ on) can be ascertained by asking members and leadership. There are many such churches that have no affiliation whatsoever, and are pretty much free to do as they please. They come in all stripes of belief, and the only way to know what a truly non-denominational church believes is to ask them (or look on their website if they have one).
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| My son Tommy received Christ as his Personal Lord and Savior with children's minister Stacey Schenck, of Woodland Hills Christian Church. |
I am originally from Southern California. The biggest influence in Christianity there has been the Calvary Chapel movement, which began in Orange County in the late 60's and early 70's. This revival is depicted in the 2023 movie Jesus Revolution. My father was strongly influenced by this revival at the time. This was a movement of the Holy Spirit, independent of denominational oversight. In fact, founder Chuck Smith had previously been a pastor in the Foursquare denomination. This work of the Lord led him away from some of the denominational requirements that had been placed on him. He had more freedom to follow the Spirit's leading. This ministry spawned hundreds of other Calvary Chapel churches all over the world. Other groups have split from Calvary Chapel and started their own movements, such as Vineyard. Calvary claims to be non-denominational. While it is true they have a high level of autonomy, they are not as independent or non-denominational as Woodland Hills in the previous paragraph. They are affiliated. They have a statement of beliefs that must be adhered to in order for a church be become a Calvary Chapel. They have their own Bible college and conferences. They are known for strong biblical teaching, and going through the Bible verse-by-verse, teaching the "full counsels of God" (Acts 20:27). Considering how Chuck Smith left his previous denomination to follow God's leading into Calvary Chapel, it is understandable why the title of being "non-denominational" would sound attractive to Calvary Chapel participants. However, they are not really non-denominational in the sense of being unaffiliated, or outside of a theological vein of church history. They do have an affiliation with each other. They didn't start existing in a vacuum. They hold basic evangelical beliefs that most Christians share, and they tend not to "major on the minors" so to speak, but if you get really into the nitty-gritty, they do hold some specific beliefs that are distinct. Chuck Smith wrote a wonderful book in 2001 called Calvary Chapel Distinctives, which explores some of the theological positions that set them apart. You can order it here. Also worth noting, Calvary Chapel is the most notable of non-denominational affiliations, but it is not the only one. I already mentioned Vineyard Churches. Also, other groups, such as the Independent Fundamental Churches of American (or the IFCA), are affiliations that would probably claim to be non-denominational.
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| The Calvary dove, the logo of Calvary Chapel, found on many of their church signs, and on many car bumpers in Southern California |
My husband and I are part of the Southern Baptist Convention. This, as well as other Baptist bodies, usually admit to being denominational. If you were to attend our congregation, Immanuel Baptist Church, and asked someone, "What denomination is this church?" You would be told that we are Southern Baptist. The fact that we are more likely to admit to being a denomination is really the only way we are less "non-denominational" than groups like Calvary Chapel. Our affiliations with each other and "higher ups" are similar to Calvary Chapel's affiliations. The real difference is that "denomination" isn't a dirty word to most Baptists (though there are some who would still deny being a denomination). We are autonomous, and could choose to leave the denomination at any time. The building belongs to the local church, not the Southern Baptist Convention. Churches vary in structural government, with some being more congregational and others being more board-led or pastor-led. Southern Baptist Churches adhere to the statement of faith known as The Baptist Faith and Message (you may read the 2000 edition--the newest reiteration of it--here.. Other Baptist groups, such as the American Baptist Church, USA, have their beliefs on their websites. For many, the term Baptist helps to explain what that church probably believes. Baptist is often a belief system more than a hierarchy. There are independent Baptist churches with little to no affiliation, as well as more organized Baptist denominations. They're not going to be exactly the same, but there are some things that most churches that call themselves Baptist have in common, most notably believer's baptism by immersion only. Most Baptist also believe in eternal security (once-saved, always-saved), though there are Free-Will Baptist and General Baptists who do not share this belief in eternal security.
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| Our church, Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas. |
I call myself a lifelong Baptist, but for a few years, my husband and I were actually members of a church that was part of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. This is a wonderful denomination. Theologically, they are very similar to Calvary Chapel. They are evangelical and very mission-minded. They don't "major on the minors" often, although they do have their beliefs, most notably praying for the sick. Like Calvary Chapel, they were started as a result of a movement, and for many years, they refused to be considered a denomination, but eventually acknowledged that this was what they were. They are autonomous, but have their specifics, including their missionaries, college, and seminary.
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| Walter and me, 2017, at our Christian and Missionary Alliance church in Vermillion, South Dakota. If we had not moved, we would still attend that church. |
There are other denominations that have stricter affiliations for their congregations. One is the United Methodists. As that denomination has become more open to liberal theology, some of the more conservative churches have wanted to leave. But, unlike Baptists, they are not autonomous, and can't simply leave. In 2019, some guidelines were given that made it possible for congregations to leave the denomination before the end of 2023, and retain their building. It wasn't a simple process, and the churches that chose to do it really had to takes some steps, but it was made possible. Between 2019 and 2023, about a fourth of Untied Methodist Churches in the United States left the denomination. Our ministry has been partnering with two such churches, one of which joined the new Global Methodist denomination, and the other of which has chosen to remain unaffiliated. Without this provision, leaving the denomination would have cost these congregations their buildings and resources. Many other larger denominations exercise that kind of leadership over local congregations. Some similar denominations operate very differently on this. For example, the conservative group Presbyterian Churches of America (PCA), operate with the congregations owning their property, whereas in the more liberal denomination, the in Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA), the denomination owns the building. All major denominations have their own teachings, approved seminaries, and specific traditions. How important these specifics are depends on the denomination itself, and the individual church.
If a person asks you what denomination your church is, before you say, "Oh, we're non-denominational" make sure you know what they're actually asking. Most people who strive to be non-denominational want to get away from the hierarchy (and I can't say I blame them), but that is not usually what the person is asking. They want to know what your church believes. What can they expect if they attend a service there? When someone comes to your church, will they see a traditional, liturgical service with organ music and a pastor in a robe, or a casual service with upbeat praise songs and people lifting their hands? Do they baptize infants with sprinkling, or believers by immersion? Do people speak in tongues? Do they they give an alter call? Do people lay hands on the sick and pray for them? Is it open or closed communion? What does your church believe about the essential doctrines of the faith (and maybe some of the non-essentials as well)? These are what people often really mean when they ask you what denomination you are. It is okay to say, "We're not officially affiliated with a denomination, but this is what we believe..." It is also okay to say, "We're Presbyterian," or "We're Baptist" or "We're Calvary Chapel," or...whatever you are! There is no shame either way, but make sure you know what they are actually asking. Even the truly non-denominational churches, like Woodland Hills, didn't just start existing in a vacuum. They are part of God working out church history. They all have beliefs that align with truths believed by Christians since the book of Acts. Most non-denominational churches are at least similar to a specific church tradition. Many are similar to Baptist, or Pentecostals. People aren't usually making a judgment about your church's hierarchy. They really want to know where you fit theologically and what to expect if they were to visit.
So, which is more godly and spiritual, denominations or being non-denominational? The answer is neither. It really depends. Being part of an affiliation (whether or not you use the word denomination) can be good for accountability and support. On the other hand, being completely independent can allow more freedom to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. I know people on both sides. One Christian woman told me she had been spiritually abused in a non-denominational church that had no accountability, and she would never again attend a church that wasn't part of a well-established denomination. Others have told me that they believed denominations stifled God's work, and they refused to go to a church that was part of a denomination.
Some see denominations as divisions between Christians. That can happen, but it shouldn't. When we lived in Albuquerque, I taught at a Christian school that was affiliated with a Calvary Chapel, and their statement of belief included these words: We are not a denominational church, nor are we opposed to denominations as such, only their overemphasis of the doctrinal differences that have led to the division of the Body of Christ. This is an understandable concern, and there are many unaffiliated churches that are solid and biblical. But couldn't the same statement be said about the non-denomination trend? I have met non-denominational Christians who were more divisive about it than those of official denominations. No church type is immune from division. If Jesus is our Lord, and we agree about what is very clear in scripture, then we can agree to disagree about some of these secondary matters of faith. As a Baptist, I attended a Bible college that was largely influenced by the Assemblies of God (a Pentecostal denomination). My husband and I are home missionaries with an interdenominational ministry that works with all sorts of Bible-believing Christians of different backgrounds and church traditions. I also teach at a Christian school that leans toward the Reformed and Presbyterian tradition. I have been blessed and ministered to by all of these different Jesus-followers. They have sharpened me in my own faith, and I hope I have done the same for them.
Everyone needs to Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (Second Timothy 2:15). We all need to be in God's word, and if we see things in our churches and church affiliations that don't line up with what we read in the Bible, we need to challenge that. Jesus had a lot of diversity in His followers. The early church had people of Jewish, Hellenist, and Gentile backgrounds. All of them had vastly different traditions prior to coming to Jesus, and even somewhat after, and yet they all believed the same thing about Christ and salvation, and we will see them all in Heaven. Can't we accept a little diversity among our brothers and sisters today? As long as they are walking in biblical teaching and integrity, we can't fault them for having different preferences and traditions than ours.
My favorite YouTube channel about Christian denominations (and non-denominations) is called Ready to Harvest. They do not give strong opinions. Simple facts are stated, and the viewer can make his or her own decision about whether or not they agree with a given church or denomination. They put out a recent video about the very subject of non-denominationalism, and I will share it below. I think you will like it.
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