{"id":4975,"date":"2019-05-05T09:00:06","date_gmt":"2019-05-05T14:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=4975"},"modified":"2019-02-27T20:24:21","modified_gmt":"2019-02-28T02:24:21","slug":"choose-to-look-for-a-church-not-a-denomination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=4975","title":{"rendered":"Choose to Look for a Church Not a Denomination"},"content":{"rendered":"

Choices change our lives\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jesus said to Peter, \u201cOn this rock I will build my church.\u201d (Matthew 16:18) However, \u201cchurch\u201d in the Bible does not translate into Baptist, Catholic, Protestant, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist, or Lutheran. In Greek it is \u201cecclesia\u201d meaning \u201cthose who have been called out.\u201d They have been \u201ccalled out\u201d of a world that rejects God and \u201cinto\u201d a fellowship with God and others who believe in God. So which denomination is this \u201cchurch\u201d Jesus refers to?<\/p>\n

Some may say these \u201cecclesia\u201d would be non-denominational. In fact, people pride themselves in saying, \u201cOh, I\u2019m not a part of any denomination. I\u2019m non-denominational.\u201d This could be called the \u201cNon-Denominational Denomination\u201d which makes them just as much a part of a denomination as anyone else. They just don\u2019t have a recognized name yet. They might be called \u201cThe Church on the Hill,\u201d \u201cThe Church in the Valley,\u201d \u201cThe Church on the River,\u201d \u201cThe Church in the Clouds,\u201d or \u201cThe Church in the Closet.\u201d We don\u2019t lack for churches or denominations because we Christians love our schisms.<\/p>\n

Schisms have always been a part of the Christian heritage because, believe it or not, all Christians don\u2019t see eye-to-eye on everything. In fact, there has never (and probably will never) be a time when all Christians worship the same way or believe the same things. In biblical times, even Paul and Barnabus went their separate ways. And people have always had a tendency to look to men rather than God. \u201cI am of Apollo. I am of Paul. I am of Cephas.\u201d (I Corinthians 1:11-13) The early church also dealt with Judaizers who believed men should be circumcised and adhere to rituals to gain salvation, and Gnostics who felt they had secret knowledge.<\/p>\n

A few centuries later the Great Schism divided the Eastern and Western churches over certain issues, one of them being whether or not to use leavened or unleavened bread during Communion. Also the East was a little more traditional and the West a little more contemporary. Some things never change. Then there was the Protestant Reformation where those who protested broke away from the major denomination of the day, Catholicism. They objected to certain Catholic practices such as being able to buy your way out of sin through indulgences.<\/p>\n

Doctrinal differences can divide churches such as full immersion baptism versus sprinkling or meeting on Saturday versus Sunday. Many times people disagree over scripture interpretation such as what it means to speak in tongues. Social issues can play a prominent part in church schisms like slavery did around the time of the Civil War. As society changes, views change. Today hot topics causing schisms are views on gay couples and what role should women play at church. Everyone has an opinion.<\/p>\n

What does God think about all these denominations? Is this what He had in mind? I\u2019m not sure. The Bible does say, \u201cThere must be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.\u201d (1 Corinthians 10:19) And when the disciples were upset about someone not a part of their group casting out demons in Jesus\u2019 name Jesus said, \u201cForbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.\u201d (Luke 9: 49, 50)<\/p>\n

Perhaps the greater danger with denominations is when some feel they are the only true \u201cchurch\u201d and have a corner market on truth. Frankly, there isn\u2019t a denomination around that hasn\u2019t muddled the message of Jesus in one way or another. New denominations will be no different. New is not bad as long as people realize there is nothing new under the sun. That would make a catchy name for a church, \u201cThere\u2019s Nothing New Under the Sun Church.\u201d However, here\u2019s a list of churches you might want to avoid:<\/p>\n