Exposing the Denominations of Nondenominational Churches

Summary

In this video, Joshua, a Christian denomination researcher, explores the ambiguity surrounding 'non-denominational' churches. He scrutinizes the claims of Journey Church and Summit Church, both identifying as non-denominational yet exhibiting Pentecostal beliefs. Joshua explains how these churches use the term 'non-denominational' to denote independence from a governing body rather than a theological standpoint. He challenges the notion that non-denominational equates to 'Mere Christianity' and highlights the prevalence of hidden denominational affiliations among such churches, urging transparency for potential congregants.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ Many modern churches, especially in the United States, are labeled as 'non-denominational', yet they often belong to larger groups with shared theological beliefs and historical connections.
• 🔍 The term 'non-denominational' can be misleading as it is often used to describe a church's lack of affiliation with a governing body rather than its theological identity.
• 🌐 Despite the rise in non-denominational labels, denominations are not disappearing; they are adapting by going 'underground' or rebranding to appear more inclusive.
• 👀 The absence of the word 'Pentecostal' on church websites does not necessarily mean the church isn't Pentecostal; it could be an example of equivocation, where the term is used differently.
• 🔑 Understanding the difference between a church's self-governance ('non-denominational' in the organizational sense) and its theological identity is crucial.
• 📜 Statements of faith can reveal a church's true theological leanings, even if they do not explicitly state their denominational affiliation.
• 🏫 Churches that claim to be non-denominational might still adhere to specific doctrines and practices shared by a larger, often unrecognized, group of churches.
• 🌟 The trend of non-denominationalism can obscure the historical and theological connections between churches, making it harder for potential congregants to understand what they believe.
• 🤔 When asked about a church's denomination, the answer should reflect its theological and historical identity, not just its organizational structure.
• 💡 Transparency in church affiliations and beliefs is important for potential members to make informed decisions about where to worship.

Q & A

What is the main point of confusion when people refer to a 'non-denominational' church?

The confusion arises from the dual meaning of the term 'denomination.' People often ask about the theological or historical family of a church (question one), but non-denominational churches answer by referring to their lack of a governing organizational entity (question two).

Why do some churches avoid using the term 'Pentecostal' even if their beliefs align with Pentecostal theology?

Some churches might avoid the term 'Pentecostal' to present a more inclusive or non-sectarian image, despite their beliefs and practices aligning with Pentecostal theology.

What is the logical fallacy mentioned in the script that can be applied to the understanding of 'non-denominational' churches?

The logical fallacy mentioned is equivocation, which occurs when the same term is used with different meanings in an argument, leading to confusion or misinterpretation.

How does the script suggest that one can identify the denominational family of a church that claims to be non-denominational?

The script suggests looking at the church's statement of faith, historical affiliations, and any mention of belonging to a larger group or movement, which can provide clues to their denominational family.

What does the script imply about the transparency of non-denominational churches regarding their theological affiliations?

The script implies that many non-denominational churches are not transparent about their theological affiliations, which can lead to misunderstandings for those seeking to understand the church's beliefs.

How does the script define a 'denomination' in the context of Christian churches?

The script defines a 'denomination' as any set of congregations identifiable by similar traits, history, or name, which can include a wide range of church groups, from the Catholic Church to independent fundamental Baptists.

What is the significance of the phrase 'Mere Christianity' mentioned in the script?

The phrase 'Mere Christianity' refers to a basic set of Christian beliefs that are widely accepted across denominations, focusing on core tenets rather than divisive issues. The script suggests that some non-denominational churches might claim to practice this but still hold specific doctrines.

Why might a church choose to identify as 'non-denominational' despite being part of a larger theological movement?

A church might choose to identify as 'non-denominational' to avoid the perceived negative connotations associated with denominations, to appear more inclusive, or to emphasize their independence from a central governing body.

What is the role of the Calvary Chapel Association mentioned in the script?

The Calvary Chapel Association is mentioned as an example of a group of churches that, despite claiming to be non-denominational, share common beliefs and practices, indicating a denominational-like structure.

How does the script suggest that the term 'non-denominational' is being used by some churches to hide their theological positions?

The script suggests that some churches use the term 'non-denominational' to avoid the label of a specific denomination while still adhering to specific theological positions, thus 'hiding' their true affiliations.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ The Ambiguity of 'Non-Denominational' Churches

This paragraph discusses the difficulty in identifying the denomination of churches that do not openly declare their affiliation. The speaker, Joshua, a Christian denomination researcher, explains that while traditionally churches would clearly state their denomination, modern churches with names like 'Journey Church' or 'Summit Church' do not, leading to ambiguity. To clarify, Joshua checks their websites and finds that both are Pentecostal in theology despite claiming to be non-denominational. He introduces the concept of 'equivocation' as a logical fallacy that allows these churches to claim both identities. The paragraph ends with a critique of the misuse of the term 'denomination' and a call for clarity in church identification.

05:01

🌐 The Broad Spectrum of Non-Denominational Churches

Paragraph 2 delves into the misconception that non-denominational churches are a homogeneous group practicing 'Mere Christianity'. Joshua argues that many non-denominational churches are, in fact, part of larger theological movements or have specific doctrinal stances. He uses 'Citygates Church' as an example, which is part of the Calvary Chapel Association, indicating a shared set of beliefs and practices. The paragraph highlights several other churches that, despite being non-denominational, are part of significant religious movements or families, such as the Church of God, International Churches of Christ, and the local churches. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding that non-denominational does not equate to a lack of affiliation or shared theological identity.

10:02

🔍 Unveiling the True Nature of Non-Denominational Churches

In this paragraph, Joshua continues to challenge the idea that non-denominational churches are free from any affiliations or theological commitments. He provides numerous examples of churches that, while claiming to be non-denominational, are part of larger Christian movements with specific beliefs and practices. These include associations like the Evangelical Association of reformed and congregational Christian churches, the independent Christian churches, and the local churches. Joshua stresses the importance of transparency and the need for churches to be clear about their theological identity. He concludes with advice for churchgoers to be aware of the potential for hidden affiliations and for churches to be upfront about their connections to larger religious groups.

Keywords

💡Denomination

A denomination refers to a distinct religious body within a larger faith, identified by its specific beliefs, practices, and ecclesiastical governance. In the video, the concept is explored in relation to churches that identify as non-denominational, yet may still adhere to certain theological stances or belong to a broader movement. The video discusses how some churches use the term 'non-denominational' to indicate independence from a centralized governing body rather than a lack of affiliation with any theological tradition.

💡Non-denominational

Non-denominational typically means not affiliated with any specific religious group or denomination. The video scrutinizes this term, pointing out that many churches labeled as such may still hold to particular theological beliefs or be part of a larger, unstructured religious movement. The video uses examples like Journey Church and Summit Church to illustrate how these churches might be non-denominational in the sense of not being under a centralized authority but still have distinct theological identities.

💡Statement of Faith

A Statement of Faith is a formal declaration of the core beliefs of a religious group or church. In the context of the video, it is used to analyze whether a church is truly non-denominational or if it belongs to a specific theological tradition. The video mentions that despite not identifying as a particular denomination, some churches' statements of faith reveal their alignment with certain theological views, such as Pentecostalism.

💡Pentecostal

Pentecostal refers to a denomination within Christianity that emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit, including spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues. The video uses this term to categorize certain non-denominational churches that, despite not using the label 'Pentecostal,' hold to Pentecostal theological beliefs, as evidenced by their statements of faith or practices.

💡Equivocation

Equivocation is a logical fallacy where a word or phrase is used with multiple meanings, leading to confusion or deception. The video discusses how some churches might equivocate on the term 'denomination' by using it to mean a lack of centralized governance rather than a lack of theological affiliation, which can mislead people about the church's actual beliefs.

💡Mere Christianity

Mere Christianity refers to the core, undifferentiated beliefs that all Christians hold, without delving into the specific doctrines that divide denominations. The video suggests that some people might assume non-denominational churches practice a form of 'Mere Christianity,' focusing on broad Christian values rather than specific doctrinal disputes.

💡Calvary Chapel Association

The Calvary Chapel Association is a network of churches that share common beliefs and practices, despite not being a formal denomination. The video uses this as an example to show how a group of non-denominational churches can still be part of a larger, identifiable movement with specific theological commitments.

💡Church of God

The Church of God is a movement within Protestant Christianity with various branches, some of which identify as non-denominational. The video points out that while these churches might not use the term 'denomination' to describe themselves, they still have a shared history, common practices, and theological stances that link them together.

💡International Churches of Christ

The International Churches of Christ is a movement that originated from the Churches of Christ and is known for its distinctive beliefs and practices. The video mentions this group as an example of a non-denominational church family that has a clear identity and shared theological stance, despite not using the term 'denomination' to describe themselves.

💡Local Churches

The Local Churches is a movement known for its unique practices and teachings, which originated from the teachings of Witness Lee. The video notes that while churches within this movement might claim to be non-denominational, they are part of a larger group with specific theological and ecclesiastical characteristics.

Highlights

Churches often do not display their denominations openly, leading to confusion for the uninitiated.

Modern technology allows individuals to learn about a church's denomination through their website.

Journey Church and Summit Church are identified as non-denominational but have Pentecostal theological leanings.

The absence of the term 'Pentecostal' on church websites despite holding Pentecostal beliefs is highlighted.

The concept of 'denomination' is explored through the lens of a logical fallacy called equivocation.

Denominations can be defined in multiple ways, often leading to misunderstandings about a church's affiliations.

Non-denominational churches may own their properties and have independent governance, differing from traditional denominations.

The rise of non-denominational churches in America is discussed, challenging the notion that denominations are fading.

Many non-denominational churches are part of larger movements or families of churches with shared beliefs.

The importance of transparency in church affiliations and beliefs is emphasized for clarity and trust.

Examples of non-denominational churches that are part of significant religious movements are provided.

The idea that non-denominational churches practice a form of 'Mere Christianity' is questioned.

The video argues for a more accurate understanding of what 'non-denominational' means in the context of church affiliations.

The role of historical and theological commonalities in defining a denomination is discussed.

The video concludes with a call for churches to be transparent about their theological and historical connections.

Transcripts

have you ever had the thought as you

passed a church in your hometown of

Farmington New Mexico I wonder what

denomination that church is it used to

be that churches told you what their

denomination is but now they don't so as

you pass Journey Church or Summit Church

you really have no idea what it is that

they believe but luckily we're in the

21st century so you can just go on their

website and find out what will it be

Baptist Methodist Lutheran Pentecostal

maybe Church of the Brethren or menonite

well Summit Church says they are a

Spirit-filled non-denominational Faith

and Family Church Journey Church is a

casual and friendly non-denominational

church so what have we learned about

these churches the answer is mostly

nothing if you're new to my channel my

name is Joshua and I'm a Christian

denomination researcher luckily these

two churches actually have statements of

faith on their website and I can

normally find out what denominational

family a church is so long as they tell

a few key things about their beliefs

here's Summit Church's We Believe

statement take a look right down here

and you'll find what you're looking for

we believe in the baptism of the holy

spirit with the evidence of speaking in

other tongues combined with their

affirmation of the Trinity we can see

that this is a Pentecostal Church

Journey Church's tenants of Faith which

should be tenants might want to fix that

is actually very similar though more

detailed in fact this statement of faith

looks familiar because it's just a

slightly modified version of the

10-point statement of Kenneth Hagen

Ministries it also has a line that

reveals Pentecostal Theology and Kenneth

Hagen was a well-known Pentecostal

preacher so once again we're talking

about a Pentecostal Church however for

both of these two churches the word

Pentecostal is nowhere to be found on

their websites what are two Pentecostal

churches doing claiming to be

non-denominational well the answer lies

in a logical fallacy called equivocation

here's how that works let's use a Bible

example in the King James version 1 John

4:12 says no man hath seen God at any

time from that we can conclude that

though no man has seen God perhaps a

woman has right well no because that's a

fallacy we've used two definitions of

the same word in 1 John 4:12 the word

man means human but a more common usage

today means we're talking about a male

human if we going to understand the

Bible or any book or just our own

conversations we need to make sure that

we're not switching up the meaning of

words in the middle so as it relates to

denominations there's several meanings

of the term denomination when you ask

what denomination is that church here

are two different questions you may be

asking first what is the name of the set

of churches the type or family of

churches that has similar

characteristics or history of this one

or second what is the organized entity

that has governing authority over this

church when anyone asks that question

they're almost always asking question

one they want to know if the church is

Baptist or Brethren or bruderhof they

may want a bit more specificity too like

is it Southern Baptist or Independent

Baptist or is it open Brethren or

schwarzen now Brethren however for many

non-denominational churches they don't

answer question one they answer question

two what is the organized entity that

has governing authority over this church

and for churches that identify as

non-denominational the answer is

normally that there isn't one

non-denominational churches probably own

their own properties can write their own

statements of faith and they don't have

to send money onto headquarters now

that's a useful thing to know it's worth

telling people if your Church's

government structure ends at the local

congregation or if there's something

higher up like a senate or general

conference but it's still probably not

the question people are asking I made a

video back in June 2022 where I

controversially asked what is a

denomination and my answer is that there

are many definitions but the one I use

on this channel is any set of

congregations identifiable by similar

traits history or name with that

definition pretty much anything is a

denomination Churches of Christ is a

denomination the Catholic church is a

denomination independent fundamental

Baptists they're a denomination pretty

much anyone who does or doesn't want to

be called a denomination is a

denomination if you want to dispute that

I suggest going back to watch that video

first but I think everyone intuitively

gets this if someone walks into your

church and says by the way what

denomination is this they would love for

the answer to be Catholic if the church

is Catholic if the church is open

Brethren the answer should be open

Brethren if the church is Pentecostal

they want you to say Pentecostal if you

want to go on to talk about the church's

government structure and how you're

independent or the one true church or

that you're pred denominational or

something then feel free to do that but

we all real know the question that was

being asked now I think many of us are

on the same page here but you may not

realize how many churches are hiding

behind the non-denominational label

there's been lots of talk about the

rising number of non-denominational

churches in America and the common

thought is that things are becoming post

denominational denominations are out but

there's a lot of people who attend a

church that is non- denominational

according to question two that I think

we can all agree to don't really match

the storyline what kind of seems implied

is that non-denominational churches

practice some form of Mere Christianity

with the denominational fighting topics

smoothed over and focusing on the

importance of Christian Living and the

gospel instead of fights over worship

style Bible versions The intricate

details of the Lord's supper and so

forth but there's actually a bunch of

churches that advertise that they are

non-denominational but care very much

about some very specific doctrines take

the citygates church in Fairfax Virginia

there who we are page says the city

Gates church is a non-denominational

church focused on teaching the truth of

God's word verse by verse demonstrating

the love of God to others and

proclaiming Jesus to the Nations we hold

to the historic confessional Creeds of

the Christian faith we are both

conservative and Evangelical but

citygates Church isn't just a lone

Church doing its own thing it's part of

the Calvary Chapel Association which has

about 1,800 churches churches that are

part of the association all affirm only

men may have pastoral leadership full

immersion baptism and pre-tribulation

Rapture premillennial ES kology among

other beliefs Calvary chapels claim not

to be a denomination because again they

don't meet definition two the

association can't control the churches

they may or may not even be affiliated

with it and they can do whatever they

want and leave at any time but that

aside there is a definite group of

churches that have the same teaching on

many areas and similar Ministry

philosophy they send people to the same

Bible colleges and attend the same

conferences support the same

missionaries and so on since they have

an answer to question one it's a

denomination and City Gates Church does

mention their affiliation on another

page of their website which is the

honest thing to do so we've identified

the denomination of three

non-denominational churches so far but

in the process realize that there are

thousands more 1,800 churches that say

they are non-denominational are Calvary

Chapel churches thousands of

non-denominational churches are actually

Pentecostal churches so let's look at

some more First Church of God in

Greenville Pennsylvania says basically

we are a non-denominational Bible

thumping Christian Church who believes

in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and

the only way to heaven but if you look

up the church finder for the Church of

God Anderson Indiana you'll find First

Church of God on there that's of course

because the Church of God Anderson

Indiana doesn't identify as a

denomination but rather a movement they

have a website a history and leaders and

they also have 2,100 congregations in

the US and Canada and 7,800 worldwide on

the homepage of Cardiff Church in Wales

you read we are a multicultural

non-denominational Christian Church

founded and structured on biblical

principles and standards found in the

word of Christ but down at the bottom of

the page they also disclose that they

are a member Congregation of the

international Churches of Christ ioc

says they are a family of 700 churches

in 150 countries I actually originated

from the Churches of Christ which is a

group of churches associated with the

restoration movement in the United

States and if you go to church websites

of Churches of Christ you'll find them

often saying they are non-denominational

too like Sena Church of Christ and in

South Carolina the 2020 us religion

census counted

11,881 churches in the US and 1, 422,000

members in Churches of Christ these

churches are identifiable as a group

they have distinctive doctrines like

Believers baptism for salvation weekly

communion and rejection of instruments

and worship so Churches of Christ which

aren't a denomination had a group of

churches Divide from them International

Churches of Christ not a denomination

and from them another non- denomination

divided the International Christian

churches Detroit International Christian

Church says on their website the Detroit

International Christian Church is a

non-denominational church that is part

of the International Christian churches

and a member of the soldout discipling

movement we are a family of Christian

churches whose members are committed to

living their lives in accordance with

the teachings of Jesus Christ as found

in the Bible there are 156 International

Christian churches in the directory of

the so-called family of churches Grace

Reformed Church is non-denominational

but they're also reformed Baptists

Crossroads Church is too Church of God

Paka is a Bible believing

non-denominational congregation but they

are part of the Church of God evening

light which divided from the Church of

God Anderson Indiana friendship Grace

Brethren Church is an independent

non-denominational body of Believers but

they're also part of Caris Fellowship

which is an anabaptist family of more

than 230 interdependent churches

campuses and Ministries in the United

States and Canada if you're familiar

with the nominations you might notice

what group some of these churches are

part of by their names but many people

looking for a church might not realize

that these non-denominational churches

are part of families or movements of

thousands of churches so when you read

that Northridge Bible Chapel is a

non-denominational assembly of Believers

that meets together in North Raleigh

according to New Testament example you

may know that congregations that have

Bible Chapel in their name are most

commonly part of the open Brethren which

have 1,300 churches on this map and have

their own set of doctrines and practices

that identify them like

dispensationalism and weekly

unprogrammed Lord's Supper services but

others might not know that this

non-denominational congregation is part

of anything bigger than itself the

church in Los Angeles says we are not

part of any denomination we follow the

New Testament pattern which shows Christ

believers who congregate only on the

basis of the locality in which they live

because we live in Los Angeles we meet

simply as the church in Los Angeles as

the church in Los Angeles we receive all

the Believers in Los Angeles as Christ

has also received us when you read that

you may recognize this as the calling

card for a church in the local churches

here's an identical statement from the

church in Woodbridge with just the city

name swapped out the local churches

normally use the Bible version that they

produce the recovery version and still

today are heavily influenced by the

teachings of two early leaders witness

Lee and Watchman NE here's a map of

their churches in the US but many people

wouldn't know that this church is part

of anything until maybe after they've

attended a few services and asked some

questions the church Church says it's

non-denominational after all I could

keep going for a long time Living Word

Maiden head is non-denominational but

they're also a parish of the Redeemed

Christian Church of God which has 50,000

parishes and 9 million members Salem

Reformed Church is non- denominational

but part of the Evangelical Association

of reformed and congregational Christian

churches here's their map abalene First

Christian Church is non- denominational

but they're part of the independent

Christian churches which have 5,000

churches in the US and a million members

in fact if you Google the statement that

gave about being non-denominational

you'll see that there's an awful lot of

other non-denominational churches that

say the exact same thing down to the

letter and how about Faith Assembly

Church in Clarksville Indiana

non-denominational but they have some

precise beliefs because they are message

believers who teach that William

brandham was the end times messenger for

told in the Old Testament Book of

Malachi brandham preached against

denominations and so these churches

always identify as non-denominational

but this directory has over 600 of them

and they all teach about brandom and his

doctrines like Jesus name baptism and

annihilationism Living Hope Church in

North Carolina is non-denominational but

they're also a Confluence Church along

with the other churches on this map and

Confluence itself is just one of the

apostolic spheres of New Frontiers which

has 2,500 churches in 80 countries I

don't even have time to get into

churches like the Grove Community Church

which is non-denominational because it's

actually aligned with two denominations

the Southern Baptist convention and the

Christian and Missionary Alliance so

what's the point here here's three

takeaways number one if a church says

that they are non-denominational don't

assume that they're not part of a larger

set of churches with similar Theology

and history number two the trend toward

non- denominationalism in America means

that more churches are removing

denominations from their name and

website but they often are still

associated in some way with something

bigger than themselves so be wary of

claims that denominations are really

going away many are just going

underground and finally if you're part

of one of these churches churches and

someone asks what denomination is this

church realize they're probably asking

question number one if you know that

your church fits with a group of

churches and they share common beliefs

and perhaps even have a historical story

behind them don't give them an answer to

question number two at least not first

tell everyone who you are and be

transparent sure you can keep Vision

church or imagine Church on the sign

outside to keep a bit of Mystique but

once people are in the door they want

answers