Denominationlism vs Independent
September 23, 2009 by jason hirsch
Filed under Church
Finished up a day of meetings in Sacramento, CA, yesterday. The purpose of the meetings was to orient Me and Angel to the Assemblies of God infrastructure. Here’s a problem of mine: I don’t care!
I’ve never been a corporate guy. I’ve tended to buck authority from my earliest days. I’ve never really been a conformist. You say black, I say white. Why? I have no idea! I’ve struggled with leadership for years, and certain things just drive me crazy. What’s my problem? Is it just certain individuals that are like me? Is it my generation? Is it the new culture being raised, seeing defunct leadership that has caused us to be a non-conformist, and to be anti-denomination, anti-authority, anti-corporate guy?
So, what’s my problem? I can’t figure out why I don’t like to be affiliated/associated with a denomination. People ask me “Are you with a particular denomination, or non-denominational?” I say “Oh no, we’re non-denominational.” “We’re part of a cooperative fellowship that gives us accountability, with independence.” It’s true! But what is my angst with corporate, with denominations?
So I listen to preachers like Ed Young (Fellowship Church), Bill Hybels (Willow Creek Community Church), Rick Warren (Saddleback Church), Rob Bell (Mars Hill), Craig Groeschel (LifeChurch.tv), Steve Furtick (Elevation Church), Andy Stanley (North Point Community Church), etc….. For the most part I like what they preach, what they write, the initiatives that they’re a part of. I’ve for years looked on & thought, “I would like to do what they do. Preach well, write well, lead well, and branch off & do all kinds of satellite church’s. After all that is non-denominational, right? It’s their own way of leading, its non-conformists showing us how to do church, be church, and lead church’s independently. Right?”
I’m not so sure. This is what conclusion I’ve drawn, and by no means am I going to talk bad about any church or denomination. After all our mission is all about redemption, but just doing things in different ways. Right? I’ll never knock that! So……..
My conclusion from my day of meetings yesterday is this…… it does not matter if I am part of denomination, or one of the above pastor’s organizations. Why? They all have leadership hierarchies. They all require a form of subordination. They all want things done a certain way. Even if they claim to be non-denominational, they become big, create satellite church’s and then they want those church’s to do church just like they’ve been doing church for years. They pipe in the pastor to 22 different campuses, have live worship, and curriculum that is streamlined. Nothing wrong with any of that. I’m thrilled that these church’s are successful and reaching people with the message of Jesus love. It’s awesome & I applaud them. But the reality is, whether it’s a denomination, or a successful independent church, both bands seem to be playing to the beat of the same drummer. Am I wrong?
Why do I write about this? I think denominate is: to assign a name to and brand something. Whether you’re part of a denomination or highly successful independent church, the reality is, there’s really no difference. They all have leadership circles, plans, initiatives, chains of command, hierarchies, branding, etc… The goal is really no different, just some have a far greater reach, and much more impact. Why? Because everything rises and falls on leadership!!
So what’s for you? Denomination? Independent? I think it’s all semantics. You’re not independent! You’ll never be free from overseers! You’ll always have someone telling you what do, how do it, and if you don’t do it their way, well, maybe you should find a different ministry to be a part of. If you don’t have someone leading over you, you’re probably at the helm, and requiring people to follow your leadership. If that’s the case, lead humbly and never forget your mission. Leading people to Christ, and making disciples!
Any thoughts? I know some of you have been hurt by denominations. I know some of you have been hurt by independent church’s. The church is the church, and it will always be composed of people, leadership, and hierarchy’s. What makes ministries successful? God! Who does He use? People! Some are jacked, and some are great leaders. Don’t let your bad experience determine where you go, what you do, or what organization you’re going to support or be a part of. Why? You can have bad leadership @ any level, whether denominational, or independent. Maybe you can be a change agent?
Last thought: “Only follow leadership as they follow Christ!” Denomination or Non-denomination!!
I can’t tell you what a relief it is to read this. Denominations open themselves up to “the gods” when they try to define themselves with the language of division. Unity takes place in the Holy Spirit. Thus, in one sense denominationals are the rebellious spiritual children of the marriage between the disparate Christian Churches and Constantine I’s Empire. It was the Nicene creed in 325 that led to the first formal schism of “Church” in 1054.
Don’t take my word for it. Here’s what Pope Paul VI said during the feast of Saint Paul and Peter in 1971:
“From some crevice the smoke of Satan has entered into the temple of God….we are not dealing with a deficiency, an evil caused by a lack of something…we face…an existing evil, evil that is a person…that we cannot classify as a corruption of goodness. We are speaking of an affirmation of evil and if this does not frighten us, it should.”
There is a bit of God in all denominations (in spite of man’s rebellion). “God is either the Father of all people” said Joshua Abraham Heschel, “or He is the Father of none”. To see with “the single eye” of God is to see through the artificiality of man made walls (behind those walls lurks the demon).
God Who Himself cannot be divided is working everywhere, particularly in and through those who rejoice with “Israel”, and who are all being brought to perfection together through the merits of Christ Jesus and the redemptive work on the cross.
Pentecostal Churches by definition are non-denominational. My upper room is the Eritrean Christian Church, a true Pentecostal assembly of asylum seekers on the Mediterranean island of Malta.
Shalom!