WHY A NON-DENOMINATIONAL EVANGELICAL CHURCH?

Our small Christian non-profit ministry recently requested and received approval from the IRS to be re-classified as a ‘church’.    

As our primary ministry is hosting two church services weekly, serving as pastor and chaplain to the residents of a large assisted living facility and promoting discipleship through weekly Bible studies, it seemed appropriate. 

As a church our core beliefs and passions led us to align ourselves as an independent “non-denominational" evangelical church.

While there is a great amount of diversity and variety among non-denominational churches—the one likely commonality is they all are embracing a growing trend to not be connected to a denominational structure and stubbornly refuse to be identified by denominational criteria.

My personal stubbornness lies in what I call an aversion to ‘isms.’   ‘Isms’ are an expansion of what likely started as a stated doctrinal belief hopefully based on a Biblical teaching.   However, in time, the ‘ism’ at the end of the name of the doctrine or teaching creates divisions into different, competing and often hostile opposing groups.   While, many of these teachings and beliefs are doctrinally sound, they tend to unnecessarily divide us when Christ and the New Testament is clear that unity of the Body of Christ is the objective.  

Beyond just being stubborn, there are two primary reasons why churches like ours are independent and non-denominational—these reasons are organizational and theological.

1.  Organizational

Denominations tend to become bureaucratic and inwardly focused.  They typically have shown an inability to remain focused on the original vision that created the movement’s vitality.  All too often, the established and traditional methods become more important than the results that are to be achieved.   Methods are a poor substitute for being a part of the true vine that Jesus followers are to cling to.    While there are benefits in tradition, tradition can quickly lead to inflexibility, and the larger the organizational and associated requirements become the greater the opportunity for organizational dysfunction and misdirection.

Many denominational churches have moved to become independent by disconnecting themselves from their denominational underpinnings.   Often, this is accomplished by a simple name change, taking on a generic name that in appearance drops or greatly reduces the denominational baggage.   By maintaining a connection to the denomination, these local churches may find that they can maintain some of the benefits of cooperation and theological training while embracing some of the non-traditional worship, culture and language of the independent churches.  

According to Pew Forum research, most of the largest denominations in the United States reported a decline in membership.   

Interestingly, this same study also found that while Protestants in general saw their share of the US population fall since 2007 (decline of 4.7% from 2007 to 2014), and Catholics also lost approximately 3.1% of their share of the population,  the nondenominational share of the US population grew from 4.5% to 6.2% during the same period.

Declaring a church to be non-denominational by itself doesn’t eliminate the inherent challenges and predictable decline of centralized denominations.  However, when combined with a focus on the primary doctrines of the faith as discussed below, many evangelical, non-denominational churches have thrived and pushed against the trend.

2.  Theological

Non-denominational does not mean undecided or not orthodox in belief.  The vast majority of independent non-denominational churches are also clearly evangelical.  This indicates while non-denominational, there is a common distinctiveness of doctrine.    While there are many that prefer to define evangelicals based on style, political opinions, or by denomination, the NAE (National Association of Evangelicals) states that “Evangelicals take the Bible seriously and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The term “evangelical” comes from the Greek word euangelion, meaning “the good news” or the “gospel.” Thus, the evangelical faith focuses on the “good news” of salvation brought to sinners by Jesus Christ.”

Further, according also to the NAE, many evangelicals choose to not use the word ‘evangelical’ in describing themselves, focusing rather on their core theological beliefs: The faithfulness and authority of the Bible, salvation by grace through faith, the need for a personal relationship with God through Jesus and his death and resurrection, their involvement in evangelism, the desire for discipleship and fellowship and the ultimate return of Jesus Christ.

One of the strengths of the non-denominational, evangelical church is the simplicity of their doctrines.   There is rarely any complex terminology or exhaustive theological explanations but typically a simple reference to a few verses in the Bible.  It can be said that the non-denominational, evangelical church typically majors on the major doctrines of the church and minors on the minors.   For example, the word sacrament can be used to describe their regular communion and baptism rituals without the people becoming ‘sacramentalists.’   The Bible is considered to be faithful in origin as well as transmission without an insistence of any particular translation or edition.  Church services can be rather prescribed or sometimes unpredictable without causing a major breach of an historic ecclesiastical calendar.

As a result, the local pastor is able to build a church that focuses on the primary truths of the Bible, preach the Gospel with clarity and remain in unity with other churches in the community that are considered to all be part of the same Body of Christ.

 

Ultimately, each non-denominational evangelical church will need to grapple with the same issues that the denominational churches have had difficulties with over the years: divorce and remarriage, church governance, church discipline, the roles of women and men in leadership, etc.    The advantage however for these newer non-denominational churches is that they can make even poor decisions without saddling other independent churches with a mandate to go and do likewise. 

Rev. Kenneth Behr (Th.D)                              July 2019

Are You Still Thankful?

The turkey is stored in plastic,

the gravy gelling on a cold plate.

The dinner was really fantastic

And heads were all bowed for grace.

Are we still thankful

today for family and for friends?

Or do we again become bashful

no remembering God to make amends?

Are we not today still blessed

while out shopping for gifts and clothing?

Is heaven at all impressed

Since hands are no longer folding?

God has given his most precious gift

His son, Jesus has died for you

So remember today to be thankful

For Jesus, our health and family too.

"Are You Still Thankful" © Kenneth A. Behr

Church in the Shadows

One of the biggest developments in the Church world has been the redefinition of ‘biggest churches’

By now, almost everyone has heard the term, “Megachurch” (church of over 2,000 in attendance) but few have understood the actual change in the church landscape that has happened in the past 30-40 years, literally one generation.  While there are those that applaud and many that disapprove of the megachurch, their impact is profound, particularly if you are a regular attendee or pastor of a church in the shadows of one of these mega or even gigachurches.

First, let’s talk briefly about the growth of the megachurch.   In 1970, there were less than a dozen churches in the country with more than 2,000 in average weekly attendance.  By the year 2000, just 30 years later, there were approximately 1,000 of these megachurches, an annual growth rate of nearly 20%.  By 2015, there were an estimated 1,900 megachurches and not unusual to see churches in America with average weekly attendance of twenty, thirty and even forty thousand -- what many are now calling ‘gigachurches.’

We also know that these megachurches are primarily very evangelical.  They are passionate about ministering and reaching their communities, largely charismatic at least in their worship and give an appearance of being nondenominational.

Because of their size, their worship, choirs, facilities, children’s ministries, auditoriums, and even grounds are spectacular.  These churches can afford to hire the best and the average lead pastor at a megachurch is paid nearly 4 times more than the average salary of other paid pastors (and note that more than half of the churches in America are pastored by bi-vocational pastors).

So what is a ‘Church in the Shadows’ supposed to do?   Not every small church in the country is destined to become a megachurch nor should they.  Nearly 90% of all churchgoers attend much smaller churches and obviously enjoy the size, fellowship and ministry.

Here are some of the things that we can learn from the megachurches and likely will contribute to continued health and vitality, if not attendance growth.

1) Traditions Change

In “Fiddler on the Roof” Tevye the milkman tries to maintain his family's religious and cultural traditions against strong and sometimes overpowering outside influences.   Similarly, as pastors, we need to continually take a look at the traditions that are not contributing to the Biblical heritage of the church and may in fact be contrary to the very purpose of the ministry of the local church.  Traditions regarding music, dress, ritual and even preaching style change.  Pastors and churches that are resistant to these changes often will find themselves in decline.

2) Decisions determine destination

Often, we find ourselves at a particular place and wonder “how did we get here?”   While not often noticed as being consequential at the time, decisions that were made will impact our destination.   Years ago, my wife and I were involved in a growing denominational church with a thriving school and ministry.   In a period of just a few years, a number of decisions were made to reemphasize traditional worship and catechism in the Sunday services.  These decisions not only slowed the overall growth of this church but quickly aged the congregation and significantly and adversely impacted the churches outreach and ministry to the local community

3) Culture Conditions the Church

Culture is defined classically by borders, symbols, language and values.   As Christians, we can look at society and instantly see a culture that is often contrary if not hostile to the very fabric of our religious and biblical values.   At the same time, every church has a culture that is also defined by the same borders, symbols, language and values that is either attracting or repelling the local people to whom the church is supposed to be ministering.

I am one that appreciates some of the old hymns, the traditions and reverence that seemed to be so typical in our churches.  However, society has changed.   The megachurches have tapped into the changes in society to their advantage and have attracted younger families and typically reflect diverse educational and economic demographics that enable new people to feel comfortable.   People that are at ease and comfortable in church are much more likely to not only return but also learn and embrace the teachings and values that are important.

Note that I earlier mentioned not just the size of the megachurches but that they tended to be “very evangelical.  They are passionate about ministering and reaching their communities, largely charismatic at least in their worship and give an appearance of being nondenominational.”   The cultural conditions in these megachuches are the very same conditions that contributed to the growth of their ministry without diminishing their Biblical standards.

While some may disagree with the results, few can disagree with the trends.

Churches in the shadows can and should be looking at their traditions, decisions and culture to ensure they are all contributing to their advancement of the Great Commission and the general ministry of the local church.