- Post-denominational churches
Post-denominational churches, (or postdenominational), can be interpreted in many ways, but as applied to
Christianity , it is the attitude that theBody of Christ extends toborn again Christian s in other denominations, and is not limited just to one's own religious group. Its focus on doctrine distinguishes it fromEcumenism .Many of the fastest growing Evangelical
church es in world do not belong to any "established" denomination, though the tendency is that over time the larger ones form their own organization (though they will not call it a "denomination"). Perhaps 70% of born-again Christians around the world today are non-denominational.According to
David Barrett ,Fact|date=February 2007 there are 60 million Americans who are born again believers, and do not attend any church. Though this is often due to faults in the church (some cite visionless leadership, undealt with sin inside the church leaders, lax morals in thepew s, money mishandling, etc. in their reasons for not attending), postdenominationalists nevertheless consider that the Church is at the center ofGod 's plan for the world.Common doctrinal points
The following doctrinal points are shared by many who consider themselves postdenominational (Bible references in parentheses):
*"Church" is the
convocation ,assembly , orcongregation of persons, disciples ofChrist , saved by faith (not by works nor by membership in a religion), regenerated by the working of theHoly Spirit , who obey thecommandment s of Jesus Christ and are His Body onEarth . (Ephesians 5:23)*The true Church, which is One, is composed of many congregations or local churches throughout the world. (I Corinthians 1:2; Acts 9:31, 15:41; 16:5; Romans 16:16)
*The message of the true Church is always Christ-centered.
**The true Church does not preach itself.
**The true Church does not preach a man. (Acts 19:13-16)**The true Church does not preach a denomination. (Acts 5:42)
**The true Church does not teach doctrines and traditions of men. (Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:8; Colossians 2:8)*The true Church preaches only the Word of God, the
Bible and preaches it in its totality. (Mark 2:2; 16:15; Romans 15:20; II Corinthians 4:5; I Thesalonians 2:9; II Timothy 4:2)*One should distrust anyone who adds to or takes away from the Word of God. (Revelation 22:18-19)
*The true Church is the Body of Christ on Earth (I Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 5:23, 29-30)
**The members of a body do not choose their position in that body.
**If a member becomes separated from the body that it is attached to, it will die, as it has no life in and of itself. The body can continue to function, but with some limitation.
**Where one part of the body is, the rest of the body is also. (Acts 10:24, 25)*The true Church is a group of people who know how to praise and worship God in Spirit and in truth. (John 4:23, 24; Acts 2:46, 47)
*The true Church is a group of people who know how to pray. (Acts 2:42)
*The true Church is a group of persons who love God and others. (I Corinthians 12:26; 13:2)References
* Patterson, Eric; Rybarczyk, Edmund J. "The Future of Pentecostalism in the United States", Rowman & Littlefield, 2007, ISBN 0-739-12103-0
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