Saturday Watchdog: Denominational Churchianity

Christianity Today Makes the Case for Non-Denominational Churches

In a new essay, Daniel Kunkel argues that non-denominational churches deserve more serious consideration as a legitimate expression of Christianity. He observes that some Christians are moving toward Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Anglicanism and other historically rooted traditions, while non-denominational Protestantism remains numerically significant.
Christianity Today — November 11

Kunkel defends the strengths of independent congregations against stereotypes of shallow theology and entertainment-driven worship. This is a theological opinion essay, not a new statistical survey or major institutional announcement. Christianity Today

Did Jesus establish a conventional denomination? Nope.

The New Testament describes local congregations that met in homes. There were elders, teachers, apostles and disputes over doctrine. It doesn’t describe today’s landscape of Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and thousands of independent churches.

Denominational Christians often argue that historic institutions preserve theological accountability and continuity. Non-denominational Christians frequently emphasize local independence and direct accountability to Scripture.

So What?

In my opinion, both of those approaches have strengths and potential weaknesses. The weaknesses are troubling though, because too much of modern churchianity has become either too mired in the doctrines and traditions of men, or just giant “evangelical” auditoriums with fog machines, rock bands and pastors wearing designer sneakers.

I lean pretty strongly on independent, small groups of seekers and believers that meet in occaisonally for fellowship, apart from the traditional structures, both physical and doctrinal, of today’s churchianity.

Rick Tryon

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Child of God, husband, father, grandfather, rabblerouser, songwriter, pot stirrer, waiting for the King.

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