Ok... so you are probably reading this because the long, bizarre name intrigued you. That's the same reason why a lot of people aren't reading this post! haha! Let's begin!!!
Recently, I underwent change of denominations. The majority of my life I spent my time in the pews of a "Church of God" (Of Cleveland, TN). Toward the end of my college experience, God began pulling me out and away from the denomination I grew up in, and he used some pretty intense things to do that! (That's another tale to be told at another time...feel free to ask me about!) For several months I went from church gathering to church gathering, I even took the opportunity to visit denominations that I knew little to nothing about so that I could experience a variety of the Christian expressions! Greek Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Anglican, Independent Pentecostal (YIKES!), Messianic Congregation (5...hours...long...and that with me skipping the last part!), Presbyterian, a neo-calvinistic/non-denominational/charismatic church, and Evangelical Free....am I forgetting one???
I grew a lot from this experience, but it also drained me quite a bit. Wandering is not healthy for one's spiritual life. The lack of fellowship and community was also very difficult. After some time I began to be partial to the Anglican community while I was still living in Chattanooga. I also visited the Episcopal church on occasion (primarily to daily Eucharist with my good friend Milez). This leaning led to a lot of questioning and raised eyebrows from friends and family. One member of my family in particular did not seem to happy with my participation with the more "high-church" communities and often said things that conveyed disapproval.
Upon moving to Knoxville I visited several more churches (including a local Anglican church) that caught my fancy, but in the end I landed my choice with a local Evangelical Free Church! To learn more about the EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America), visit this website! While I do not label myself an E. Free Christian, I do regularly attend and E. Free church. The Anglican Church was a close second.
So why visit so many denominations you may ask.Why choose the denomination I'm in now, you may also be asking. Why do you ask so many questions?!
Well, I do not believe that there is a perfect denomination...ANYWHERE! At the same time I am anti-nondenominational. In fact, I think nondenominationalism (as it is expressed in America) is more unbiblical that denominations. Stick that in your eccleisological pipe and smoke it! The reason being that I believe that denominations help to keep together what nondenoms are destroying...structure and unity.
In the end I could care less about what denomination I am in, so long as the church I attend is seeking to fulfill it's role as a member of the body of Christ, holds to the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds, and that allows me to work within my gifting to edify others. Sure, I have some theological preferences, and I looked out for stuff like that when I was searching for a church, but more because I wanted to be in unity with those I am worshiping with than anything else. How can I be of the utmost use when I theologically disagree with absolutely everything I am hearing from those around me or from the pulpit???
In the end, I chose the E. Free church because in addition to being theologically sound and having, what I would say are, strong biblical foci, as well as plenty of opportunities for me to serve. Additionally, it appeared that this is where God wanted me to be. I found it sad that when I told people where I was going the only question that they thought to ask me was "Do they speak in tongues?"...I'm so glad that people care so much about my spiritual well being enough to ask the REALLY important questions. Forget missions, outreach, community, worship, or whether they are a cult or not...so long as they speak in tongues. Has our understanding of "church" become so shallow? Have we so forgotten our purpose and our function? What has the church become...I think God weeps over us.
Despite my choice to attend an E. Free church, I find myself not telling everyone that they need to go to an E. Free church. Quite frankly, I don't want to be like so Christians out there who evangelize their church more than they do their faith. I know people who are more likely to evangelize you into attending their denomination rather than into the Christian faith as a whole.
"You're Baptist? Oh, well you should come visit my church! It's great"
"You're a Catholic?! I'm just going to assume you're not Christian and in need of Jesus. Let me start by telling you everything about Christ that I know you don't know, because you are obviously so focused on Mary that you probably don't know that she isn't the Christ! Let me start by telling you about this little thing called grace..."
"Oh...you're Church of Christ? My church has real worship!"
"Presbyterian? Did you know that there is this person known as the Holy Spirit?!"
"Church of God...I'm going to just say that you're heretical. Additionally I'm not going to bother learning anything about you or what you ACTUALLY believe. So take take your modolistic, snake-handling, and unintelligent but to a traditional church that teaches the Trinity." (I experienced this one first hand when I went to college, but not verbatim)
Hopefully you get my point. We are supposed to be of the one and only holy, catholic (universal, not Roman Catholic) church! We are hundreds of thousands of people who are all a part of this nation (kingdom in the more traditional language) of people from hundreds of cultural backgrounds, etc. The Church (notice the capital "c") is a Kingdom of humanity that is not bound by political borders and expressions, time, space, and so on. It exists despite our human flaws and out theological disagreements. there is ONE Chruch with many denominations. Not a thousand Churches. Christ is King over this Kingdom (something that even the Pope will claim), and we in our sin have began to do the same thing that the Apostles did in the presence of Christ-bicker and fight about who is greatest in the kingdom. Who gives a horses patoot?!?!
Lastly, there are many Christians out there that are preaching against Church structures and Church government. Just sit down before you hurt yourself please. You are rebelling against God and are twisting scripture to meet your biased opinions. I'm sorry that you got hurt by some pastor or that the Church of America is not being persecuted to the point of having to meet underground for fear of being slaughtered. Etc, etc, etc. Christ established Church government when we appointed the Apostles, and if I wanted to I could go much deeper into the biblical text and argue further, but chances are you wouldn't listen anyway.
There is a piece of my recent journey as well as my thoughts on denominations. Thanks for reading :)
Peace be with you,
Stephen
Recently, I underwent change of denominations. The majority of my life I spent my time in the pews of a "Church of God" (Of Cleveland, TN). Toward the end of my college experience, God began pulling me out and away from the denomination I grew up in, and he used some pretty intense things to do that! (That's another tale to be told at another time...feel free to ask me about!) For several months I went from church gathering to church gathering, I even took the opportunity to visit denominations that I knew little to nothing about so that I could experience a variety of the Christian expressions! Greek Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Anglican, Independent Pentecostal (YIKES!), Messianic Congregation (5...hours...long...and that with me skipping the last part!), Presbyterian, a neo-calvinistic/non-denominational/charismatic church, and Evangelical Free....am I forgetting one???
Upon moving to Knoxville I visited several more churches (including a local Anglican church) that caught my fancy, but in the end I landed my choice with a local Evangelical Free Church! To learn more about the EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America), visit this website! While I do not label myself an E. Free Christian, I do regularly attend and E. Free church. The Anglican Church was a close second.
So why visit so many denominations you may ask.Why choose the denomination I'm in now, you may also be asking. Why do you ask so many questions?!
Well, I do not believe that there is a perfect denomination...ANYWHERE! At the same time I am anti-nondenominational. In fact, I think nondenominationalism (as it is expressed in America) is more unbiblical that denominations. Stick that in your eccleisological pipe and smoke it! The reason being that I believe that denominations help to keep together what nondenoms are destroying...structure and unity.
In the end I could care less about what denomination I am in, so long as the church I attend is seeking to fulfill it's role as a member of the body of Christ, holds to the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds, and that allows me to work within my gifting to edify others. Sure, I have some theological preferences, and I looked out for stuff like that when I was searching for a church, but more because I wanted to be in unity with those I am worshiping with than anything else. How can I be of the utmost use when I theologically disagree with absolutely everything I am hearing from those around me or from the pulpit???
In the end, I chose the E. Free church because in addition to being theologically sound and having, what I would say are, strong biblical foci, as well as plenty of opportunities for me to serve. Additionally, it appeared that this is where God wanted me to be. I found it sad that when I told people where I was going the only question that they thought to ask me was "Do they speak in tongues?"...I'm so glad that people care so much about my spiritual well being enough to ask the REALLY important questions. Forget missions, outreach, community, worship, or whether they are a cult or not...so long as they speak in tongues. Has our understanding of "church" become so shallow? Have we so forgotten our purpose and our function? What has the church become...I think God weeps over us.
Despite my choice to attend an E. Free church, I find myself not telling everyone that they need to go to an E. Free church. Quite frankly, I don't want to be like so Christians out there who evangelize their church more than they do their faith. I know people who are more likely to evangelize you into attending their denomination rather than into the Christian faith as a whole.
"You're Baptist? Oh, well you should come visit my church! It's great"
"You're a Catholic?! I'm just going to assume you're not Christian and in need of Jesus. Let me start by telling you everything about Christ that I know you don't know, because you are obviously so focused on Mary that you probably don't know that she isn't the Christ! Let me start by telling you about this little thing called grace..."
"Oh...you're Church of Christ? My church has real worship!"
"Presbyterian? Did you know that there is this person known as the Holy Spirit?!"
"Church of God...I'm going to just say that you're heretical. Additionally I'm not going to bother learning anything about you or what you ACTUALLY believe. So take take your modolistic, snake-handling, and unintelligent but to a traditional church that teaches the Trinity." (I experienced this one first hand when I went to college, but not verbatim)
Lastly, there are many Christians out there that are preaching against Church structures and Church government. Just sit down before you hurt yourself please. You are rebelling against God and are twisting scripture to meet your biased opinions. I'm sorry that you got hurt by some pastor or that the Church of America is not being persecuted to the point of having to meet underground for fear of being slaughtered. Etc, etc, etc. Christ established Church government when we appointed the Apostles, and if I wanted to I could go much deeper into the biblical text and argue further, but chances are you wouldn't listen anyway.
There is a piece of my recent journey as well as my thoughts on denominations. Thanks for reading :)
Peace be with you,
Stephen
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