For awhile I thought that this thread was stalemated, owing to the diversity of the claims, but I think we have now achieved some clarity.
People who belong to an independent and non-denominational congregation may call themselves "non-denominational," but people who refuse to join with other Christians while holding to an identifiable set of religious beliefs are not really non-denominational Christians. They are unaffiliated but not necessarily undenominational.
It is not universally true among them, but it is common for such unaffiliated Christians to adopt and affirm the distinctive beliefs of certain denominations that they agree with. In so doing, they become de facto Adventists, Baptists, or whatever. They are little different, then, from nominal Catholics or inactive and non-practicing Amish, Episcopalians, or Mormons.
Here on this thread we have been discussing, or dealing with, that very real phenomenon.
In this age of UBER-individualism (sadly, even among Christians) people LOVE to go it alone, be "a unique individual" (they say that as if that's a good thing). This carries over into doctrine. "I agree with NO ONE and NO ONE has ever agreed with me!" they shout as if that's good. All of Christianity is me, myself and I. THAT'S all that matters, all that's important. Extreme individualism entered with the Enlightenment - and it's matastasised, like a cancer, all over Christianity. The move to non-denoms, anti-creeds is all just symptoms of the cancer. And it's all mixed with a HEAVY dose of its necessary companion relativism (there is no truth, just your opinion - and your opinion is the only one that counts).
Community, humility, truth - these, sadly, are ancient and in large part abandoned concepts. And this has sadly infected Christianity. The result is the individualism we see ("What the Bible says to ME...." etc., etc., etc), the rise of non-denominationalism (where every church wants total independence to do and say WHATEVER it wants), anti-theology and anti-creeds (truth is your personal, individual opinion). The Enlightenment - a pagan philosophical movement - has totally infected Christianity, the matastasis has been nearly total.
Houston, we've got a problem. But it's where we are. And the disease will advance, unchecked, as long as we embrace it. Yup, as all know, it's one of my constant rants, lol
A blessed Lenten season to all...
- Josiah
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- Josiah
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