Author : Tom Rainwater
Question
Thank you for your website and the studies therein. I share your belief concerning n0n-denominationalism. But I find no suggestions (so far in my visit to your site) about where to meet or how to “come together” for people who are not in your geographical area. Is it your belief or position that all who believe but are not in New York simply study with you and not attend a local assembly?
And of course we know that even many who call themselves “non denominational” have become a denomination! Again, thanks for caring enough to structure so powerful a website.
Answer
Hi! Thanks for your question and comments.
When we started our website in July 2001, it was intended to be for a local audience as we invited area people to come study with us. It’s amazing how many people from all over the world have found our site in the last three years, asking us questions. We never dreamed we would get the kind of readership we have, but such is the nature of the internet.
We never meant to imply that people not living in New York State can’t worship with a local group of Christians where they are. Neither are we implying that we are the only group of Christians who meet in New York. Christians, wherever they live, have the obligation to meet together and worship God according to the New Testament pattern. The early Christians did the following:
- Sang together (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
- Prayed together (Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:8)
- Edified one another in the Word (Acts 20:32; Ephesians 4:11-16)
- Partook of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Acts 20:7)
- Voluntarily contributed money on the first day of the week in order to do the necessary work as a congregation (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
That is the New Testament blueprint for Christians who meet together.
In the New Testament, Christians met together at different places, depending on where they lived or traveled. A group of Christians worshiped together in Jerusalem, other groups in Rome, Ephesus, Corinth, Thessalonica, etc. When a newly converted Saul left Damascus to return to Jerusalem, he did the proper thing in wanting to join the disciples there (Acts 9:26). Sometimes brethren in an area worshiped together in a house of one of the disciples (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Philemon 1:2). The large church in Jerusalem initially met in the most publicly accessible place available: the grounds of the temple (Acts 2:46). We don’t need a fancy building with stained glass windows and all the excess trimmings in order to worship God together. As Jesus said to his disciples, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20).
Likewise today, Christians should assemble together (Hebrews 10:24-25) in whatever area they live to worship God and teach the gospel message of Jesus Christ.
Also notice that each congregation in the New Testament was independent of the others, and each had the obligation to follow Jesus Christ in everything it did (cf. Revelation 2,3). No congregation was over another. No “central headquarters” for the church existed in the New Testament. There was no legislative body. Only Christ was the head (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; 5:23). Most denominations today have an earthly headquarters or law-making body which their “members” are expected to follow. We must be careful not to replace the will of Christ with that of mere men. We must not corrupt the simple organization of the local church found in the New Testament.
You are right in saying that many groups who call themselves “non-denominational” have become a denomination themselves. A group turns into one when it strays from the Bible and starts making laws and standards where Christ has not (cf. Matthew 15:8-9). When men are promoted and respected above Jesus, the contention and division characteristic of human denominations will result (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 3 John 9-11). Like the faithful disciples of the New Testament, we can be simply Christians (Acts 11:26) who meet together with the Bible as our only guide.
If you have any more questions, please let me know. May God bless you in your Bible study.
