While working on an unrelated research project, I recently came across some data published by the Hartford Institute of Religion Research. Though the information was five years old, it still seemed highly relevant today. In essence, the data showed that non-denominational churches are now the second largest Protestant group in America. Only the Southern Baptist Convention is larger.
Here are some of the fascinating nuggets from that study:
- There are more than 12 million people who affiliate with non-denominational churches.
- The research found at least 35,000 non-denominational churches in America.
- Non-denominational churches are in 88% of the counties in the United States.
- Non-denominational churches are one of the top five largest religious groups in 48 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
In light of the growth of these churches, I conducted an informal Twitter poll and asked why people are moving to non-denominational congregations from churches affiliated with denominations. Here are the top eight responses in order. There is obvious overlap in some of the responses.
- Denominational churches have a negative reputation. Some respondents used the phrase “negative brand” to communicate this reason.
- Denominations are known more for what they are against than what they are for.
- There is too much infighting and politics in denominations.
- The denominational churches are too liberal. From what I can tell from these respondents, they are current and former members of mainline churches.
- There is a general waning of institutional loyalty in institutions such as denominations.
- Denominations have inefficient systems and organizations. They are too bureaucratic.
- Some of the respondents could see no perceived benefit to belonging to denominations.
- Denominations are not good stewards of their financial resources.
I plan on doing a second poll in the near future to see how respondents view denominations positively. In the meantime, let me hear from you.
Posted on April 22, 2015
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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191 Comments
Though there is postives about non-denominational churches, they actually don’t exist. The church either accepts the theology of Calvin or Armianianism. There is a set format for baptism and communion. Thus one tradition or the other is accepted. The danger of non-denominational is it could lead to one world church. Since there is no one governing body the church can be drawn to accept ideas of traditions outside Christianity. I see in the very near future a moving trend of churches banding together and theology put in the background. “We all believe in God so we all are ok.” Jesus is the central figure and Jesus is what seperates Christians from other faiths. The church must be denominational in making Jesus the central theme. Never forgetting the cross and what it represents. Easter is considered just another day by many make-belive Christians because they are all to happy to incorporate other ideals. This will lead to decay in values and morals and the collapse of the make believe church. Revelation chapter 17.
I believe these huge non-denominational churches are more like brainwashing cults. My niece wanted me to listen to her non-denominational church service she had on video tape. I started listening to it and the man at the podium seemed more interested in politics and preaching that than actual scripture and relating that scripture to every- day life. Then he brought out even more speakers who did the same thing. I was getting more and more disgusted because they were all preaching against court decisions and for Republicans rather than the word of God. Politics is not supposed to be preached in church, so I found it disturbing and a brainwashing technique.
501c3 churches are government pawns, so real Christians can not stay in them. The Trinity doctrine is heresy, but the Bible Unitarian churches are rare and hard to find.
If the trinity is heresy why does it say in Matthew 28:19-20 to go forth and baptize in what name? Notice the 3 names given. Also in Genesis when God created man he said “let US make man in OUR image. The words us and our are plural, once again indicating more than one in the Godhead. The issue of the trinity was adopted in the 4th century after much debate. Churches are not pawns as intended. The problem is many non believers attend chruch and distort what it is intended to do and that is worship God through His son Jesus Christ. Many people practice idol worship by proclaiming self as the one to be worshipped. There is a reason Unitarian churches are hard to find. The word unitarian means unity. We accept everyone. Not everyone is a believer and this causes corruption.
I have done some research on this and found that SB church is considerably smaller in number than The Seventh Day Adventist church who is currently over 21million members
If you are not born into such churches, they treat you as an outcast
I agree with a lot of what you say in attempt to educate others as to why people are choosing non-denominational over denominational churches. With that being said, however, I don’t agree with the statement of: “ The denominational churches are too liberal.”
Personally, I am non-denominational because I find many mainstream churches to be too judgmental. By this, I specifically make reference to same sex couples and/or people that decide to live alternative lifestyles. Based on these beliefs, I would actually be considered even MORE Liberal rather than less so.
I prefer to leave specific judgement to Jesus (if it’s to be had), and instead, try to keep the focus on Jesus’ final command which was “to love one another.” When you really begin to delve into the history of Christianity (and religion-as a whole), numerous transformations have been well documented.
Some have taken these facts to mean it’s all a farce drummed up to control people. Some believe the major religions are branches taken from the tree (or that of numerous trees) from far older religious orders. Regardless of belief, “man” has put his own hand (and spin) on religion throughout the ages.
Therefore, in conclusion, my belief has evolved into focusing on the overall messages of the Bible. What is there more focus on? What is spoken of the most? What message repeats more than any other? Aside from the number one… Basically, honor our ONE True God-Taking No Other Before Him.
The other constant message has to do with kindness toward others, being merciful to others, being helpful toward others (rather than looking down on them) which brings me right back to my earlier point of trying to keep the focus on Jesus’ final command…
“to love one another.”
I agree with some:
Politics, liberal etc..
Denomitions, don’t promote the gifts of Spirit in live of called Believers.
Because of the system ..
Denominational churches are really too much politics. I totally agree with all those reasons. I still wonder why there are still churches like that.
THE NUMBER REASON , SHOULD BE AND FOR ME IS [ IS NOT BIBLICAL ,PERIOD.
It’s been interesting to watch the relationship between Churches of Christ and other non-denominational churches. In some ways, such as a lack of hierarchy beyond the local congregation, the models are similar. In terms of connections and interactions with other churches, this lack of hierarchy also seems to produce some level of division and perhaps even distrust. As the non-denominational movement has grown, I have seen many in my own tribe say, “Hey, those guys are stealing our lines! We’ve been doing this for 200 years!” 🙂 Great article and great thoughts as always, Thom. Thanks.
‘Numerous main line denominations have fallen to a social gospel of political
correctness. There is nothing politically correct about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
These big denominations are emptying out while the bible preaching, Christ
honoring churches are filling up. Bending the gospel to fit current political
trends is not what we are called to. Nice people of all persuasions go to hell.
Add to or subtract from the bible at your eternal peril.
Episcopal and Presbyterian churches have a huge problem with preaching social justice and political correctness from the pulpit. The thing is that too many Episcopalians are converts and do not even know anything about why you cannot change an apostolic and liturgical church based on historical roots. If you do not like what is going on, you have to leave. But now, people who like what is going on , with respect to the beautiful liturgy, are leaving because of the political pulpit preaching. You cannot change a church based on years of history. Both Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches attract more educated people. Unfortunately they also attract people who from a class standpoint have made it financially and educationally, but miss the mark socially. They are upwardly mobile people who , pitifully , way too late in life, figure out maybe they will have higher status worshiping with Episcopalians and Presbyterians than with Lutherans, Methodists , or Baptists. They are the same folks who got to the Ivy League schools way too late to benefit from its prestige. Many of them are huge liberals politically and for the same reason they change colleges and move to more affluent neighborhoods, they change church denominations to try to make it socially. What they have not figured out is they still are a products of their past, which unfortunately has social deficiencies they never will overcome.. They try to be ” noblisse oblige” types, when , in reality, they do not even qualify to carry that burden since most of them are new moneyed, lower middle class folks. Then there are the real old moneyed aristocrats who feel guilty about their money and tout liberalism because they are guilty about how they came to have more of everything than other people.. They are the limousine liberals and in many ways are more repugnant that the social climbing class envious upwardly mobile politically correct. Both types, although they do not know it, are very transparent and easy to tell apart.. The ones motivated by class envy never have figured out how to take the next step up because they have no access to class codes of genuine upper class people. In any case, whether a limousine liberal or a class envy liberal , they flock to politically liberal denominations which appeals to their status seeking
and discomfort with who they really are and how they fit into the scheme of things in Christ’s world.. The more genuine denominations of Protestant churches preach the gospel and not politics from the pulpit. They are comfortable in their own skin. They know what separation of church and state means and they adhere to it. They are satisfied with their station in life and thankful for what they have. Many Episcopal churches try to be clever by half in the way they present their political views , but only a moron would miss their point. They are not even subtle anymore. They are losing communicants and money, as they should.. Some are going to Anglican churches. Others are going to more fundamentalist churches. But until these churches understand their mission is to preach the word of the Lord they will find themselves talking to empty pews.. Few people go to church to hear political pontifications. Such social justice warriors need to get over themselves and if they are so inspired to preach politics, they need to get out of the church and join with the dishonorable politicians whose goal it is to destroy all of the churches. After all, when government is your God, the only thing more threatening than guns that they will face is their God…
AMEN!!
Some, if not many, denominational Christian churches still operate under some of the Old Covenant practices. Some, still have priests; they collect tithes, which had the do with the priests. New Covenant giving is, that each believer is supposed to decide in his/her heart what to give, and to do each joyfully. Give as much as you are able, but it is not bondage. Neither should you feel that you have to “pay” to attend church services. Two or more believers make the Church; church facilities are just that, a place for like-minded believers to gather in edifying each other. The outreach is usually mostly outside the facility; wherever two or more believers are at, that’s church. Not all people realize that their are two theologies of Biblical interpretation. The Calvinist interpretation basically is that at birth, God chooses who is saved and who is not. Some denominations that follow this interpretation are the Presbyterians, and the Lutherans. This interpretation is a lie! Jesus said that anyone who calls on his name shall be saved, therefore salvation is available to everyone, if they so chose to repent of their sins before Almighty God, in the name of Jesus. The true interpretation is what some call the Armenian or Wesleyan, interpretation. Any fallacy is what some denominations, including the Southern Baptist believe, that once you are saved, you are always saved. This is not true. Yes, it is true that no one can take away your salvation, but you can give it up, by going back to sinful living. And, it appears that most Protestant churches (fellowships) don’t believe or teach about the Rapture, the snatching away, or catching up of Christian believers, i.e. The Church, the Bride of Christ, before God deals with the unbelieving Jewish nation, during the 7 years of Tribulation, for rejecting the Messiah, Jesus Christ. After the end of the seven years, Jesus Himself will return with His Bride, the (New Covenant) Church, along with his angels to put an end to the Tribulation; that is the 2nd Coming of Christ. At the Rapture, He does not come down to Earth itself, but first resurrects the dead in Christ onto the clouds, in eternal, resurrected bodies, and then transform the living Believers into new, eternal, perfect bodies. Most Jews don’t believe in Jesus today, because God Himself has blinded their eyes, their understanding, in part until they are afforded the opportunity to repent and accept the true Messiah, Jesus Christ, during the Tribulation. Unfortunately, many, if not most who do will be martyred, but will be resurrected at Jesus’ 2nd Coming. Some believe that Gentiles, i.e. non-Jews, will have an opportunity to be saved during the Tribulation (I hope that is true, but!). I don’t believer that, because in the book of Romans, it states that when the last Gentile is brought in, i.e. to the Church, in other words, saved, then the Rapture will occur. After the Rapture, God will raise up 144,000 Jewish Messengers, i.e. Believers of Christ, to spread the message of salvation to the Jewish Nation. At the 2nd Coming of Christ, He will establish His Kingdom on the Earth, for 1,000 years, hence The Millennium. He will rule the Earth, assisted by His Bride, the New Testament Believers, and Jewish Believers. Hallelujah! Help us Lord to overcome this decadent society!
Not So!