How many people here meet outside the religious system?

[Adullam]

More and more people are becoming dissatisfied with what passes for church these days. This is a good sign. True Christians desire more than a quick religious fix. Who has escaped the "Dominations"?

Please tell of your current situation...or even past experiences of meeting "without the camp."

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John

 

[Paidion]

First, there's not a single "religious system" but many systems. Yet, I would consider denominationalism itself to be a system. For it assumes the Church of Christ to be divided into denominations as, analagously, our money system is divided into denominations. In denominationalism, it's a matter of preference. Just as you might prefer a Chevrolet over a Ford, so you might prefer a Baptist Church over a Lutheran.

Some Characteristics of Denominational Churches:

1. Each church has certain distinctives which are spelled out in a "statement of faith" to which members are required to subscribe.

2. You are not baptized into Christ; you are baptized into the local denominational church.

3. To be a member of a local denominational church, you must make application and, if accepted, you will be added to the membership roll. All clubs have this practice.

Some Characteristics of Non-denominational Churches:

1. Only one Church is recognized --- The Church of Christ. This Church is a unity. It is not divided into denominations. Denominations are mere Christian clubs. Each local church is an expression of that one true Church. Local churches may or may not have a special relationship with one another. They do not require anyone to adhere to a set of doctrinal statements. To do so is divisive.

2. You are baptized into the one true Church of Christ, and not into the local church.

3. You cannot join the Church. God adds people to the Church (Acts 2:47). If you have repented and are baptized, and are living as Christ enjoined, you are recognized as a member of the true Church and are accepted into full fellowship.

 

[Cornelius]

I hopped out , about 17 years ago. Now I fellowship with Christians and I do not know if they go to church or not. We just get together. Sometimes we eat together and like tonight, we are just going to have a Bible study.
I only started growing after I left the system.

C

 

[Paidion]

I left a denominational church 51 years ago, when I was 20 years old. I began attending one of the assemblies of "Plymouth Brethren". Some consider them to be denominational, but they are not. Their practice corresponds to the characteristics of non-denominational churches which I gave in my previous post.

Since that time, I have moved back to my home area where there are no "Plymouth Brethren." Here, I discovered a different kind of non-denominational church, and still attend it.

Through the study of the New Testament and other early Christian writings, my beliefs have changed considerably from those of "Plymouth Brethren".

 

[destiny]

We attended a charismatic church a few years and then tried a couple more denominations after that. We knew the Lord wanted us to stay out sometime in 03, been out ever since.
We have a few friends that we fellowship with who we met while attending church, most of them are out too now.
The Lord has been faithful.

 

[Adullam]

Thank you for the answers so far.

My wife and I left the system church 20 years ago in order to break bread from house to house. This is what we felt called to do. The first one who visited us was the pastor of the church we had last attended. He broke bread with us and blessed us. Since then we have met in homes and learned a lot about what it takes to be the church together.

We presently meet with around 50 others in a home and are connected through a network with other churches in our region (Montreal). We are thriving as a group and growing steadily. I pray this continues!


Shalom in the home!

John

 

[lovely]

We attend a chapel weekly for communion and a Family Bible study with other believers. The Lord bless you.

 

[Cornelius]

The church is simply the "called out ones" and we are part of it, wherever it is.So I guess we are part of everybody who has been called out of the world into holiness . Being separated unto the Lord. We don't have "a place", we are nowhere and everywhere. We are not a denomination, but we are in denominations as well. We communicate with our brethren world wide (praise God for the Internet ! ) and we are one in spirit with them. We are part of those who look to the Word of God as THE Word of God. Its impossible for us to tell you how many we are, because we do not know. I think we are many .Some of us are on this forum too. We have pastors, prophets, evangelist, teachers and apostles.They work Eph 4:12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

So I am really happy where I am

blessings
C

 

[Adullam]

The church is simply the "called out ones" and we are part of it, wherever it is.So I guess we are part of everybody who has been called out of the world into holiness . Being separated unto the Lord. We don't have "a place", we are nowhere and everywhere. We are not a denomination, but we are in denominations as well. We communicate with our brethren world wide (praise God for the Internet ! ) and we are one in spirit with them. We are part of those who look to the Word of God as THE Word of God. Its impossible for us to tell you how many we are, because we do not know. I think we are many .Some of us are on this forum too. We have pastors, prophets, evangelist, teachers and apostles.They work Eph 4:12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

So I am really happy where I am

blessings
C

I second that by saying :amen