Nondenominational? Really?

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21 NKJV)

Denial of affiliation with an organized denomination has become increasingly popular among “Christian” religious groups. Name changes, statements of faith and the various descriptors used to define local churches and separate them from other groups have proliferated in the last few years. The effort to distance oneself from the infighting, confusion, corruption, loss of focus on spiritual things, compromise and division which has become epidemic and may be inherent among denominations, is both understandable and commendable. The Lord’s appeal to “come out from among them and be ye separate…” could apply to more than just idolatrous unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6), but could also apply to religious groups who have lost their way, relying on the doctrines and commandments of men, appealing to the carnal and worldly appetites of men and focusing more on gratification of sensual desires than on simple, pure, sincere and reverent worship of the God of heaven. Although not having an assembled, man-made and written down “Creed Book” such as a “Manual” or “Discipline,” there are many man-made, extra-biblical doctrines, practices and statements (such as “Who Are The churches of Christ?”) which imply some loosely organized grouping of churches into a “nondenominational denomination.” (More on this in a later post.)

Now, you may be saying to yourself at this point: “What’s the point?” It is this: Our “claim” at Garden Ridge Church of Christ is that we are simply a local assembly of blood-bought Christians attempting to serve God and one another, build up a group of people committed to helping each one get to heaven and propagating and defending the “faith once for all delivered…” (Jude 3). We put “Church of Christ” on the sign because we believe that we belong to CHRIST. We could just as well put “the assembly of God at Garden Ridge” or any other Scriptural and meaningful designation. Someone might suggest: There is a denomination called the “Assembly of God.” That’s true, and we certainly wouldn’t want to be associated with any denomination. But the sign alone doesn’t validate the group and it is possible that “church of Christ” has become the name of a de facto denomination. How could you tell about Garden Ridge Church of Christ? Come and visit with us. Talk to us. Study with us. Worship with us. See for yourself.