Denominations are weakening and being divided over and over. It’s been occuring almost since the time denominations first formed. So, as we witness the deterioration of denominations, my question is are they still relevant today?
Based on surveys I’ve seen within the past 12 months it shows that all denominations are shrinking. The only one maintaining it’s stability seems to be the Catholic Church (arguably, not really a denomination) who are losing people, yet gaining a lot of hispanic Christians through migration of Mexican Catholics to the US, therefore staying about the same.
The SBC is the largest denomination, but the one striking thing to me is that they offer no form of government to the local church. They are a denomination that takes offerings from the local church and they help support a lot of missions work and church planting, but they don’t seem to offer much to the local church like other traditional denominations.
With the United States not being a Christian nation anymore, but a post-Christian nation, are denominations going to be relevant to those outside of the church? With churches closing due to the hard economic times, will this trcikle up to the denominations and cause them to suffer financially?
With churches and denominations being divided over theology, such as the PCUSA and the Episcopal Church, what sign does this send to those outside of the church? Does it turn them off even more?
When I think of divisions within denominations today, it reminds me of 1 Corinthians 3:3-4:
3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
Are we following God, or are we following the SBC, PCUSA, UMC, etc.? We are called to be in unity, not quarrel and have in-fighting.
When you think of denominations, what are your thoughts? If you are supportive of denominations (or a denomination) what reasons do you cite for this? As the church changes shape and strives to be more relevant, I am wondering if denominations will begin to become irrelevant.
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Tags: church denominations
