Jun

20

What denomination do you attend?

By Norman Horn

Sometimes we forget that while denominations have a way of dividing Christendom, they also allow all of us Christians to have unity on essentials but be different in many doctrinal and practical aspects. It is not a bad thing unless we let it become that way.

Over at the Christian libertarian Facebook Group, my friend Joseph Knowles has put together a Christian libertarians denomination survey that you can take in under one minute. IF you consider yourself in the Christian libertarian camp, would you please help Joseph and fill out the survey? I know he would appreciate it.

Also, feel free to comment below about your denomination. For instance, I’m a part of the Churches of Christ (historically, the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement). The congregation I attend is the University Avenue Church of Christ. COC’s are interesting from a libertarian point of view because they do not have a hierarchy like a convention or synod, and thus all congregations are self-governed. This presents the particular challenge of really having to work to pass on theological principles since there is no “official” position that is external to the congregation (like the Westminster Confession) – other than, say, the Apostles Creed. One thing I appreciate about the COC is that historically they have been fairly anti-war. Albeit, not so much past World War 2. Alexander Campbell and David Lipscomb were both stridently anti-war in the 19th century.

Share your stories in the comments below!

Norman Horn

Norman is the founder and editor of LibertarianChristians.com. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from the Austin Graduate School of Theology.

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Categories : Random Thoughts

l4k

I have often wondered about this as well. My personal experience is the Presbyterian Church in America and LDS have a surprising number of libertarians.
Suzan

I attend a PCA church
Terry

Formerly PCA, now non-denominational.
Callisto88

I grew up Lutheran and still go to that church with my family but I may go to another denomination, like the Episcopal or Presbyterian Church. Haven’t decided yet. I really just need to experiment in going to different churches.
Kerry Adams

OPC
Lbillar

I attend a Lutheran Church in the Missouri Synod. I have found many of the members to be right of center, and some even Libertarians. Their focus tends to be on the Gospel, and practices somewhat true to the traditions and practices of older Lutheranism.
Dannoe70

Before I moved to Arizona a few months ago to take a good job, I attended St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in New Jersey. I still consider myself an Episcopalian as I was baptized and confirmed in the church. Our church is not a judgmental one unlike the Catholic and Evangelical churches, and that’s what I love about it. Still, I wish the church would back away from its pro-”social justice” tendencies.

Since moving, I have not found a church nor intend to find one. Instead, I pray individually to God a lot more. Maybe it’s better that way.
http://www.simplesearch.com/ California Architect

We attend an Armenian Evangelical church. Armenian is the half of the language spoken and some of the hymnals.
ric

I really appreciate this website. I took your survey yesterday. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, sometimes called the “Mormon Church.” Officially our church stays neutral on current political events, but many of our members and leaders are very libertarian and conservative.
jcb

I attend a Baptist church, and grew up in that tradition, though I truly prefer a more contemporary non-denominational church like those in the Acts29 network, but that just simply isn’t available in my town. The government of my church is vested in its individual congregation, but we are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. My church is often very frustrating because, though I dearly love the congregation and am on board missionally and doctrinally with them, when it comes to politics they truly err on the side of over-elevating the military and patriotism itself. They’re overwhelmingly Republican, and every single Sunday a prayer is said for “our boys and girls overseas”, and in the summer the pledge of allegiance is said every night during Vacation Bible School. (
http://lewrockwell.com/vance/vance266.html ) To say one word against the military would be akin to heresy, and that deeply saddens me. My church is the perfect example of what Laurence Vance writes about here:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/vance/vance117.html
Publiusrex

“Our church is not a judgmental one unlike the Catholic and Evangelical churches . . .” My friend, please. Would you stand with the judgmental Catholic Church when Obama’s goons come to arrest a Catholic hospital’s administration for not performing sterilizations against its conscience? Or would you join the trampling of liberties because you think the victims too judgmental?

Perhaps the adherence to centuries of teaching – most written before any other church existed – despite the ebb and flow of popular trend and fanciful fad is simply too unchnaging and permanent.

In any event, criticizing another’s faith always represents a lack of conviction in one’s own. Otherwise, live and let live.
Simplicitas

@ 51 years of age I have belonged to several”denominations” and have served as a full time missionary for (3) years in South America with a para-church organization. We currently live in the USA and attend a Presbyterian church (PCA). I like the governance form of the PCA… local sessions,regional Presbytery. It lend local autonomy with a “check and balance”. I also appreciate the fact that the elders are fellows who are not full time ministers in the sense that they are paid by the church. This allows for a decent counter balance to some other organizations and denominations that I have participated in… sort of a lets keep our feet rooted in the reality of everyday life.

Most of all, in our local congregation the Bible is preeminent. I believe the philosphy can be summed up as, “we preach the word and get out of God’s way”. No heavy handed collective proclamations like, “and this is how we as a church will all apply this to our lives.”

The other thing that is important is the local congregation’s involvement in world mission. This clearly sets the president that, “It’s all about you Jesus and not about me or us”.

Also I agree with the comment by Publiusrex. It reminds me of something Thomas A Kempis said in the imitation of Christ (1380-1471) : “In judging others we expend our energies to no purpose; we are often mistaken, and easily sin”

Thanks for the thought provoking web site and I would love to see the results of the Joseph Knowles pole.

Blessings,
Dr R

We had the “pledge” as part of our VBS program some years ago….it was effectively ended and no one has missed it! The blasphemy of this action really hits home when it takes place in a church sanctuary.
http://theexistentialchristian.wordpress.com/ The Existential Christian

I attend a home church.
http://www.facebook.com/ZACHDOUD Zachary Emerson Doud

I’ve grown up in a baptist (not traditional, not reformed, practically non-denom) church.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Mark-Salkauski/100000154479087 Mark Salkauski

pentecostal
jzguitarist

I’m a member of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. I have found many in our denomination to be very Conservative, and some to be Libertarian.
Rod

Your brief comments concerning the COC was at least puzzling. I attended this church for over 30 years and found them to be overly legalistic and uncompromising. They may not have a synod or such but if members or other COC congregations don’t adhere to their “standards” they are quickly ostracized or blacklisted. They used to publish lists of those congregations. I didn’t hear love preached until I left that group.
http://libertarianchristians.com Norman Horn

That is very unfortunate, Rod, but that “sub-sect” of the COC is quite marginal at this point. I’m sorry you had a bad experience there and I readily admit that COC’s have behaved like this in the past. However, come to any church I have attended in the last 30 years and you will see quite the opposite.

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