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What is a denomination?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Salty, Nov 30, 2010.

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  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Many will say they do not believe in denominations, that there church is not part of a denomination, or they are inter-denomination or non-denominational.

    First here is the definition of denomination:
    Main Entry: denomination [​IMG]di-+n@-mu-!nA-shun
    Pronunciation: \ di-ˌnä-mə-ˈnā-shən \
    Function: noun
    Date: 15th century
    Results
    1. 1an act of denominating
    2. 2a value or size of a series of values or sizes (as of money)
    3. 3name designationespeciallya general name for a category
    4. 4a religious organization whose congregations are united in their adherence to its beliefs and practices
    Related Forms
    1.de·nom·i·na·tion·al[​IMG]di-+n@-mu-!nA-shu-n/ul \ -shnəl, -shə-nəl \ adjective2.de·nom·i·na·tion·al·ly adverb
    Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary copyright © 2010 by Merriam-Webster, incorporated

    Now many will say that as Baptists we are not a denomination, I would agree with you from the point that we do not have a "Baptist HQ" - whether it be IFB, GARB, SBC or any other Bap group

    However, definition 4 would make us a denomination, as we are are "united in their adherence to its beliefs and practices"

    One individual stated he is anti-denomination Wonder what his church teaches.

    and what is the difference between non-denomination and inter-denomination.

    Thoughts?

    Salty

    AND PLEASE DO NOT COPY AND PASTE MY ENTIRE POST - ITS WAY TOO LONG TO READ IN 25 DIFFERENT ANSWERS
     
    #1 Salty, Nov 30, 2010
  2. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    As I read over what a denomination is I felt number 4 excluded Baptists. :tongue3:

    4a religious organization whose congregations are united in their adherence to its beliefs and practices
     
    #2 freeatlast, Nov 30, 2010
  3. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    You do have a point! :applause: :smilewinkgrin:
     
    #3 Salty, Nov 30, 2010
  4. glfredrick

    glfredrick New Member

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    We can bandy about the semantics of the term all day long (and probably will) but at the end of the day, whether we are a local congregation, a denomination, a sect, a movement, a fellowship, a communion, a convention, a non-denomination, anti-denomination, etc., we all still can be grouped somehow and the term denomination seems to fit and work best from a pragmatic point of view.

    I take no offense to the term at all, though I am part of an autonomous congregation that cooperates, by choice, with other like-minded autonomous congregations to accomplish church planting, missions, and education. In fact, we cooperate with more than one agency, being both SBC (loosely held) and Acts 29 (we are one of the key players).
     
    #4 glfredrick, Nov 30, 2010
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