How can a church claim to be non-denominational if they believe in the Trinity?

[Centrist]

I was checking out a church, in particular an Evangelical-Free Church, and in their statement of beliefs, they say they are non-denominational, yet they also believe in the trinity. Now granted it has been a long time since I was reading the calvinism/arminianism debate, but can they really be non-denominational if they beleive in the Trinity?
My apologies in advance for my apparent ignorance.

 

[rockytopva]

I would go along with two denominations...

Baptist - Really... Any Baptist....
Pentecostal Holiness

Both believe in the Trinity. Show me a good structure of leadership of any of these churches and I would interested in attending and eventually joining.

 

[rockytopva]

A church is a body of believers. Paul did not have the same thing to say to the churches of his time.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. - Acts 17:10-11

How many books did Paul write to the church of Berea? None that I know of! I believe this is also the case in our time. Each church is unique. It pays to get to know the people before making any kind of commitment.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

Several things do not make sense here. First of all, the Evangelical-Free Church is very much a denomination in the same respects that "Baptist" is a denomination. Like Baptists, each church is autonomous with no governance outside of the local congregation and like some baptists, they may not like the term, but as with Baptists, the Evangelical-Free folks have "Distinctives" that make them distinctly Evangelical-Free so for this reason, I would refer to both as being a "denomination."

Being Trinitarian simply means that in this respect, they are within the realm of doctrinal orthodoxy that makes them a valid and legitimate expression of the Christian faith. Churches that are (for example) Modalist or Unitarian would be outside the scope of orthodoxy and certain denominations exist that espouse these positions (e.g., Unitarian Universalist, Jehovah Witnesses, UPCI Pentecostal, etc.)

Calvinism or Arminianism has nothing to do with whether they are denominational or non-denominational. There are some denominations that are distinctly Calvinist (Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, Etc.) as well as those that are distinctly Arminian (Wesleyan Methodist, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Assembly of God, Etc.) Baptists and Ev-Free may be either/or depending upon the position of a particular congregation.

Finally, there is no such a thing as a truly "Non-Denominational" church. One may call themselves such but no one creates unique beliefs or doctrines that are completely different from anyone else - this includes any cult you may want to name here. A "Non-Denominational" congregation usually adopts certain denominational beliefs and practices from other denominational traditions so a non-traditional congregation may seem distinctly "Baptist" without actually claiming the Baptist name. They may also be Pentecostal (not UPCI) in origin.

 

[rockytopva]

And how many Baptist are denominational Baptist? The ones I have attended are

1. Unadvertised Southern Baptist - You really have to dig to find their denominational affiliation.
2. Unadvertised Independent Baptist

So their names will end up something like "Grace Baptist Church."

 

[Armchair Apologist]

And how many Baptist are denominational Baptist? The ones I have attended are

1. Unadvertised Southern Baptist - You really have to dig to find their denominational affiliation.
2. Unadvertised Independent Baptist

So their names will end up something like "Grace Baptist Church."

I was using a broader definition of "Denomination" referring to all Baptists as being a single denomination although we often narrow the scope to distinguish separate denominations from these larger groups.

 

[Ascetic X]

I was checking out a church, in particular an Evangelical-Free Church, and in their statement of beliefs, they say they are non-denominational, yet they also believe in the trinity. Now granted it has been a long time since I was reading the calvinism/arminianism debate, but can they really be non-denominational if they beleive in the Trinity?
My apologies in advance for my apparent ignorance.

This post makes no sense.

The calvinism/arminianism debate has nothing to do with non-denominational, which has nothing to do with the Trinity.

 

[Centrist]

This post makes no sense.

The calvinism/arminianism debate has nothing to do with non-denominational, which has nothing to do with the Trinity.

It has been my understanding that if you believed in the Trinity then you were calvinist.

 

[David Lamb]

It has been my understanding that if you believed in the Trinity then you were calvinist.

Surely Calvinists and Arminians believe in the Trinity. John Wesley, who was certainly not a Calvinist, believed that the Trinity s the heart of all vital religion, for example. A non-Calvinistic Baptist church near me has this in its statement of faith:

"As a church we believe in…

• The one true God who lives eternally in three persons—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."

I wonder where you got the idea from that only Calvinists believe in the Trinity?

 

[Ben1445]

It has been my understanding that if you believed in the Trinity then you were calvinist.

Far from it.
Maybe if you are a Calvinist then you believe in the Trinity.

Loosely speaking…
Calvin was a reformer and left the Catholic Church. Catholics believe in the Trinity and are most definitely not Calvinist.

The Trinity is a doctrine of the nature of God.
Calvinism speaks mostly of doctrine in regard to salvation.
That is not to say that Calvin didn’t have other doctrines that he wrote down but they are not what is the subject matter in a conversation titled Calvinism.

 

[Salty]

First of all "non-denominational" means absolutely nothing.
It could be anything from a evangelical church (who will not call themselves Baptist)
to a full fledge united/federated/ ect church that really has no doctrine statement - other than Jesus is the Son of God!

Why are these churches afraid to say who they are????

 

[Alan Dale Gross]

It has been my understanding that if you believed in the Trinity then you were calvinist.

God Shows everyone that He Exists as The Triune, Thrice-Holy, Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Check this out (but first the Good News, just before where Pual mentions that we all know The Trinity/Godhead)

Ropmns 1:8; "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your Faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9; "For God is my Witness, Whom I serve with my Spirit in the Gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my Prayers; 10; "Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the Will of God to come unto you.

11; "For I long to see you, that I may Impart unto you some Spiritual Gift, to the end ye may be established; 12; "That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual Faith both of you and me. 13; "Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was 'let'/prevented hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14; I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15; So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16; "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the Power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17; "For therein is the Righteousness of God Revealed from Faith to Faith: as it is written, The Just shall live by Faith.

Then, he says about the Godhead; "

18; "For the Wrath of God is Revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19; "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath Shewed it unto them. 20; "For the Invisible things of Him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are Made, even His Eternal Power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21; "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22; "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23; "And changed the Glory of the Uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24; "Wherefore God also Gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25; "Who changed the Truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, Who is Blessed Forever. Amen.

26; "For this Cause God Gave them Up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against Nature: 27; "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet/'fitting'.

28; "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God Gave them over to a Reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29; "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30; "Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31; "Without understanding, covenant breakers, without Natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32; "Who knowing the Judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

Here's some links to information on our Glorious Heavenly Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

I want to point people where I know that they can get 'all caught up' all they want:

From A Body of Doctrinal Divinity by John Gill
BOOK I: God, His Words, Names, Nature, Perfections, and Persons.

Especially, the information on the Trinity:
26. The Unity of God . . .

27. A Plurality of the Godhead;
or, A Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the Divine Essence .

28. The Personal Relations;
or, Relative Properties Which Distinguish the Three Divine Persons in the Deity.