Many have laughed at me for creating this new word. But Neodenominationalism is just that, a word. The word itself is not important. What is important is the vision that it relays.
Our unchanging God likes to repeat Himself. That is why prophecy works so well. The way that God does things is pretty constant throughout scripture; especially in prophetic literature. So why is Neodenominationalism needed in our day? Its because God is once again about to repeat a method He has used to prune His chosen people. As we prepare for the second coming of Christ, God is about to shake the foundations of the Church. We see this kind of shaking take place in Mathew 24. It reads, “1 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”
Later on in Chapter 24, we can see why God would allow the structures God’s people had constructed for themselves to fall. He says, “10 At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” Are we not in that day again? The church is diminishing on all sides except the false revival taking place that God will use to unite many denominations and religions under the filling of a false spirit. We are in a time where entire denominations are splitting on issues of God’s sovereignty (redefining what is sin). Our children have left the church and may never return because they feel that they have found something else to fill the empty void in their hearts. I tell you the Truth, before Christ returns, the things in His bride that are perishable will be purged. As we enter the tribulation, Christ is going to strip away all aspects of business, idolatry, psychology, self help, politics, legacy, and pride from His bride. And during this process, the goats and the sheep will be separated as the goats remain holding tightly to religion while the sheep flee to the mountains.
Neodenominationalism is important because it provides a way for pastors and fellowships to maintain unity and accountability with other groups as they are called out of religion. It is a way to function as a church without having to take on the same aspects of religion that Christ has come to destroy. There is only one Church. I believe this Church is spread out throughout the world in many denominations from Catholic all the way the hyper Charismatics. In each body, there are those who seek the Lord with all their heart and mourn over what they see happening in Christianity. As this tribulation continues, it will manifest itself more and more in our churches and religions. And the time will come for many who choose Christ, (over that which is perishable), to be called out of their churches and denominations.
A great example of this is the Methodist denomination. Within a few years, we will see the splitting of a great denomination on the issue of sexual immorality. But what will these churches do after the split happens? They will ultimately keep the same governmental structures that allowed the sin to enter in the first place. Will we not see more and more splits as sin continues to enter the church in various ways? There is another way! What if those pastors who leave (and have unity) had the faith to shed off the governmental structures that allowed the problem? Could they not still function as a body with multiple fellowships? Could they still ordain pastors and make disciples? If scripture is our manual and the Holy Spirit is our teacher, why do we need worldly structures to do the work of the Church?
Neodenominationalism is not about rebelling against the authority of the Church. It is about creating a model that any pastor can use as God calls that pastor or flock out of religion. Let me be clear. At this time, not all denomination and churches are bad. I may even find myself in a denomination as I am being courted by one presently. Yet for some pastors and flocks, they have been waiting for a way to worship in Spirit and Truth. They need a new tool or way to identify themselves post denominationalism. That is all Neodenominationalism is meant to be – a way for the Church to function outside of religion.
When the tribulation is over, the religion of church will be like the temple described by Christ, “not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” When the dust settles, there won’t be any 501c3’s in the bride, our large general assemblies will be no more, our buildings will be striped away from us, and many of our friends and family we find in church today will fall away because their faith lies in the tool rather than the One who chose to use it. God is bringing us back to His intended tool. One where Scripture is our bylaws and where the Holy Spirit is our “Pope”. Some people are further along in this process than others. As sin continues to gain footing in the church, the Spirit will continue to withdrawal from it. And once the Spirit is gone, why would any of us want to stay?
Blessings to all of us who patiently wait on the Lord’s return. Let us rejoice that those who overcome this tribulation will receive a unique and special gift. The Lord’s rest is coming. Let us hold fast and finish the race laid before us. The Lord giveth and taketh away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.