Some people think the church of Christ is a sect. That does not surprise me. Paul was called “a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5). The chief of the Jews in Rome said to Paul, “as concerning this sect, we know that it is everywhere spoken against” (Acts 28:22). It was not a complimentary term. The word “sect” in the King James Version is translated “heresy” in other versions. Those who called the church a sect thought the Christians had come together on a falsehood, but to their credit, they recognized that the members of that body believed a distinctive doctrine and that their faith gave them a distinctive identity. Some today say the church is sectarian because of its distinctive plea, but saying that does not make it so.
I have heard it said that the church is “undenominational.” I have said that myself, and I know what I meant. As a prefix, “un” can mean “not,” and that is what I was trying to say; the church is not denominational. Yet, “un” often has other meanings, like “reverse” or “opposite.” “Non-denominational” may be a better term. “Non” almost always means “not,” and the church of Christ is not denominational. Yea, verily, it is “anti-denominational”—against denominationalism. It is often hard for people to think of a “church” that is not denominational. For a long time, members of the Lord’s body were about the only ones ever saying that.
Now, I am seeing many different kinds of churches that call themselves “non-denominational.” Many say they are a “Community Church.” Some use creative names like, “The Spirit of Love Church” or “Rock Fellowship.” They say they are “non-denominational” because they are independent congregations that answer to no higher organizational structure. I understand that, but while these modern non-denominational churches value their independence, they do not so much value Bible authority. They pretty much worship any way they want to, teach their own plan of salvation and openly fellowship with those who do not share their distinctive faith. They still think that when it comes to salvation, “one is just as good as another.”
Locally, churches of Christ are independent congregations. Like the Christians in the New Testament, their spiritual brethren are those of “like precious faith” (2 Peter 1:1), but they limit their fellowship to those of that faith. That is why some call them a “sect.”
“Pre-denominational” is a relatively new term (as least it is to me.) “Pre” means “before.” A church that is “pre-denominational” is a church that existed before there were denominations. While some find it difficult to think of a church existing today that is not part of a denomination, they never seem to have a problem understanding that the church Jesus established in the New Testament was pre-denominational. In the New Testament, people were baptized into Christ and added to His church without joining any denomination. (There was no denomination to join; there was just the one church.) These pre-denominational Christians worked together and assembled to worship in independent congregations. Elders were appointed to shepherd the flock and to oversee their work, and some of the saints were asked to serve as deacons. Christ was their Head, and they recognized a common identity with those in other locations with the same faith. “Pre-denominational” is a good term; it points back to the early church. We can hear the same Gospel they heard, respond to it the same way, be added to the same church and gather in local congregations to worship just as they did, without joining any denomination.
We can be the pre-denominational church. Those who do not understand this may call us a “sect,” but that is nothing new.
