Of interd’s, local churches

 Today, Christian Inter-denominational gatherings are on the rise. And many believers are confused as to whether it is right to attend Inter-denominatonal meetings (Interds) or not as there seems to be some conflicts between them and local churches. Some are of the opinion that Interds should be banned as they steal flock and resources from established churches. Others think that Interd’s should be maintained as they inspire many believers in a way that local churches cannot.
It is in light of these differing views that I have thought it worthwhile to share some truths about Interds and local churches.
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure and doctrine within Christianity. I refer to various properly constituted denominations and their affiliations as the established churches and their various assemblies as the local churches. Interd’s are gatherings of members from various denominations.
Interds normally draft their own constitutions that may differ slightly from those of established churches to cater for believers coming from different churches with differing doctrines and church authorities.
Some of the main objectives of Interds include: An attempt to achieve unity in diversity, enjoying the benefits of a larger family possessing all talents and gifts, meeting the needs of the whole body of Christ, and practicing dwelling together as one Body of Christ in anticipation of the final consolidation of all believers in heaven.
Normally founders or leaders of Interds are pastors emanating from established churches. They form Interds in order to ensure that their fruitfulness will help many members of the Body of Christ across denominational boundaries.
Because the congregations of Interds are mixed bags of members from various churches unity can only be achieved along major orthodox views like the Divinity of Christ, sin and salvation.
Fuller communion may not be achieved if every little discrepancy on doctrines or scripture interpretation is considered. Thus Interds members unite by focusing on the bigger picture of Christ as the centre of Christianity and ignoring small things like how many times should a person be baptised or types of dressing and hair styles. Concentration is on Christ and prosperity of believers.
Deliverance from demon spirits and curses that vex lives is also emphasised in Interds. Miracles of physical healing are experienced more in these meetings.
These things and many more attract members of various local churches who may not be getting the same stuff in their assemblies or churches.
Comparisons between local churches regarded as “dry” and Interd’s deemed to be “on fire” result in members prioritising Interds in terms of both attendance and commitment of resources. This is where the conflict may begin.
Let me try and resolve the conflict. Interds are church organisations meant to give supplementary feeding to believers who are supposed to be rooted in local churches. This means a Christian should belong to a local church first where he or she offers valuable contribution to the growth and effectiveness of that church.
Tithes should be paid to the local church where you get daily feeding and some offerings can be given to the Interds to cater for its operational expenses. Attendance at local church activities is mandatory and must be preferred where Interds and local church services clash.
This clash is normally resolved by timing differences. Interds usually hold meetings at lunch hours and Sunday nights after local church services.
Many Interds leaders agree on the need for every member of the Body of Christ to be planted and blooming in a local church and to attend Interds meetings for extra care. But it is the members of local churches themselves that cause rifts between local churches and Interds by despising their pastors, absconding services and withholding their tithes and offerings from their local churches accusing them of being infertile grounds.
It is this wrong spirit of wanting to get rich quick that misleads many a sheep. When they want to hold social events like weddings and funerals they look for help from the local churches which they despise.
Some church members abandon local churches because they want to avoid responsibility and accountability. It is wrong for local pastors to be jealous of leaders of Interds if they are genuinely called to serve a larger community of believers.
Since Interds are here to stay constitutional differences should be resolved by drawing up a memorandum of understanding that ensures mutual growth and benefits.
 
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