More Americans are joining nondenominational churches, turning their backs on traditional formalities.

In Rooftop Church, located in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, you won't see a pastor wearing a stiff collar and robe; instead, they wear baseball caps and jeans.

Senior Pastor Matt Herndon set the tone for Sunday worship: "Many first-time visitors do notice things that aren't seen in other churches, like 'Hey, the pastor is wearing a hat?' or 'We just watched a clip from Beauty and the Beast?'" Herndon said, "We genuinely want to interact with people in ways that they can understand and accept."

Rooftop Church is one of about 40,000 nondenominational Christian churches in the United States. These churches are rooted in the Bible but not affiliated with any traditional denomination. Founded nearly 25 years ago by Herndon in a community center, this church now attracts up to 600 people each week.

"In American Christianity, nondenominational churches are actually the most powerful force," said Ryan Burge, a professor at Washington University who studies the impact of religion on American society. "They especially emphasize establishing a 'personal relationship' with Jesus Christ. Many churches take conservative positions on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage, but these are not the first things they emphasize."

According to data from the General Social Survey: In 1972, less than 3% of Americans identified as nondenominational Christians; today, that proportion has risen to 14%, or nearly 40 million people.

Burge believes that within the next 15 years, nondenominational Christians could surpass Roman Catholics to become "the largest religious group in America." "I think this represents our move away from traditional authority structures," Burge said.

This more relaxed structure attracted Anna and Nathan Kim, members of Rooftop Church, who both grew up in traditional denominational churches. Anna said, "At Rooftop, we focus more on critically thinking about traditions and challenging each other, but without letting these differences divide us." Nathan said, "I really like the casual atmosphere here. It's really cool. We sit on benches, and the church elders or pastors might be sitting right beside us."

Herndon calls this "big tent Christianity." He uses videos and pop culture elements in his sermons while staying close to what he considers the core of the Bible, without taking a hard stance. When asked about criticism that his church is "Christianity light," Herndon replied, "I strongly disagree with that. We actually study the Bible deeply, but we keep asking: What does this passage mean for people today?"

He added, "Some more traditional denominations have realized that if we don't make an effort to reconnect with contemporary people, we won't have much future left." (CBS, Ma Shu in Silicon Valley)

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1849179020205123/

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