What about your denominations creed(s)?

[Scotth1960]

Dear friend, What kind of Christian fellowship do you believe in?

Does your church or fellowship or denomination, or Bible study, have a creed or creeds,

or any written statement or statements of faith? Is there a written statement of your

Christian doctrine? Or do you just go by the Bible alone, and you exegete each passage

of Scripture as it comes along, or do you summarize the whole Bible in a denominational/

confession document of your brand of Christian Faith?

Does your church use the Nicene Creed? If so, does your version of it include the words

"and the Son" (FILIOQUE), or does your group consider those words wrong or heretical

or just unbiblical, according to John 15:26? Does your church use the 3 historic

ecumenical creeds: the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed?

Does your church or denomination consider creeds to be man made, and therefore you

don't make one? Or do you think the Bible can speak for itself, and doesn't need to

be interpreted by anyone? What do you think is the correct and true doctrine of the

Bible? What is your view of baptism? Believers only, or infant and adults alike?

Does your denomination preach the doctrine of the "age of accountability", and where

do you find that, where is that, in the Bible?

How many sacraments are there, according to your denomination? And do you know

what a sacrament is?

Do you believe in the separation of church and state, or do you think one of the

Christian denominations should take over everything and rule the American country?

Is your group a member of the Reconstructionist movement among the Presbyterian

and Reformed denominations, in people like the late Rousas John Rushdoony, and people

like Gary North, who is still alive, or Gary DeMar, who is still alive?

In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington

PS What is your belief about the doctrine of God: Are you for the Holy Trinity?

Or are you against the Holy Trinity?

 

[stone]

I believe in the one your baptised into by one Spirit.

 

[trust_in_the_name]

Dear friend, What kind of Christian fellowship do you believe in?

Does your church or fellowship or denomination, or Bible study, have a creed or creeds,

or any written statement or statements of faith? Is there a written statement of your

Christian doctrine? Or do you just go by the Bible alone, and you exegete each passage

of Scripture as it comes along, or do you summarize the whole Bible in a denominational/

confession document of your brand of Christian Faith?

Does your church use the Nicene Creed? If so, does your version of it include the words

"and the Son" (FILIOQUE), or does your group consider those words wrong or heretical

or just unbiblical, according to John 15:26? Does your church use the 3 historic

ecumenical creeds: the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed?

Does your church or denomination consider creeds to be man made, and therefore you

don't make one? Or do you think the Bible can speak for itself, and doesn't need to

be interpreted by anyone? What do you think is the correct and true doctrine of the

Bible? What is your view of baptism? Believers only, or infant and adults alike?

Does your denomination preach the doctrine of the "age of accountability", and where

do you find that, where is that, in the Bible?

How many sacraments are there, according to your denomination? And do you know

what a sacrament is?

Do you believe in the separation of church and state, or do you think one of the

Christian denominations should take over everything and rule the American country?

Is your group a member of the Reconstructionist movement among the Presbyterian

and Reformed denominations, in people like the late Rousas John Rushdoony, and people

like Gary North, who is still alive, or Gary DeMar, who is still alive?

In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington

PS What is your belief about the doctrine of God: Are you for the Holy Trinity?

Or are you against the Holy Trinity?

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

 

[Scotth1960]

8 Beware

lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and

empty deceit,

according to the tradition of men, according to

the basic principles of the world, and not

according to Christ.

(Colossians 2:8)

Dear friend!

How do you identify the tradition of men,

philosophy, and empty deceit;

and how do you know which interpretation of

God's Word, the

Bible, is the correct one? How do you know

which church to trust?

In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington

 

[jimmydiggs]

Dear friend!

How do you identify the tradition of men,

philosophy, and empty deceit;

 

[trust_in_the_name]

Dear friend!

How do you identify the tradition of men,

philosophy, and empty deceit;

and how do you know which interpretation of

God's Word, the

Bible, is the correct one? How do you know

which church to trust?

In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington

If it's not in the Bible, it's a tradition of men.

How do I know which interpretation of the Bible is correct? Simple: scripture cannot be broken.

35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), (John 10:35)

I'll give an example.

One of the most common things I hear from people at Christian events is that God doesn't kill people. Scripture says,

6 "The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. (1 Samuel 2:6)

Therefore, the incorrect interpretation is that God doesn't kill people. The correct interpretation is that He does.

The correct interpretation is the one found in scripture. It's not hard, but private interpretations (2 Peter 1:20) persist because people don't believe God (Romans 4:3), and these interpretations are ubiquitous because there are many who go by the broad way (Matthew 7:13-14), not abiding in the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9), and therefore they break scripture (John 10:35). Those who are of God hear one another (1 John 4:6). By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

 

[dscherck]

You know, going to them would be a great idea if you're worried about whether you're following the tradition of men -vs- the Traditions handed on by the apostles. Seeing as they're two of the most ardent keepers of the latter and avoid the former, I'd pay great heed to their advice as it's going to be more biblically based than almost anyone else's.

 

[Scotth1960]

If it's not in the Bible, it's a tradition of men.

How do I know which interpretation of the Bible is correct? Simple: scripture cannot be broken.

35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), (John 10:35)

I'll give an example.

One of the most common things I hear from people at Christian events is that God doesn't kill people. Scripture says,

6 "The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. (1 Samuel 2:6)

Therefore, the incorrect interpretation is that God doesn't kill people. The correct interpretation is that He does.

The correct interpretation is the one found in scripture. It's not hard, but private interpretations (2 Peter 1:20) persist because people don't believe God (Romans 4:3), and these interpretations are ubiquitous because there are many who go by the broad way (Matthew 7:13-14), not abiding in the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9), and therefore they break scripture (John 10:35). Those who are of God hear one another (1 John 4:6). By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

"If it's not in the Bible, it's a tradition of men."

Did Saint Paul preach? Did Saint Andrew preach? Did Saint John preach? Did Saint

Peter preach? Did Saint Thomas preach? Did Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke

preach? If they preached, what they preached is not in the Bible. Some of them wrote

parts of the NT Bible. But what you are saying is illogical, that whatever is not in the

Bible is a "tradition of men". How could the preaching of the Apostles be a "tradition of

men"? They were men of God; they spoke words that were not written down (see

2 Thessalonians 2:15). Do you see the implications of your Bible alone myth? It

would not allow for anything other than the text of the OT and NT to be spoken. By

the apostles themselves. Where does the Bible teach "sola Scriptura", by the Bible

alone? In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington

 

[Scotth1960]

If it's not in the Bible, it's a tradition of men.

How do I know which interpretation of the Bible is correct? Simple: scripture cannot be broken.

35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), (John 10:35)

I'll give an example.

One of the most common things I hear from people at Christian events is that God doesn't kill people. Scripture says,

6 "The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. (1 Samuel 2:6)

Therefore, the incorrect interpretation is that God doesn't kill people. The correct interpretation is that He does.

The correct interpretation is the one found in scripture. It's not hard, but private interpretations (2 Peter 1:20) persist because people don't believe God (Romans 4:3), and these interpretations are ubiquitous because there are many who go by the broad way (Matthew 7:13-14), not abiding in the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9), and therefore they break scripture (John 10:35). Those who are of God hear one another (1 John 4:6). By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

The Bible says, "And as it is appointed for me to die once, but after this the judgment ..." Heb. 9:27 NKJV OSB. God appoints death; He doesn't author death as if God is a killer. God doesn't do that. Wisdom 2:23-24 OSB says, "For God created man for immortality, And made him an image of His own eternity. But death entered the world by the envy of the devil, And those of his portion tempt it".
Wisdom 1:12-15 OSB says and warns: "Do not be zealous for death by the deceit of your life, Nor bring destruction upon yourself by the works of your hands. For God did not make death, Neither does He have pleasure over the destruction of the living. For He created all things that they might exist, And the generations of the world so they might be preserved; For there was no poison of death in them. Nor was the reign of Hades on the earth. For righteousness does not die. ...."
God does not predestine eternal death, no matter what the WCF (Westminster Confession of Faith) of 1647 AD says. That is a heretical, Calvinistic document, and Calvinism is a heresy. Take care.
God bless all of you; Amen. In Erie PA USA Scott R. Harrington

 

[angelos]

Why yes we do have a creed it is the baptist confession of faith and if I'm not mistaken baptists tend to lean towards the reformed side of theology

 

[Scotth1960]

Why yes we do have a creed it is the baptist confession of faith and if I'm not mistaken baptists tend to lean towards the reformed side of theology

Dear Angelos, Which Baptist denomination? There are many of them. Some are even Seventh-day Baptists. Others worship on Sunday. Which Baptist denomination are you talking about? And where is their wesbite? Where is their creed. I study different creeds. But the only one I accept is the Nicene Creed of 381 AD without the Filioque. In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington

 

[angelos]

Dear Angelos, Which Baptist denomination? There are many of them. Some are even Seventh-day Baptists. Others worship on Sunday. Which Baptist denomination are you talking about? And where is their wesbite? Where is their creed. I study different creeds. But the only one I accept is the Nicene Creed of 381 AD without the Filioque. In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington

I think you are reffering to seventh day adventist. Also just look up the baptist faith and message 2000. I would agree with the nicene creed but I probably interpret it differently then you do i.e. taking baptism to mean being baptised in the holy spirit.

 

[Scotth1960]

I think you are reffering to seventh day adventist. Also just look up the baptist faith and message 2000. I would agree with the nicene creed but I probably interpret it differently then you do i.e. taking baptism to mean being baptised in the holy spirit.

Dear angelos, I looked at the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Missing from its description of the NT church was any mention of the office of bishop. The Scripture has bishop, presbyter (elder/priest), and deacon as the three offices of the ministry (clergy) of the church, along with the laity form the church.
There is also a Baptist Faith and Message 2008. Is there any significant difference between the 2000 version and the 2008 version?
Of course, being a Protestant confession, it starts with the Bible, and not with God. The Nicene Creed starts with belief in God, and then mentions the Scriptures in the context of the Gospel message, that Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by His death, and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life. Take care.
God bless you always. Amen. In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington
PS Yes there is a Seventh-Day Baptist denomination, that is not Seventh-Day Adventist.

 

[angelos]

Dear angelos, I looked at the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Missing from its description of the NT church was any mention of the office of bishop. The Scripture has bishop, presbyter (elder/priest), and deacon as the three offices of the ministry (clergy) of the church, along with the laity form the church.
There is also a Baptist Faith and Message 2008. Is there any significant difference between the 2000 version and the 2008 version?
Of course, being a Protestant confession, it starts with the Bible, and not with God. The Nicene Creed starts with belief in God, and then mentions the Scriptures in the context of the Gospel message, that Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by His death, and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life. Take care.
God bless you always. Amen. In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington
PS Yes there is a Seventh-Day Baptist denomination, that is not Seventh-Day Adventist.

I'm not them and I'm not sure I havn't read the newest baptist faith and message also please don't use an ad hominum against protestants if you have a genuine matter of concern please broach it in an unoffensive way. I will do the same for you but I admit I cannot speak for anyone else.

 

[Scotth1960]

I'm not them and I'm not sure I havn't read the newest baptist faith and message also please don't use an ad hominum against protestants if you have a genuine matter of concern please broach it in an unoffensive way. I will do the same for you but I admit I cannot speak for anyone else.

Where did I use anything ad hominem? I don't do that. I don't attack people. But I do stand against the collective ignorance of which I was a part. I had to be taught the truth regarding John 15:26. When that changed, I could no longer be an Augustinian or a Protestant. The heart of both Roman Catholicism and Evangelical Protestantism is Augustinianism. The limitations of the theology of Augustine of Hippo. There are Christians who are Protestants who don't much follow the Augustinian heritage, but a large majority of historical Protestantism is Augustine's. I'll be certain not to use an ad hominem against anyone. I disagree with the Baptist concept of the "age of accountability", but that's another matter. Is that teaching anywhere in Baptist tradition? How do they determine who is "too young" to be baptized?
In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington
PS There is a school of Reformed Baptists, who don't follow dispensationalism. People like Evangelist John L. Bray in Lakeland, FLA, who question the pre-tribulation rapture and he is generally amilllennial. If not Reformed and Calvinist. Take care.

 

[PneumaPsucheSoma]

I wonder if the Apostles had a creed; and if so, what it included.

Of course, the writing attributed as the Apostles' Creed wasn't actually the Apostles' creed.

 

[jimmydiggs]

You know, going to them would be a great idea if you're worried about whether you're following the tradition of men -vs- the Traditions handed on by the apostles. Seeing as they're two of the most ardent keepers of the latter and avoid the former, I'd pay great heed to their advice as it's going to be more biblically based than almost anyone else's.

Which one? Catholic or Orthodox? Keep in mind, I'm not interested in a game of Spy Vs. Spy...

 

[PneumaPsucheSoma]

Which one? Catholic or Orthodox? Keep in mind, I'm not interested in a game of Spy Vs. Spy...

I just wet myself a bit while laughing at that...

 

[trust_in_the_name]

"If it's not in the Bible, it's a tradition of men."

Did Saint Paul preach? Did Saint Andrew preach? Did Saint John preach? Did Saint

Peter preach? Did Saint Thomas preach? Did Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke

preach? If they preached, what they preached is not in the Bible. Some of them wrote

parts of the NT Bible. But what you are saying is illogical, that whatever is not in the

Bible is a "tradition of men". How could the preaching of the Apostles be a "tradition of

men"? They were men of God; they spoke words that were not written down (see

2 Thessalonians 2:15). Do you see the implications of your Bible alone myth? It

would not allow for anything other than the text of the OT and NT to be spoken. By

the apostles themselves.

I was talking about the present. The apostles learned from Jesus directly, so they have a special authority. If they were alive today, I'd be interested to hear what they have to say, but they aren't. What we have now is what they wrote down.

Where does the Bible teach "sola Scriptura", by the Bible

alone? In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. (1 Corinthians 4:6)

27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:27)

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " (Matthew 15:8-9)

16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. (1 John 2:20-21)

27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. (1 John 2:27)

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26)

3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, (2 Peter 1:3)

2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:2)

32 Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it. (Deuteronomy 12:32)

5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6)

18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. (Acts 24:14)

49 Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. (Psalm 119:49-50)

13 He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. (Proverbs 13:13)

4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' " (Matthew 4:4)

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 9)

 

[dscherck]

Which one? Catholic or Orthodox? Keep in mind, I'm not interested in a game of Spy Vs. Spy...

Well, both actually are much more closer in their teachings to the teachings of the Apostles than the majority of Protestantdom. That said, I prefer the writings of Papa Benny myself. I'm actually rereading his book, Christ Our Hope again.
Keep in mind, I'm a Byzantine Catholic, kind of a mix between the Eastern Orthodox, and the Roman Catholics. So I happily enjoy reading theological books from both sides.