What should Christians know?

[lil-rush]

A couple weeks ago my Episcopalian friend found out I had no idea what the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed were, and she freaked out on me. She said every Christian should know what those are, because they are a foundation of our faith. She then posted links to each, and I read over them. It was while I was reading the Nicene Creed that I realized I did know what it was; I was simply unfamiliar with the name.

Last Sunday my dad spoke of the Five-fold ministry in Sunday School class, and when we got home mom told him he should be careful about using denomination-specific terms, because the Five-fold ministry is generally a term used in Charismatic churches, and we are currently attending a Southern baptist church. While the people may know what the five-fold ministry is, they may be unfamiliar with the term.

These two examples got me thinking about all the theological terms floating around in Christianity. Each denomination has their own terms, and some denominations even share certain terms. Some denominations have different terms for the same thing. Most denominations expect others in different denominations to know what they are talking about when they say certain terms, but people end up being confused instead.

So, what exactly should Christians know? Do they need to know the terms for their beliefs, or should they simply know what they believe? For example, was it necessary for me to know the term "Nicene Creed," or is it enough for me to know the content of the Nicene Creed? (granted, I don't agree with the Catholic church part)

 

[bonnie2]

A couple weeks ago my Episcopalian friend found out I had no idea what the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed were, and she freaked out on me. She said every Christian should know what those are, because they are a foundation of our faith. She then posted links to each, and I read over them. It was while I was reading the Nicene Creed that I realized I did know what it was; I was simply unfamiliar with the name.

Last Sunday my dad spoke of the Five-fold ministry in Sunday School class, and when we got home mom told him he should be careful about using denomination-specific terms, because the Five-fold ministry is generally a term used in Charismatic churches, and we are currently attending a Southern baptist church. While the people may know what the five-fold ministry is, they may be unfamiliar with the term.

These two examples got me thinking about all the theological terms floating around in Christianity. Each denomination has their own terms, and some denominations even share certain terms. Some denominations have different terms for the same thing. Most denominations expect others in different denominations to know what they are talking about when they say certain terms, but people end up being confused instead.

So, what exactly should Christians know? Do they need to know the terms for their beliefs, or should they simply know what they believe? For example, was it necessary for me to know the term "Nicene Creed," or is it enough for me to know the content of the Nicene Creed? (granted, I don't agree with the Catholic church part)

I know what you mean about Christian lingo. Sometimes it bothers me, especially when I hear Christians saying it in front of ppl who will obviously have no clue what they're talking about. When I talk to my unsaved friends at work, if we're talking about God or the Bible I try to say exactly what I mean/ explain it because they're unfamiliar with it.
I don't think the phraseology is important.

 

[Daughter]

I don't think that terms are important but the content and context is important.

Actually, uhm... I think that reading our bible and knowing what Christ has done for us and what that involves is actually the whole foundation that we should know.

The theories that are added by other people aren't always inspired by the scriptures.
I'm grown up in a charismatic (pentacostal) environment and I don't even know what is meant with the five-fold ministry... I don't think I have to know it if it's not even written in the bible.

Know your bible, read it and pray that God keeps you from deception because there will be many false prophets and teachers in this world and there's only one kind of knowledge you need to be able to discern.
It's the best source of information you have.
Your bible

Much love in Christ

Sarah

 

[AgeofKnowledge]

Haha I freaked out just reading your post! Just kidding... sure learn about the creeds. Here's some ancient advice: With regard to the essentials we have unity, with regard to the non-essentials we have liberty, yet in all things charity. Of course this ancient advise is speaking about those in the body of Christ. It is referring to those who actually possess the kindom of God not those who merely profess to and hold to strange doctrines completely anathema to the essentials of Christianity. God bless you in your walk with Christ and learning the creeds.

A couple weeks ago my Episcopalian friend found out I had no idea what the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed were, and she freaked out on me. She said every Christian should know what those are, because they are a foundation of our faith. She then posted links to each, and I read over them. It was while I was reading the Nicene Creed that I realized I did know what it was; I was simply unfamiliar with the name.

Last Sunday my dad spoke of the Five-fold ministry in Sunday School class, and when we got home mom told him he should be careful about using denomination-specific terms, because the Five-fold ministry is generally a term used in Charismatic churches, and we are currently attending a Southern baptist church. While the people may know what the five-fold ministry is, they may be unfamiliar with the term.

These two examples got me thinking about all the theological terms floating around in Christianity. Each denomination has their own terms, and some denominations even share certain terms. Some denominations have different terms for the same thing. Most denominations expect others in different denominations to know what they are talking about when they say certain terms, but people end up being confused instead.

So, what exactly should Christians know? Do they need to know the terms for their beliefs, or should they simply know what they believe? For example, was it necessary for me to know the term "Nicene Creed," or is it enough for me to know the content of the Nicene Creed? (granted, I don't agree with the Catholic church part)

 

[phil36]

Hi,

Its good your thinking of these things The Nicene creed is very important, you can find it online.

Although there alot of denominations with varying views all evangelicals hold to to a set of beliefs of who God is, what Scripture is (Special revelation.

Anyhow, I hope you don't mind me suggesting some books, that will almost certainly help you in your walk. their not in any order.


1) Know the Truth. author Bruce Milne.

2) Doctrine: what all Christians should know and believe. Author Mark Driscoll (Marshill Seattle)

3) Knowing God. Author J I Packer

4) Basic Christianity. Author John Stott (this is an older book, but wow)

5) What does God want of anyway? Author Mark Dever (this is a small book, and a quick overview of the whole bible) (A brilliant read.)


Book 1 and 2 are very modern in writing style so believe me a lot easier to understand. If you want to delve further why not try:

Systematic Theology by Wayne grudem. don't let the title put you of it is a big book but very easy to read. it takes most of the topics you'll ever come across and gives a biblical explanation..

If anything get book 2 and 5, thats my own opinion but all 5 are good.

Another book that has sprung to mind, is Dug down deep, Joshua harris.

Anyhow they are just my recomendations But believe me it would be time well spent reading atleast one of them as the older ones are standard classics and the newer ones are classics already.

Blessings

Phil

 

[Shard]

Mark Driscoll is awesome.

 

[bonnie2]

I like The Reason for God by Tim Keller. It's about apologetics, how to answer people's questions and objections about God. I don't know what this has to do with your post lil-rush, but I think you would like it.
Sorry that was pretty off-topic! haha

 

[Ricke]

Lilrush
Good post, I really e.joked your thoughts.
The Term "Five Fold Ministry" is Biblical (Ephesians 4 v 11). So I never, ever be intimidated using that term.

The Nicene creed is agreeing with the dogmas and tenants that were introduced at The Council of Nicea in 325 AD. I know it is a prayer but to me, agreeing with what some committee states over wording in The scriptures to me, I will take scriptures first.

 

[lil-rush]

I know what you mean about Christian lingo. Sometimes it bothers me, especially when I hear Christians saying it in front of ppl who will obviously have no clue what they're talking about. When I talk to my unsaved friends at work, if we're talking about God or the Bible I try to say exactly what I mean/ explain it because they're unfamiliar with it.
I don't think the phraseology is important.

Sometimes I think people use Christian lingo to sound smart, and make others feel stupid. Sometimes I think people simply don't realize people have no clue what they are talking about.

 

[Ricke]

****** correction***** my printer said "e.joked" rather then "I enjoyed" sorry for any mis-understanding..

 

[lil-rush]

I don't think that terms are important but the content and context is important.

Actually, uhm... I think that reading our bible and knowing what Christ has done for us and what that involves is actually the whole foundation that we should know.

The theories that are added by other people aren't always inspired by the scriptures.
I'm grown up in a charismatic (pentacostal) environment and I don't even know what is meant with the five-fold ministry... I don't think I have to know it if it's not even written in the bible.

Know your bible, read it and pray that God keeps you from deception because there will be many false prophets and teachers in this world and there's only one kind of knowledge you need to be able to discern.
It's the best source of information you have.
Your bible

Much love in Christ

Sarah

I think I agree with this mostly, but I wonder if it is important to know certain terms just in case people ask about them. And if certain terms should be known by Christians, what terms would they be?

About the five-fold ministry: What is the five (5) fold ministry? Basically, there are teachers, apostles, evangelists, pastors, and prophets. Many people can find their gift in the five-fold ministry, but not everyone is called to be one of those five.

 

[lil-rush]

Haha I freaked out just reading your post! Just kidding... sure learn about the creeds. Here's some ancient advice: With regard to the essentials we have unity, with regard to the non-essentials we have liberty, yet in all things charity. Of course this ancient advise is speaking about those in the body of Christ. It is referring to those who actually possess the kindom of God not those who merely profess to and hold to strange doctrines completely anathema to the essentials of Christianity. God bless you in your walk with Christ and learning the creeds.

lol. Thanks for the advice

 

[lil-rush]

Hi,

Its good your thinking of these things The Nicene creed is very important, you can find it online.

Although there alot of denominations with varying views all evangelicals hold to to a set of beliefs of who God is, what Scripture is (Special revelation.

Anyhow, I hope you don't mind me suggesting some books, that will almost certainly help you in your walk. their not in any order.


1) Know the Truth. author Bruce Milne.

2) Doctrine: what all Christians should know and believe. Author Mark Driscoll (Marshill Seattle)

3) Knowing God. Author J I Packer

4) Basic Christianity. Author John Stott (this is an older book, but wow)

5) What does God want of anyway? Author Mark Dever (this is a small book, and a quick overview of the whole bible) (A brilliant read.)


Book 1 and 2 are very modern in writing style so believe me a lot easier to understand. If you want to delve further why not try:

Systematic Theology by Wayne grudem. don't let the title put you of it is a big book but very easy to read. it takes most of the topics you'll ever come across and gives a biblical explanation..

If anything get book 2 and 5, thats my own opinion but all 5 are good.

Another book that has sprung to mind, is Dug down deep, Joshua harris.

Anyhow they are just my recomendations But believe me it would be time well spent reading atleast one of them as the older ones are standard classics and the newer ones are classics already.

Blessings

Phil

I'll see if my parents have any of those books.

 

[lil-rush]

Lilrush
Good post, I really enjoyed your thoughts.
The Term "Five Fold Ministry" is Biblical (Ephesians 4 v 11). So I never, ever be intimidated using that term.

The Nicene creed is agreeing with the dogmas and tenants that were introduced at The Council of Nicea in 325 AD. I know it is a prayer but to me, agreeing with what some committee states over wording in The scriptures to me, I will take scriptures first.

It just seems like most of the Nicene Creed comes directly from the Bible anyways, so I was confused why my friend thought it was so necessary for me to know what exactly the Nicene Creed was. If I read my Bible, and know what my beliefs are, why do I need to put a religious title on those beliefs?

 

[yahweh_is4me]

I don't think that terms are important but the content and context is important.

Actually, uhm... I think that reading our bible and knowing what Christ has done for us and what that involves is actually the whole foundation that we should know.

The theories that are added by other people aren't always inspired by the scriptures.
I'm grown up in a charismatic (pentacostal) environment and I don't even know what is meant with the five-fold ministry... I don't think I have to know it if it's not even written in the bible.

Know your bible, read it and pray that God keeps you from deception because there will be many false prophets and teachers in this world and there's only one kind of knowledge you need to be able to discern.
It's the best source of information you have.
Your bible

Much love in Christ

Sarah

I could not have said it better myself, knowing our bible is the best way...God Bless

 

[Shard]

ive never heard of the five-fold ministry ever, or at least not by that name. Though it sounds like what my friends church has as it hierarchy. Though I am not a fan of my friends church...to be quite honest.

 

[Redeemed79]

Not heirarchy at all just an easy term for what some previously stated...pastors, apostles, prophets, teachers and evangelists......if u know people know this tern sweet to use it if not then explain it i spose....dont need to read too much into it...Nicene Creed I admit to have never read but Im ok with not, id be more freaked if someone said no I dont read my bible than I dont know the Nicene Creed. It should be in the bible neway no???? Terms arent important, but its ok to use them we are not that dogmatic are we?

 

[Shard]

Not heirarchy at all just an easy term for what some previously stated...pastors, apostles, prophets, teachers and evangelists......if u know people know this tern sweet to use it if not then explain it i spose....dont need to read too much into it...Nicene Creed I admit to have never read but Im ok with not, id be more freaked if someone said no I dont read my bible than I dont know the Nicene Creed. It should be in the bible neway no???? Terms arent important, but its ok to use them we are not that dogmatic are we?

See those are the titles they use for the leadership of the church and what 'powers' they have. Though they also speak in tongues(not that im against it, but every member in a congregation?), they do the oil anointing and the laying hands and falling out...and its just not for me.

 

[charisenexcelcis]

See those are the titles they use for the leadership of the church and what 'powers' they have. Though they also speak in tongues(not that im against it, but every member in a congregation?), they do the oil anointing and the laying hands and falling out...and its just not for me.

Actually not power, but ministry. And regarding "power", all the giftings of the Holy Spirit reside with the Holy Spirit. They are never owned by men.

 

[Credo_ut_Intelligam]

So, what exactly should Christians know?

I like what Witsius says:

It is in different measures of clarity, completeness and efficacy that divine revelation, the means of grace, and the communications of the Spirit are enjoyed; and a corresponding diversity takes place in the degrees of knowledge attained by the saints. In some, it is clear, distinct, steady, and accompanied by a very firm and decided assent; in others, it is more confused, more implicit, subject to occasional wavering, and attended with an assent that is yielded with difficulty. The command of God, indeed, lays an indispensable obligation upon all men, to make every possible effort to attain a most clear, distinct and assured knowledge of divine truth. It cannot, however, be questioned that the Deity, in his unbounded goodness, receives many into blessedness, whose knowledge even of the principal articles is very indistinct, and such as they are hardly capable of expressing in their own words. The smallest measure of the requisite knowledge appears to be this, that when an article of faith is explained, the mind so far at least apprehends it, as to recognize and embrace it as true.​

(qtd. in Muller's Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics: Vol. 1: 411-12.)

Christians need to know the fundamental articles of the Christian faith, but its impossible to expect them all to understand these articles with the same degree of clarity, which is why I like Witsius' remark on "the requisite knowledge."

What a Christian should know will also depend on their role in the Body. A pastor needs to be much more knowledgeable than Sophie the Washwoman concerning matters of theology.

Do they need to know the terms for their beliefs, or should they simply know what they believe?

If we are talking about Sophie the Washwoman, it doesn't seem necessary that she know the term "hypostatic union," so long as she has some knowledge of the basic concept that the term is supposed to refer to. On the other hand, a pastor or elder or theological instructor should probably know this term.

As far as technical language or "jargon" is concerned: it arises naturally as we try to simplify and clarify our language. Specialized fields do require a particular or special use of terms. It's not unique to Christians or theology in general.

Buddhism has it's own jargon, not because it's trying to sound smart or keep others out of the know, but simply because it's own development and maturity in theology required the coinage of new terms or for old terms to be used in a very precise way.

The same is true of Computer Science.

It may not be necessary to have these specialized terms like "Baptist" and "Roman Catholic" … I mean, after all, we could just be like "Hi, yes I'm one of those Christians that believes persons should only be baptized on a confession of faith and in justification through faith alone and imputed righteousness and that there is no apostolic succession and that there shouldn't be a Presbyterian form of government ministry and that persons should be fully immersed when baptized and that God exists in three persons with one substance and that we should celebrate the Lord's supper quarterly and that … etc. etc. etc."

But then, it seems a lot quicker to say "Hi, I'm Baptist." Trying to do away with labels altogether is pointless, it would just cause confusion. Even simple words that we take for granted like "spoon" could be considered jargon and a "label" in the pejorative sense. If we want to get rid of labels, let's get rid of "spoon" too. From now on I want it referred to as the eating device with a smooth concave surface on one end and a handle thingy on the other end. I mean seriously folks, it's not like "spoons" are exactly alike anyway, so how can you try to put them in a box with your modernist labels!! But I digress...

(Not that all Baptists will necessary believe we should only celebrate the Lord's supper quarterly, but you get the point. And even in my drawn out description I still have a lot of specialized terms or jargon, like Lord's supper, Presbyterian, imputed, and apostolic succession… it's virtually impossible to totally get away from it.)