Just in reply to the comment that the man earlier stated that he would "become bored" with the service in a Lutheran Church.
- First of all that is sad that you find a Christian service boring ... people make it boring by not paying attention
- Secondly, it is a bad thing to say that you would become bored with the recitation of the same creeds - Think about this ... those Creeds state the absolute truths of Christianity - if someone thinks that this is boring it is very sad.
I hope you will understand this.
Contemporary or liturgical service?
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_Anonymous
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Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Reason:
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_Aussie Pentecostal
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Thank you Highschool, yes the Creeds are of extreme importance, how could you define heresy without creeds
To determined and identified “heresies”? The following criteria may serve as general categories for the determination of orthodoxy, to which should produce “red flags” warning of possible heresy.
(1) Scriptural standard. In all the major communities of the Christian faith the scriptures are regarded as an objective and definitive standard for the determination of normative Christian teaching. Although Protestants have elevated the scriptures with an undue emphasis of sola scriptura that regards the Bible as the infallible word of God equivalent to the living Word (John 1:1,14), we must still recognize that Jesus declared that the scriptures “bear witness to Me” (John 5:39), and “cannot be broken” (John 10:35). To the Sadducees, Jesus explained, “You are mistaken, not understanding the scriptures” (Matt. 22:29). Paul’s regard for the scriptural standard is clear: “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (II Timothy 3:16).
(2) Gospel consistency. The scriptural writings do not address every significant detail of every Christian subject. Christians are called upon to use spiritual discernment and sanctified common sense in determining the consistency of any teaching with gospel message of God’s grace in redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. Paul spoke against the heretical false teachers who had invaded Galatia,(refer back to Rusty post) and chastised the Galatian believers for “so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, which is not really another gospel, but some are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6,7).
people say “This is one reason that I personally don’t get excited about creeds. Many thousands of people have been murdered as heretics because they wouldn’t confess a certain creed. If the church is founded on a creed then the Apostles would have given one.
I for one are still learning the importance of The Creeds but seeing much wrong has been done by saints past and present in heretic hunting.
(3) Creedal formulation. We must avoid the foolish (not calling any one a fool) tendency to ignore the precision with which the early Christians sought to formulate the Christian message in concise statements of creedal orthodoxy. Jude encouraged his readers to “contend for the faith which was once and for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). It is extremely important that we recognize the reliable expressions of essential truths that are found in the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Chalcedonian Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. Those who claim to espouse “no creed but Christ,” fail to understand how the early saints painfully sought to explain Christ in creedal statements.
(4) Ecclesiastical consensus. The accumulated wisdom of twenty centuries of Christian tradition is not to be rejected. The past and present consensus of the community of faith must be given due consideration, for Jesus declared, “the gates of Hades shall not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18). There is an essential and catholic, i.e. universal, confession of faith to be found in Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism pertaining to the Trinity, the incarnation of Christ, the redemptive efficacy of the crucifixion and resurrection, the spiritual regeneration of salvation, and the importance of the church. We must align ourselves with what all Christians in all times and in all places have believed.
These criteria should serve as generalized guidelines for determining orthodoxy and the contrary heresies of variant schools of thought.
Every Blessing
John
To determined and identified “heresies”? The following criteria may serve as general categories for the determination of orthodoxy, to which should produce “red flags” warning of possible heresy.
(1) Scriptural standard. In all the major communities of the Christian faith the scriptures are regarded as an objective and definitive standard for the determination of normative Christian teaching. Although Protestants have elevated the scriptures with an undue emphasis of sola scriptura that regards the Bible as the infallible word of God equivalent to the living Word (John 1:1,14), we must still recognize that Jesus declared that the scriptures “bear witness to Me” (John 5:39), and “cannot be broken” (John 10:35). To the Sadducees, Jesus explained, “You are mistaken, not understanding the scriptures” (Matt. 22:29). Paul’s regard for the scriptural standard is clear: “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (II Timothy 3:16).
(2) Gospel consistency. The scriptural writings do not address every significant detail of every Christian subject. Christians are called upon to use spiritual discernment and sanctified common sense in determining the consistency of any teaching with gospel message of God’s grace in redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. Paul spoke against the heretical false teachers who had invaded Galatia,(refer back to Rusty post) and chastised the Galatian believers for “so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, which is not really another gospel, but some are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6,7).
people say “This is one reason that I personally don’t get excited about creeds. Many thousands of people have been murdered as heretics because they wouldn’t confess a certain creed. If the church is founded on a creed then the Apostles would have given one.
I for one are still learning the importance of The Creeds but seeing much wrong has been done by saints past and present in heretic hunting.
(3) Creedal formulation. We must avoid the foolish (not calling any one a fool) tendency to ignore the precision with which the early Christians sought to formulate the Christian message in concise statements of creedal orthodoxy. Jude encouraged his readers to “contend for the faith which was once and for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). It is extremely important that we recognize the reliable expressions of essential truths that are found in the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Chalcedonian Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. Those who claim to espouse “no creed but Christ,” fail to understand how the early saints painfully sought to explain Christ in creedal statements.
(4) Ecclesiastical consensus. The accumulated wisdom of twenty centuries of Christian tradition is not to be rejected. The past and present consensus of the community of faith must be given due consideration, for Jesus declared, “the gates of Hades shall not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18). There is an essential and catholic, i.e. universal, confession of faith to be found in Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism pertaining to the Trinity, the incarnation of Christ, the redemptive efficacy of the crucifixion and resurrection, the spiritual regeneration of salvation, and the importance of the church. We must align ourselves with what all Christians in all times and in all places have believed.
These criteria should serve as generalized guidelines for determining orthodoxy and the contrary heresies of variant schools of thought.
Every Blessing
John
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
Christianity is not a belief system, but a living dynamic of Christ
How did the Church manage to survive (and thrive) before the first creed was thought of? Were Jesus and the Apostles negligent in not providing us with one sooner? Have the creeds inspired more love and unity or more persecution and exclusion?
Most, perhaps all, Christians are unable to explain the doctrine of the Trinity apart from any speculation. Are they unsaved? Seems Peter's confession satisfied Jesus. (I say this as a firm Trinitarian although not saying I understand it as well as some who make dogmatic statements about it).
There have been trials for heresy where the bible wasn't even used, just some group's creed. Makes "no creed but Christ" sound pretty good!
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters".
Most, perhaps all, Christians are unable to explain the doctrine of the Trinity apart from any speculation. Are they unsaved? Seems Peter's confession satisfied Jesus. (I say this as a firm Trinitarian although not saying I understand it as well as some who make dogmatic statements about it).
There have been trials for heresy where the bible wasn't even used, just some group's creed. Makes "no creed but Christ" sound pretty good!
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters".
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
A Berean