| Author | Message | ||
| Leifl Registered user Username: Leifl Post Number: 101 Registered: 3-2014  |
Some of you may know that I was involved in the "historic Adventist anti-Trinitarian" movement when I was younger. We used as a launch pad the idea that the doctrine of the trinity was formulated by Rome, and therefore was the "wine of Babylon". I found out some years ago that this is a gross oversimplification of the facts, and is indeed, absolutely wrong - it was a doctrine made by the Eastern church to protect the unique Christian understanding of God. Here are some notes from my research on this topic: http://youarecompleteinhim.com/2015/03/06/is-the-trinity-roman-catholic-doctrine/ | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 2180 Registered: 6-2006  |
Great article, Leifl! Growing up Lutheran and having both the Apostles and Nicene Creeds as part of our liturgy/order of service, I would occasionally hear grumblings about the creeds from other believers. "Oh we don't do creeds at our church" or my SDA family (I married into) would proudly boast "we don't need creeds in our church", as if it was wrong or something to be ashamed of. So I decided to research the history of the creeds for myself. Just as you wrote, they were a valuable statement of faith agreed upon by the early church fathers to protect the church (and ultimately keep unity in beliefs among the different denominations established). Churches and their members who claim not to need the creeds should really stop and ask themselves why. It's very apparent why some of these churches refuse to acknowledge or keep the creeds. For the same reason they don't acknowledge the cross or the true gospel. Works righteous based churches don't need them. Thanks for sharing! Leigh Anne | ||
| Islander Registered user Username: Islander Post Number: 119 Registered: 4-2014 |
I grew up mostly SDA and even more mostly Sabbathtarian. But, I was extremely blessed that my parents let me go to Sunday school and church with my LLutheran cousins. I am so thankful I had that exposure. I learned the creeds with them and by God's grace was taught in the Lutheran understanding of grace, mercy and forgiveness | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 15078 Registered: 12-2003  |
Excellent article! The only thing I'd say is that, from my understanding, the Council of Nicea occurred long before there was a split between the western and eastern churches. There was a split politically between an eastern and western empire, and Constantine was the western co-emperor. The church in the east and in the west developed some differences of doctrine over the centuries, but at the time of the Nicean Council, there was no thought of the church itself being "split", as far as I can tell, although there was some "east/west" identification of themselves based on geography and language. It seems, though, that the church was still considered one church even though the empire was divided. Of course, this sort of political division would trickle down into regional differences of viewpoints, but the Council of Nicea was a church council, including east and west, because the church was still one church. It seems that both the west and the east now claim as "theirs" the important bishops from their territories who made significant contributions, such as Athanasius who finally defeated Arius and refused to allow Constantine to allow him back into church fellowship. Significantly, however, both Athanasius and Arius were from Alexandra. All to say, your point that the Catholic church can't be blamed for these early doctrinal decisions is exactly right. These were doctrines that were fought for and defined by men who were leaders in the one church, men who were doing their best to express the reality that the Bible taught. Colleen | ||
| Islander Registered user Username: Islander Post Number: 128 Registered: 4-2014 |
It's my understanding the concert of the creeds aways was. But, they were put in written for after they had been said verbally for a long time. This was way before the Catholic Church ever existed. Which reminds me of a funny story. Here it is: I must have been in around 4th grade. A neighbor kid asked me why my family went to church on Saturday. Her family went on Sunday. I told her because that's what the Bible said to do. Then she asked me what else my church taught. After great contemplation I finely told her my church was anti Catholic. If the Catholic Church taught something was right and good my church said it was a sin and bad and if the Catholic Church taught it was a sin and bad then it was ok. Thinking about the abortion issue and Easter and a few other issues I guess I was right-of-way at age 10. LOL | ||
| Leifl Registered user Username: Leifl Post Number: 105 Registered: 3-2014 |
Colleen: You are technically right about the creed being formulated before the east/west split. Nevertheless, for those intent on blaming the doctrine on Rome, the Nicene Council was held in the Greek tongue, in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, and the Bishop of Rome was absent; as a matter of fact, only a very few of the delegates of the 318 present were even from the western part of the empire. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 15191 Registered: 12-2003 |
True enough! Colleen |
