| Author | Message | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 1651 Registered: 3-2009 |
What are the Christian Fundamental Beliefs? What beliefs are absolutely necessary for a denomination to be considered Christian? Why? Could I get some input here, please? Hec | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 754 Registered: 7-2004  |
Although there isn't "one" answer to that, many would contend that the doctrines described through the Nicene creed are that dividing line. I don't know of any cultic groups that can truly affirm everything in that document. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 1732 Registered: 7-2007 |
Well, if people believe that God is a Trinity and that He is God, (meaning that He didn't have a beginning - such as the Mormon belief that He started out as a mere mortal and worked His way to Godhood); and if they believe that Jesus is God and that He finished the work when He died and that all a person needs to do is accept His sacrifice in their behalf to be saved, then they are Christians. Examples of religions that teach that there is some part of salvation up to mankind to do - other than simply accepting Jesus' gift - are Seventh-day Adventist and Roman Catholic. | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 1878 Registered: 6-2006  |
Hec, here's the Nicene Creed: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. And some information on the council at Nicaea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 877 Registered: 7-2008  |
How about the Bible? It works for me !!! | ||
| Wiredog Registered user Username: Wiredog Post Number: 112 Registered: 8-2010  |
Hec, I was asking that question when I left Adventisim. It was of import to me that I be part of the true Body and that I know the essentials one had to understand to determine if they have salvific faith. Pluck one out or alter it and you could not arrive at the others nor would you arrive at the true nature of Christ, saving faith, or the True Gospel. I have seen these stated by many non-denominational Christian churches and I believe they are the basics. We Believe . . . that the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God and without mistakes as originally written. It is the complete revelation of His will for salvation and the only unfailing rule of faith and practice for the Christian life. . . . in one God, Creator of all things, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that these three are co-eternal and of equal dignity and power. . . . in the deity of Jesus Christ; His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit; His virgin birth; His sinless life; His substitutionary death on a cross; His bodily resurrection; His ascension to the right hand of the Father; and His personal, imminent return. . . . that man was created by and for God; that by man's disobeying God, every person incurred spiritual death, which is separation from God, and physical death as a consequence; and that all people are sinners by nature and practice. . . . the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins and that all who believe in Him are declared righteous because of His sacrificial death and are, therefore, in the right relationship with God. . . . in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit indwelling all believers and thus enabling and empowering the life and ministry of the believer. . . . in the bodily resurrection of everyone who has lived, the everlasting blessedness of those in right relationship with God, and the everlasting punishment of those who have rejected God's forgiveness in His Son. | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 757 Registered: 7-2004 |
ASurprise and Wiredog, I would have to agree with including the clear statement of what the Gospel is and is not. That would exclude some who accept the Trinity (key point of Nicene Creed). I wouldn't choose a church that didn't teach the 100% inerrancy of Scripture, but I'm not certain if I would insist that this is a line in the sand between Christian and pseudo-Christian. I would be interested hearing some others weigh in on that one. (Message edited by ric_b on March 06, 2011) | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 12330 Registered: 12-2003  |
I might not say "inerrant" as opposed to "infallible" divides between Christian and pseudo-Christian, but I do believe that if an organization doesn't believe Scripture is 100% inerrant, it can very easily morph into "emergent" types of beliefs. When a church replaces the gospel with the social effects of the gospel, for instance, they have deviated from the truth and from actually teaching the truth that saves. "Infallible" can take people down a path of relativism or universalism or liberalism. I would include "inerrancy" in a list of non-negotiable beliefs. Colleen | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 1654 Registered: 3-2009 |
Any body else? Hec | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 879 Registered: 7-2008 |
compose your own list based upon your own study of scripture. Then share that list here for us to study and share our comments!! Animal | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 761 Registered: 7-2004 |
Animal makes a good point. I think many of us went through exactly that process as we searched for a new church home after leaving SDAism. This wasnt just a list of what is Christian and what isnt, but also what diversity of belief coukd we live with week in and week out. There was the list of essential for what they taught and what they didn't teach. Obvious things like Scripture alone, the Trinity, salvation by faith alone from start to finish. But we also couldn't accept the idea of attending a church that taught Sunday was the Sabbath. There was also a list of nice to have doctrines and practices, things that we believe are true and Biblical, but that we didn't consider being worth dividing over. For example, and at the risk of being flamed, I don't believe that women pastors are Bilblically endorsed. But that alone would not be enough to cause me to avoid an otherwise solid church. Yet I know other people who would consider that a go/no go factor. I tend to be broad in my application of the term Christian, and in the diversity of beliefs I can comfortably fellowship with. I have rather strongly held (and sometimes strongly stated) convictions about what is true, but I don't insist that everyone I worship, study, and fellowship with agrees me. | ||
| Chris_k Registered user Username: Chris_k Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2010 |
What do you know about Dwight Nelson. I just listened to a sermon or his and am sorts troubled. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 1739 Registered: 7-2007 |
Welcome Chris!  Dwight Nelson is the senior pastor of the SDA church at the college in Berien Springs (I think that's the name of the town) that churns out SDA pastors. (I heard him speak at the SDA campmeeting in Gladstone [Portland, OR] a few years back while I was SDA.) | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9054 Registered: 3-2004  |
Chris_k, welcome to FAF. You are in a safe place here. When you are ready please tell us of your journey with Jesus. I left adventism, for good. 7 years ago and have never heard that man. Prior to leaving, for good, I was a badventist. In fact my name had been removed from the church books, but I still said I was sda. Diana L | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 1655 Registered: 3-2009 |
Welcome to the Forum, Chris. Animal. You're a lazy bum. LOL. I can always study and come up with my own list. I DO want to know what is considered orthodox list of believes that are "needed" for a group to be considered Christian. What would make a group Christan? What would disqualify a group from being consider Christian? This is not a question for me to find a home church. I think I already found mine. This is a theoretical question. Hec | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 880 Registered: 7-2008 |
Animal<<<<<<<Lazy...lol lol lol See if this list will get you going Hec.... 1. God created all that is seen and unseen Christians believe that God is the creator of all people, the world, the universe, and everything seen and unseen. This is based on various Bible passages, including the first chapter of the Bible's book of Genesis. 2. Jesus is the Son of God and is one with God Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that he is one with God, and that he was sent here for our salvation. In John 10:30 (NIV translation), John the Apostle quotes Jesus as saying, "I and the Father are one." 3. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary Christians believe that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit of God and born through the Virgin Mary. As explained in Matthew 1:18 (NIV), "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit." 4. Jesus suffered and was crucified Jesus suffered and died for our sins. Jesus was falsely accused of being an anti-government rebel and, as explained in Matthew 27:23-56, he was brought to Pontius Pilate to be executed through crucifixion. He was mocked, beaten, taunted and crucified by the Romans. 5. Jesus died and was buried Jesus died after being crucified. He was buried in a tomb that was owned by a man named Joseph of Arimathea, who was a follower of Jesus. In Matthew 27:57-60 (NIV), the Bible says, "As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away." 6. Jesus rose again (the Resurrection) Jesus was resurrected, which means that he died and was brought back to life again. The resurrection of Jesus is described in various places throughout the Bible's New Testament, including in the New Testament book of John, chapter 20. As explained in the Bible, all people who die before Judgment Day will be resurrected. The people who believe in Jesus will be resurrected to eternal life in Heaven. Those who do not believe in Jesus will be condemned, eternally, by their own sins, as explained in John 3:18, and elsewhere. 7. Jesus ascended into Heaven Jesus ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. This happened after Jesus was resurrected. We too can go to Heaven, through faith in Jesus Christ. As explained in Mark 16:19-20 (NIV): "After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it." 8. Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. In Matthew 24:30 (NIV), Jesus is quoted as saying that he will return: "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." Additional details are provided elsewhere, such as in the New Testament passages of John 5:28,29 and 2 Timothy 4:1-3. 9. Anyone can have salvation All people may receive salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. In Romans 10:12 (NIV), for example, it says: "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him". 10. People who repent of their sins will be forgiven People are forgiven and saved if they confess their sins and confess their belief in the resurrection of Jesus. As explained in Romans 10:9-10 (NIV), "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." John 3:16 (NIV): "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." >>>Animal....the Lazy one....sigh | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 1743 Registered: 7-2007 |
(Chris, I think the college is Andrews University, where Dwight Nelson is senior pastor.) | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 763 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hec, I don't know of any Christian church that would deny anything in the Nicene or Apostle's creed. I don't know any Christian church that would outright deny any of the beliefs described in the Ev Free statement of beliefs; although plenty might want a tweak here or there. Same for the non- denmonitational summary from Wiredog. Notice that none of these address issues like free will/predestination, end time events, wine or grape juice, weekly or quarterly communion, ..... | ||
| Wiredog Registered user Username: Wiredog Post Number: 116 Registered: 8-2010 |
Hec, I can appreciate where the question is coming from. The question I asked of my local pastor, Conference office, Union and ultimately G.C. Min Division was similar, "Tell me what an Adventist believes in order to be Adventist." My example was if there were Adventists on Mars and I landed there tomorrow, what are the beliefs that I know we both affirmed COMPLETELY, 100%? I was rather irritated that NO ONE could give me the same answer locally, forget that trip to Mars! It told me someone was preaching from an empty head and a closed book! You can rest assured that when I joined my church I made sure they could point out EXACTLY what they affirmed and that it had no more and no less than what it took to be part of the (c)atholic church (little "c") ;) (Message edited by wiredog on March 08, 2011) | ||
| Bb Registered user Username: Bb Post Number: 897 Registered: 7-2004 |
Chris K, what was troubling in the message by Dwight Nelson? (and welcome to the forum!) |
