Nazarene church questions

[PatrickJ]

Is the Nazarene church conservative? What is worship at a Nazarene church like? What is the difference between Nazarene and Methodist? Do you baptize infants? Do you have missions throughout the world? Thanks.

[RadicallyTransformedMom]

I am interested in these answers also!

[ContraMundum]

I love the Nazarene Church, and can't wait for the replies.

[HeatherJay]

Is the Nazarene church conservative? What is worship at a Nazarene church like? What is the difference between Nazarene and Methodist? Do you baptize infants? Do you have missions throughout the world? Thanks.Well, I don't know how qualified I am to answer, but I'll give it a try. :)

I would say that most Nazarene churches are a bit more conservative than most UMCs. Although the Church of the Nazarene is not what I'd refer to as fundamental either. We ordain women pastors, we don't include inerrancy as part of our doctrine, etc. So, it really all depends on your definition of conservative, I suppose.

Worship at my church and the other Nazarene churches I've been to has been pretty much the same. Lots of singing (both hymns and more contemporary praise and worship), lots of fellowship (greeting each other, voicing prayer requests, celebrating good news like birthdays or anniversaries, etc), a sermon. We have the Lord's Supper once or twice a month and we have altar calls once or twice a month (of course the altar is always open).

There's a huge focus on the children of the church and we have a boatload of programs and activities that they can participate in. It's one of the main reasons we chose our particular church.

The main difference in the Methodist Church and the Church of the Nazarene is the larger focus on entire sanctification (a second work of grace). Nazarenes are considered to be part of the Holiness Movement...I'm not sure if Methodists are or not. :scratch:

We have baptism ceremonies for infants...either with water or without (which is merely called a dedication), tis the parent's choice. Or parents can opt to not have their babies baptised/dedicated. We do not baptise babies for the purpose of "saving" them...infant baptism is done for two reasons. Number one, to symbolically give the child back to God, to make a plea for prevenient grace (the grace that goes before), and to pray that the child will grow in his/her relationship with God. And number two, for the parents and the church to make a pledge to raise and help that child to grow in the ways of the Lord.

And yes, we have missions throughout the world. The Church of the Nazarene is HUGE into missions. In fact, my hubby is the missions president at our church. One of the things I love the most about the Church of the Nazarene is the fact that we are so missions-minded.

So, there, lol, I've answer those questions to the best of my ability. If you'd like to read more :

www.nazarene.org (http://www.nazarene.org/)
www.nazarenemissions.org (http://www.nazarenemissions.org/)

[Jasminrose]

Well, I don't know how qualified I am to answer, but I'll give it a try. :)

I would say that most Nazarene churches are a bit more conservative than most UMCs. Although the Church of the Nazarene is not what I'd refer to as fundamental either. We ordain women pastors, we don't include inerrancy as part of our doctrine, etc. So, it really all depends on your definition of conservative, I suppose.

Worship at my church and the other Nazarene churches I've been to has been pretty much the same. Lots of singing (both hymns and more contemporary praise and worship), lots of fellowship (greeting each other, voicing prayer requests, celebrating good news like birthdays or anniversaries, etc), a sermon. We have the Lord's Supper once or twice a month and we have altar calls once or twice a month (of course the altar is always open).

There's a huge focus on the children of the church and we have a boatload of programs and activities that they can participate in. It's one of the main reasons we chose our particular church.

The main difference in the Methodist Church and the Church of the Nazarene is the larger focus on entire sanctification (a second work of grace). Nazarenes are considered to be part of the Holiness Movement...I'm not sure if Methodists are or not. :scratch:

We have baptism ceremonies for infants...either with water or without (which is merely called a dedication), tis the parent's choice. Or parents can opt to not have their babies baptised/dedicated. We do not baptise babies for the purpose of "saving" them...infant baptism is done for two reasons. Number one, to symbolically give the child back to God, to make a plea for prevenient grace (the grace that goes before), and to pray that the child will grow in his/her relationship with God. And number two, for the parents and the church to make a pledge to raise and help that child to grow in the ways of the Lord.

And yes, we have missions throughout the world. The Church of the Nazarene is HUGE into missions. In fact, my hubby is the missions president at our church. One of the things I love the most about the Church of the Nazarene is the fact that we are so missions-minded.

So, there, lol, I've answer those questions to the best of my ability. If you'd like to read more :

www.nazarene.org (http://www.nazarene.org/)
www.nazarenemissions.org (http://www.nazarenemissions.org)



I grew up in the Nazarene Church, and my father has been a Nazarene Minister for 25 years now. I was going to touch ib everything you just said, our church sounds very similiar. Until coming to this site I hadn't realized that sanctification wasn't believed by more, it seems to be something unique to Nazarenes, I'm not sure. In our church we do believe in Sancification but have found to be very hard to describe it to the congregation, we also believe while Sancification can start in a moment, it is a also a work in progress. We also have an altar call every Sunday morning, and sometimes on Sunday nights as the Holy Spirit leads us.

[herev]

thanks Heather, glad you made it to answer...as to differences between umc and nazarene, you are correct. We do believe in sanctification, Wesley believed that he knew some who had achieved this, but mostly we teach sanctification as a lifelong process

[ContraMundum]

I'll chip in here and say that most Weslyan-Holiness theologies I've read recognise, as Wesley himself did, that sanctification was to be understood in two ways- progressive (commencing at justification) and entire (perfection "wrought in the soul by a simple act of faith, consequently in an instant").

So, perhaps it's fair to say that such an understanding would be the foundation distinctive of all Methodist/Holiness churches, but also that perhaps over time different groups have laid more emphasis on one understanding over the other.

Just my two cents.

[Filia Mariae]

We have baptism ceremonies for infants...either with water or without (which is merely called a dedication), tis the parent's choice. Or parents can opt to not have their babies baptised/dedicated. We do not baptise babies for the purpose of "saving" them...infant baptism is done for two reasons. Number one, to symbolically give the child back to God, to make a plea for prevenient grace (the grace that goes before), and to pray that the child will grow in his/her relationship with God. And number two, for the parents and the church to make a pledge to raise and help that child to grow in the ways of the Lord.



Hi Heather:wave:

What is the general Nazarene belief on salvation? I understand that you don't believe in baptismal regeneration, but is one saved at some point in making a "decision for Christ" or praying a sinner's prayer or something? Or is salvation viewed to be more of a process? Also, do Nazarenes believe that one can forfeit salvation, or do you believe in an once saved always saved teaching?

Thanks for your answers and explanations!:)

[herev]

I'll chip in here and say that most Weslyan-Holiness theologies I've read recognise, as Wesley himself did, that sanctification was to be understood in two ways- progressive (commencing at justification) and entire (perfection "wrought in the soul by a simple act of faith, consequently in an instant").

So, perhaps it's fair to say that such an understanding would be the foundation distinctive of all Methodist/Holiness churches, but also that perhaps over time different groups have laid more emphasis on one understanding over the other.

Just my two cents.well said

[HeatherJay]

Hi Heather:wave:

What is the general Nazarene belief on salvation? I understand that you don't believe in baptismal regeneration, but is one saved at some point in making a "decision for Christ" or praying a sinner's prayer or something? Or is salvation viewed to be more of a process? Also, do Nazarenes believe that one can forfeit salvation, or do you believe in an once saved always saved teaching?

Thanks for your answers and explanations!:) Hi. :)

Yes, we believed that you're 'saved' upon giving your heart and your life to Jesus (could be in the form of a sinner's prayer, but it has more to do with the state of your heart than the words you say). But, we do not believe in once saved always saved. We believe that salvation is a gift offered to everyone...but if you choose to refuse that gift (at any point in your life, whether you've accepted Christ prior or not) then God allows us to excercise our free will in that. Basically, if you choose to turn away from God, then He's going to let you...of course, He's always waiting with open arms for His prodigal children to return to Him, but the choice is ours. LOL, I'm not explaining very well...sorry.

Also, being a 'holiness' church, we do believe that there is a process of growing in Christ, walking more closely with Him, and striving every day to be more 'holy' than the day before. The whole idea of entire sanctification has to do with the belief that we are commanded to be holy, as the Father is holy...and that a heart bent toward sin can, through the work of the Holy Spirit, be bent away from sin and back toward holiness and purity.

But, in simplest terms, you don't have to be sanctified in order to be saved. Salvation is the first work of grace...sanctification is the second.


LOL, I'm not sure if that made any sense at all. :doh:

[HeatherJay]

I'll chip in here and say that most Weslyan-Holiness theologies I've read recognise, as Wesley himself did, that sanctification was to be understood in two ways- progressive (commencing at justification) and entire (perfection "wrought in the soul by a simple act of faith, consequently in an instant").

So, perhaps it's fair to say that such an understanding would be the foundation distinctive of all Methodist/Holiness churches, but also that perhaps over time different groups have laid more emphasis on one understanding over the other.

Just my two cents.
This is true, although most Nazarenes that I've encountered tend to fall more in-line with the "work in progress" model of sanctification. There are a few that are pretty hard core into the instantaneous idea...but I think that most of that theology is mainly held in some of the other churches in the American Holiness Movement, not so much the majority of Nazarenes.

That's my perceptions based on my own experience with my fellow Nazarenes...lol, but I don't get out much, so maybe it's only in my neck of the woods. ;)

[desert_island_1]

Well, I don't know how qualified I am to answer, but I'll give it a try. :)

I would say that most Nazarene churches are a bit more conservative than most UMCs. Although the Church of the Nazarene is not what I'd refer to as fundamental either. We ordain women pastors, we don't include inerrancy as part of our doctrine, etc. So, it really all depends on your definition of conservative, I suppose.

Worship at my church and the other Nazarene churches I've been to has been pretty much the same. Lots of singing (both hymns and more contemporary praise and worship), lots of fellowship (greeting each other, voicing prayer requests, celebrating good news like birthdays or anniversaries, etc), a sermon. We have the Lord's Supper once or twice a month and we have altar calls once or twice a month (of course the altar is always open).

There's a huge focus on the children of the church and we have a boatload of programs and activities that they can participate in. It's one of the main reasons we chose our particular church.

The main difference in the Methodist Church and the Church of the Nazarene is the larger focus on entire sanctification (a second work of grace). Nazarenes are considered to be part of the Holiness Movement...I'm not sure if Methodists are or not. :scratch:

We have baptism ceremonies for infants...either with water or without (which is merely called a dedication), tis the parent's choice. Or parents can opt to not have their babies baptised/dedicated. We do not baptise babies for the purpose of "saving" them...infant baptism is done for two reasons. Number one, to symbolically give the child back to God, to make a plea for prevenient grace (the grace that goes before), and to pray that the child will grow in his/her relationship with God. And number two, for the parents and the church to make a pledge to raise and help that child to grow in the ways of the Lord.

And yes, we have missions throughout the world. The Church of the Nazarene is HUGE into missions. In fact, my hubby is the missions president at our church. One of the things I love the most about the Church of the Nazarene is the fact that we are so missions-minded.

So, there, lol, I've answer those questions to the best of my ability. If you'd like to read more :

www.nazarene.org (http://www.nazarene.org/)
www.nazarenemissions.org (http://www.nazarenemissions.org/)


Well Said. I don't even have anything to add to that! Wait.. thats a lie.. The style of worship will change from church to church slightly... FOr example my friend goes to a different Naz. chruch than me and they sing very upbeat, contemporary songs whereas my church on sundays sings mainly hymns and such (we have a contempory service on saturday) But that is all I have to add.. not a huge thing at all!

Kristy

[dharmputr]

hi,
ive just joined cf,and im hoping to learn more abt christianity.im already familiar with some branches of it.But im only starting to know about the numerous protestant groups.
Afer reading this much, can i ask...what is an "altar call"?( Do you have an altar centred worship(like a reformed form of the Eucharist?)
,is there is a priest leading it?

[desert_island_1]

With this whole holiness deal, my youth pastor kinda explained it to us yesterday. (this is my interpretations of what he said so don't get mad if I am not entirely right)

The Church of the Nazarene sees that we are holy from the moment we accept Jesus in our hearts but God does not see us as completely holy after we sin. Everytime we ask for forgiveness we start out with a clean slate and God sees us as holy (in the sense as we see Jesus as holy because He never sinned) so we have no sin at that point. (this is my understand)

Here is what the Official Website Says: (www.nazarene.org)

God, who is holy, calls us to a life of holiness. We believe that the Holy Spirit seeks to do in us a second work of grace, called by various terms including "entire sanctification" and "baptism with the Holy Spirit"-cleansing us from all sin; renewing us in the image of God: empowering us to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves; and producing in us the character of Christ. Holiness in the life of believers is most clearly understood as Christlikeness.

Back to my thoughts
Interesting....

Kristy