Do Non-Denominational Christians Accept the Nicene Creed?

[LivingWordUnity]

Here is the 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,
one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
(all bow their heads during the next three lines)
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.

For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in fulfillment of 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 catholic
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.

[DeanM]

I don't know if all nondenominational Christians accept this. I can't speak for anyone but myself. I believe it.

[Solidlyhere]

If the OP will read the First Rule of the Forum, he better believe in the Nicene Creed, if he wants to Post in the Christians-Only section of the Forum.

The Rules "button" is found at the bottom of the screen.

[jive4005]

Sounds like the same thing we believe in our independent church.

I worry more about people (REALLY) believing in God at all.

His,
Rev J

[Zecryphon]

If the OP will read the First Rule of the Forum, he better believe in the Nicene Creed, if he wants to Post in the Christians-Only section of the Forum.

The Rules "button" is found at the bottom of the screen.
The OP is Catholic. It's a safe bet that he believes in the creed that was penned at the Council of Nicea.

[Tavita]

Yes, well, regardless of where it was penned and who penned it, I still believe it.

[BrBob]

We don't use it (I was raised Episcopalian so I know it too) but the truths are straight out of the Bible, except for the whole bowing thing, we believe them.

Bob
Spearfish, SD

[SteelDisciple]

Except for believing in the church, yup.

[HeyHomie]

Most do, some don't.

Part of being non-denominational is the fact that there is no "headquarters" somewhere dictating what is and what is not the doctrine in your congregation.

[MoNiCa4316]

I'm non denominational, and I believe it. :)

[sinneD]

Except for believing in the church, yup.
Notice that it is a small "c" ... catholic meaning the universal church of Christians... not a capital "C", meaning the Roman Catholic church..

[MoNiCa4316]

I interpret the Church (as mentioned in the Creed) to mean the Universal Church, which is the Body of Christ. I believe that all Christians (from all times, denominations, and locations) belong to the Church.

[Floatingaxe]

I have never read it before. We don't emphasize any creed. The Word of God is sufficient.

[sinneD]

I have never read it before....
Interesting, since in order to post in the Christian section of CF, when you joined this forum you had to acknowledge that you agreed with the Nicene Creed.

[Floatingaxe]

Interesting, since in order to post in the Christian section of CF, when you joined this forum you had to acknowledge that you agreed with the Nicene Creed.

Well, now that I have actually read it, I see that it is a good statement of belief.

If everyone that has joined CF's Christian section attested to agreement to the Nicene Creed, our time here would not be so fraught with controversy. ;)

[archetype]

I interpret the Church (as mentioned in the Creed) to mean the Universal Church, which is the Body of Christ. I believe that all Christians (from all times, denominations, and locations) belong to the Church.

:thumbsup:

[Zecryphon]

I have never read it before. We don't emphasize any creed. The Word of God is sufficient.
My last church was a non-denom church, in fact I'm still a member there in the sense that I once signed a piece of paper saying I agreed with their statement of faith. They said the did not teach the creeds, but stuck to the word of God. They told me this when I asked where I could learn more about the creeds. After they told me this I really started looking into what they confessed, believed and taught. It was the beginning of the end for me in that church.

[Floatingaxe]

My last church was a non-denom church, in fact I'm still a member there in the sense that I once signed a piece of paper saying I agreed with their statement of faith. They said the did not teach the creeds, but stuck to the word of God. They told me this when I asked where I could learn more about the creeds. After they told me this I really started looking into what they confessed, believed and taught. It was the beginning of the end for me in that church.


I suppose the answer to that difficulty is to become aware of what the church you attend really teaches before you become an accepted member or even sign anything!

Creeds aren't necessary. A statement of faith, if desired is a good rule of thumb, just for the purposes of meeting those questions in the minds of those who would wish to become a part of us (our church).

[Zecryphon]

I suppose the answer to that difficulty is to become aware of what the church you attend really teaches before you become an accepted member or even sign anything!

Creeds aren't necessary. A statement of faith, if desired is a good rule of thumb, just for the purposes of meeting those questions in the minds of those who would wish to become a part of us (our church).
"I suppose the answer to that difficulty is to become aware of what the church you attend really teaches before you become an accepted member or even sign anything!"

That's what I do now.


"Creeds aren't necessary. A statement of faith, if desired is a good rule of thumb, just for the purposes of meeting those questions in the minds of those who would wish to become a part of us (our church)."

Ah, but a creed is a statement of faith. Plus statements of faith are a good thing, it lets people know what you believe. It helps greatly when you include the scriptures that back up your beliefs. Then people know that this church is Biblically sound in what they profess. However, whether or not they are Biblically sound in what they teach, or whether or not they stick to their statement of faith, often remains to be seen.

[Floatingaxe]

"I suppose the answer to that difficulty is to become aware of what the church you attend really teaches before you become an accepted member or even sign anything!"

That's what I do now.


"Creeds aren't necessary. A statement of faith, if desired is a good rule of thumb, just for the purposes of meeting those questions in the minds of those who would wish to become a part of us (our church)."

Ah, but a creed is a statement of faith. Plus statements of faith are a good thing, it lets people know what you believe. It helps greatly when you include the scriptures that back up your beliefs. Then people know that this church is Biblically sound in what they profess. However, whether or not they are Biblically sound in what they teach, or whether or not they stick to their statement of faith, often remains to be seen.

Yeah. If creeds and statements of faith are the same, then I am all for that!

[Simon_Templar]

creeds are necessary because of the fact that people can and do frequently interpet the bible to mean all manner of wild and nonsensical things.

The bible may be sufficient but then comes the question, what does the bible actually mean?

That is why the creeds were written. They are definitive statements of what the bible teaches and what a person must believe at minimum to be considered a christian in agreement with scripture.

[papist1]

Staff Edit

[sinneD]

Oh... I strongly disagree my friend.. the scriptures are not for someone else to interpret for me..

Rather, the scriptures are God's word to ME and for me to interpret as led by the Holy Spirit. I do not need someone else to interpret for me, nor do I want them to.

The bible clearly trashes that we are to search the scriptures ourselves.

If it is a choice between following God's Word ("just a book") or some leader in a church, I'll pick Gods Word every time..

[Simon_Templar]

Oh... I strongly disagree my friend.. the scriptures are not for someone else to interpret for me..

Rather, the scriptures are God's word to ME and for me to interpret as led by the Holy Spirit. I do not need someone else to interpret for me, nor do I want them to.

The bible clearly trashes that we are to search the scriptures ourselves.

If it is a choice between following God's Word ("just a book") or some leader in a church, I'll pick Gods Word every time..
I don't advocate the idea that only a church leader can interpet scripture. However, it is a simple truth that people looking at scripture unguided, even when they think they are being guided by the Holy Spirit has produced all sorts of confusion, division, and false teaching.

God established the church to maintain the truth. That doesn't mean that any one church leader, or every church leader must be looked to for authoritative interpetation.

It does mean, however, that the church as a whole is empowered by the Holy Spirit to teach and uphold truth. If we find ourselves at odds with the church as a whole, we are wrong.

If you really believe the bible, then look through the bible specifically looking for instances in which God speaks about what the church is and what authority the church has. You will probably be very surprised at some of what the bible has to say about the church as a whole. I know I was.


also, this idea does not absolve individuals of their responsability to search the word of God and to know the word of God and to judge what they are taught by the word of God. What it does is lays upon us an extra responsability to respect the authority that God has vested in the church as a whole, and to realize that God has placed his protection on those who remain within the authority that He established.

[sebastian]

Staff Edit.
we arn;t divided, we all agree who God is, the only thing that divides us really isn;t different takes on scripture but human stupidy and pride. a "my church is better than your church" rubbish. I don't care what denomination anyone is from, if they beleive what this creed states and put thier trust in Jesus they are my brother or sister. where's the division there?

[Floatingaxe]

we arn;t divided, we all agree who God is, the only thing that divides us really isn;t different takes on scripture but human stupidy and pride. a "my church is better than your church" rubbish. I don't care what denomination anyone is from, if they beleive what this creed states and put thier trust in Jesus they are my brother or sister. where's the division there?

So true, my friend! :thumbsup:

[Edial]

The thread is closed for Staff review.

I counted at least 3 denominational members debating here in the non-denominational thread.

Link to the Sticky ...
http://www.christianforums.com/t2936040-please-read-before-posting-.html

Thanks,
Ed

---------
Edited to add.

This thread will remain closed.
This post was sent to a number of forums falling into a category of spamming (Rule 3.1)
Specifically section B ...
3.1 No Spamming
B. You will not make multiple identical or nearly identical posts.


Thanks,
Ed