The Nazarene Church

[Crys2God]

My husband and I are looking for a new church. We seek to find a church that we can become members in. We recently attended a church of the Nazarene. Both of us really liked it however, we don't know much about it. I have spoken with the pastor and was very pleased. The day after we attended the church a member brought us baked bread and information about the church along with a letter saying thanks for attending. The pastor called my home and left a home and work number to reach him if we had any questions of needed a prayer request. Overall, we felt welcome and comfortable.
My only questions are;
What is denominational?
I have always belonged to non-denominational.
Is a denomination bad?
I understand that the Nazarene church came about by a man, is this bad?
Do they have different beliefs than a non-denominational church?


I feel like these are elementary questions, but I do not know about denominations. I don know that the church made us feel welcome. Please help me understand this more. I am really confused by outside influences and what they think. (Family mostly filling my mind with non-sense.) Any information would be helpful. Thank you all who can help me understand better.

 

[KayDee]

Crys2God

I can't help you much but a little. I attended a Nazarene church for a little while. They do not believe in eternal security. They are very legalistic - absolutely no dancing, movies, etc. They believe in a second work of grace which is sanctification - and you receive this sanctification the same way as your salvation...by going forward and asking for it...it is not a progressive work of God. The fellowship we attended was wonderful but I never felt the joy of the Lord with them. They believe in salvation by grace upon belief in Christ. If you have any more questions, I can try to answer them. Before you join any church, make sure their doctrine agrees with the Bible.

In His Grace
KayDee

 

[TCapp]

Careful there. Some are legalistic. Others are a bit more laid back (but still fairly conservative).

 

[WesleyJohn]

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[WesleyJohn]

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[KayDee]

TCap and John Wesley

Yes, you are absolutely correct. I should have said the church I went to was as I described...for that I apologize. My time at this church was not at all as you describe JW - not even the teaching on sanctification - people went forward over and over and over. When I went to see the move Joni (Erickson Tada) I found out real fast what they thought of movies. Of course, you can tell by the name of the movie how many moons ago that was. For me, it was not a pleasant experience.

I will attempt to not engage in debate with my dear sister KayDee...

hehehehehehehe - good sense of humor JW

In His Grace
KayDee

 

[Yitzchak]

My wife grew up in the standard church in Canada (which is wesleyan) and then went to the Nazarene church for several years. We now are attending the standard church together. According to my wife there was not a great amount of difference between the Wesleyan, Nazarene and Free methodist churches which she has attended in her lifetime.
I myself have a backround in the Assembly of God church and the Mennonite church. My experience has been that while there are some shades of difference on certain details, that for the most part all shared common ground on the holiness issue. Regardless of how the details of holiness are worked out, all holiness churches seem to agree on the basic point that God has called us to be sanctified (be holy). That this is central to our Christian walk and not an optional thing. Therefore , I have not found the transition to be difficult between these several denominations since holiness is something biblical which is dear to my heart as well.
My wife and I attended the Nazarene church together a few times and along with the emphasis on holiness , I would add one additional emphasis which I noticed which is evangelism. The Nazarene church is defintely a solid church and the Nazarene people which I have known are not hung up on the denominational thing. Every Nazarene person which I have known has put the bible first as their rule of faith and their church as only good in the respect that it follows the bible and the Holy Spirit.

 

[WesleyJohn]

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[Sunbeam]

Is it true that the Nazarene church believes in the gifts of the Holy Spirit but they do not have public tonuges? Or say you need to have tongues to be saved?

Is the Nazarene church classified as an arminian church that is not works but holiness and obedience?

What is the difference between the Weslayan church and the the Nazarenes?

Short answers would be as appreciated as longer ones.

 

[WesleyJohn]

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[Sunbeam]

The Church of the Nazarene does not practice speaking in tongues in its worship services. That is not to say that there are not Nazarenes who experience this gift of the spirit in their prayer life. The Church of the Nazarene does NOT teach that you need to speak in tongues in order to be saved

Thanks. That is what I have heard in the past. That is how I believe too. I like pentocostal churches, but I like them low-key, without speaking in tonuges as public, or forced.

What do they think about slayings, holy laughter, or casting out demons of neurotic people who are not insane? Do they EVER do any of the things?

We classify ourselves as part of the Wesleyan tradition. We teach holiness and obedience to God. You are not saved by your works, but by authentic saving faith. However, according to James, authentic saving faith will, matter-of-factly, produce good works.

I agree with that.

I guess we would have to get a Wesleyan and a Nazarene together to try to find out what those differences may be. I suspect you will find them to be very few and far between. (See my comments above about what prevented these two denominations from pursuing talks of a merger.)

That's really nice to know that they are in such agreement. Are the Weslayans also without public tonuges, slayings, holy laughter, and casting out of demons but believe in spiritual gifts and tongues if you have that gift privately?

Thanks for answering

 

[WesleyJohn]

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[Sparky]

Wow this is a pretty good thread. I have been invited to go to a Nazarene church but wasn't really sure cause I didn't know anything about it. This thread answered alot of my questions. I think I will go check it out. Been looking for a good church home.