Posted on 03/31/2004 1:18:22 PM PST by conservonator
Another FReeper and I are engaged in a discussion on another thread and the subjects of creeds came up. From personal experience I know that there are people who consider them selves Christians and refuse to recite any creeds including the Apostles and Nicene creeds for various reasons and some even reject portions of said creeds. Ever mindful of the questionable nature of anecdotal evidence used to support or advance a position, I would like to take a very unscientific poll (ok, so its not much better than my personal anecdotal evidence) to find out if all Christians accept all the beliefs contained in both of the creeds mentioned earlier
Here are the creeds
Apostles Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.
And now 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 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.
So, do you accept all, some or none of the tenets espoused by these creeds?
Is it OK to say that we agree on the creeds if we don't agree what they mean?
I didn't say that I agreed with you. ;^)
OK, thanks. Do all Protestant denominations believe in regenerative water baptism?
Well, yes. But this isn't a "Baptist" expression, that I am aware of.
SD
OK, thanks. Do all Protestant denominations believe in regenerative water baptism?
All Protestants baptize externally with water ... and believe that we are baptized internally with the Holy Spirit.
That's as cohesive a statement as I can come to on this.
And I believe that it is covered by the credal statement ...We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
That's as cohesive a statement as I can come to on this.
But they don't all believe that the water baptism takes place at the same time as the internal baptism.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
That's two baptisms by my count. One in water, one in the HS.
SD
One might say that we are baptized with water externally, ... while we are baptized with the Holy Spirit internally.
Well, yes. But this isn't a "Baptist" expression, that I am aware of.
Baptists baptize externally with water ... and believe that we are baptized internally with the Holy Spirit.
I know you are struggling to come up with a palatable answer and that this will probably have to suffice. You have said there are no core differences in belief between Protestants. So from your statments on baptism, I take it that you, as a Baptist, agree with the Anglicans that a single baptism, with water, regenerates (is done for the forgiveness of sin). Right?
I know you are struggling to come up with a palatable answer and that this will probably have to suffice. You have said there are no core differences in belief between Protestants. So from your statments on baptism, I take it that you, as a Baptist, agree with the Anglicans that a single baptism, with water, regenerates (is done for the forgiveness of sin). Right?
Protestants do not regard any differences in our beliefs regarding baptism to be a violation of our ultimate unity.
We know that Catholics are more rigid in their beliefs on such things ... but we do not follow the Catholic model ... we base our belief on the Word of God, as presented in the scriptures.
They are remarkably more succinct.
However, I absolutely reject any such man-made creeds. My sole creed is the Bible.
You ever quote just part of the Bible, or explain something in your own words? Do you believe in the Trinity?
SD
Gasp!! you're right! ...damn...looks like the short answers would be "all", "none" or "some" and the "some" answer begs further explanation.
Good catch, mea culpa (that's two in two days!)
No worries. I figured you weren't going to answer.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS, Mormons) are Christians.
I believe in the communion of saints
Anti-unionist sentiment was strong enough before the Fall of Constantinople that it was expressed by one of the Emperesses "Better the turban than the Latin mitre".
Perhaps after Pascha I'll have time to examine the full post for other errors.
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