Replies

.
The funny thing about creeds, and statements of faith, is that they are man made, and thus error is always possible.

This is how the big churches end up going astray. They may start out on the right foot, but a little tweak has to be made for this or that, and then later another, and pretty soon you have something that the people love, and it begins to replace the scriptures.

If someone rejects the preaching he hears, eventually they either argue to try to make a change, or they just leave.

This is why James called in Acts 15:21 for the believers to go to their synagogue EVERY Sabbath day to hear the scriptures read. One may argue with a sermon, but it is harder to argue with scripture.

Reading the Acts, it quickly becomes clear that all that they did revolved around the Sabbath meetings where the newcomers learned by hearing. As Paul said to the Romans, “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Agree with post 966, a very solid post and needs to be said.

Having said that, I urge you to not carry things further than what you said in post 966. I’ve watched several Christians take it further and border on becoming cultish themselves, and I among them.

I needed someone to stop me from going to far off and to get me to listen to reason. They did, praise God!

Yes, statements of faith are man made compilations of what they believe the Scriptures are teaching.

I would say that the odds of going astray are far less if you have to change the statment of faith than if the door is open for anyone to claim whatever they want about what the Scriptures mean - which they do. Which is why we got summary statements as heresy came into the Church.

At this point, with nothing to put forth except a old and new testament, your understanding of them and a primitive house church that is not an organized group, I am left with your posts alone. On the basis of much of what you’ve posted over the past year, I think you are involved with a fringe group.

I believe you are well meaning, but into some bad teaching that has led you into heresy. I feel for you, obviously.

My experience with those in these types of groups is that they are not open to being taught, but highly desirous to tell everyone else why they are wrong and their small group alone holds the key to truth - hidden until now.

I do wish you well FRiend. Thank you for the discussion and again, I am sorry I thought you were in the Rood group. I take you at your word that you are not.

The funny thing about creeds, and statements of faith, is that they are man made, and thus error is always possible.

MORMONs claim this a LOT!

Yet; when presented the very 'creed' they rant about; one sentence at a time; they can't point out ANY 'error'!

They also tend to IGNORE the FACT that Joseph Smith created a CREED for the church that HE started!!

Here is MORMONism's own creed:

Articles of Faith

The Articles of Faith outline 13 basic points of belief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Prophet Joseph Smith first wrote them in a letter to John Wentworth, a newspaper editor,
in response to Mr. Wentworth's request to know what members of the Church believed.
They were subsequently published in Church periodicals.
They are now regarded as scripture and included in the Pearl of Great Price.

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith