What do the Nazarene's believe?

[trainbrainmommy]

We have a family attending our IBC who are from a Nazarene background - they were reared Nazarene and attended a Nazarene college. They are not at our church b/c of a change in doctrine, however. They seem to want to enlighten us in our SS class and in Bible studies. There are numerous other issues with this family and they have caused a lot of conflict since coming about 6 months ago.

They have not shown any interest in joining that I can see, but I am interested in a Baptist perspective on where they stand doctrinally. From the little reading I have done, I do not believe they would be eligible for membership with their current beliefs.

Thank you.

 

[Martin]

We have a family attending our IBC who are from a Nazarene background - they were reared Nazarene and attended a Nazarene college. They are not at our church b/c of a change in doctrine, however. They seem to want to enlighten us in our SS class and in Bible studies. There are numerous other issues with this family and they have caused a lot of conflict since coming about 6 months ago.

They have not shown any interest in joining that I can see, but I am interested in a Baptist perspective on where they stand doctrinally. From the little reading I have done, I do not believe they would be eligible for membership with their current beliefs.

==I don't know why they are in a Baptist Church. The Church of the Nazarene is a Weslian/Holiness denomination. While I don't think I would consider them heretics their beliefs are certainly not Baptist. While many Baptists, like myself, could be happy in a Presbyterian Church we could not be happy in a Nazarene Church. And while many Nazarenes would be happy in a conservative Methodist Church or a Pentecostal Holiness Church I could not see them being happy in a Baptist or Presbyterian Church. If these people are only causing problems in your church it may be best if the pastor/deacons ask them not to return.

Good article from Wikipedia and the offical denomination website below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nazarene

http://www.nazarene.org/

 

[Martin]

Agreed Statement of Belief
​

These are the beliefs Nazarenes hold to be true:

We believe in one God-the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe that the Old and New Testament Scriptures, given by plenary inspiration, contain all truth necessary to faith and Christian living.

We believe that man is born with a fallen nature, and is, therefore, inclined to evil, and that continually.

We believe that the finally impenitent are hopelessly and eternally lost.

We believe that the atonement through Jesus Christ is for the whole human race; and that whosoever repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is justified and regenerated and saved from the dominion of sin.

We believe that believers are to be sanctified wholly, subsequent to regeneration, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe that the Holy Spirit bears witness to the new birth, and also to the entire sanctification of believers.

We believe that our Lord will return, the dead will be raised, and the final judgment will take place.

Taken From:
http://www.nazarene.org/ministries/administration/visitorcenter/beliefs/display.aspx

 

[Jkdbuck76]

We have a family attending our IBC who are from a Nazarene background - they were reared Nazarene and attended a Nazarene college. They are not at our church b/c of a change in doctrine, however. They seem to want to enlighten us in our SS class and in Bible studies. There are numerous other issues with this family and they have caused a lot of conflict since coming about 6 months ago.

They have not shown any interest in joining that I can see, but I am interested in a Baptist perspective on where they stand doctrinally. From the little reading I have done, I do not believe they would be eligible for membership with their current beliefs.

Thank you.

My thought is that they are contentious people. Why go to a church and argue with people in the SS or bible study? I mean, most NORMAL people who visit us who don't agree with the doctrine we teach leave and don't come back. So I'm somewhat leery of people who don't agree, who keep coming back to argue.

I mean, if I keep attending a RCC church and their SS and keep trying to argue the baptist perspective (if indeed there IS one), at some point, wouldn't they ask me to leave? Or at least say "hey. If you have questions about doctrine, why don't you talk to Father So-and-so."

OP. Maybe YOUR IFB congregation is THEIR mission field! :laugh:

 

[TCGreek]

My thought is that they are contentious people. Why go to a church and argue with people in the SS or bible study? I mean, most NORMAL people who visit us who don't agree with the doctrine we teach leave and don't come back. So I'm somewhat leery of people who don't agree, who keep coming back to argue.

I mean, if I keep attending a RCC church and their SS and keep trying to argue the baptist perspective (if indeed there IS one), at some point, wouldn't they ask me to leave? Or at least say "hey. If you have questions about doctrine, why don't you talk to Father So-and-so."

OP. Maybe YOUR IFB congregation is THEIR mission field! :laugh:

1. Like Martin, I too will not call them heretics. I am friends with a Nazarene pastor and I consider him a man of God.

2. Even among baptists, there are some baptist churches we can go to and not feel too comfortable.

3. I have learned that when you are in someone's house that you should respect what happens there, and if you don't like what is happening there, then you can kindly ask about it, but not engender strife of any stripe.

4. But in a sense, isn't it wonderful that we have all these denominations that are true bodies of believers, while at the same time we don't agree at every turn?

 

[Steven2006]

I believe Nazarene bothers ans sisters in Christ. For that matter there are things that I have read posted here on this board that seem more far out than what the Nazarene, believe.

 

[Hope of Glory]

I have a friend who comes over for pizza and a movie occasionally, and he was a Nazarene pastor up until about a year and a half ago.

I don't know if he's typical of Nazarenes or not, but he graduated from a (the?) Nazarene college, and he wrote a book about pentecostal holiness (I think the title is simply "Pentecostal Holiness", actually).

But, from what I can tell, his beliefs are very similar to Baptist beliefs, except he believes in speaking in tongues, etc., and he believes that you can lose your spiritual salvation.

The man who replaced him, has doubts about the sign-gifts being for today, and after studying the Greek text underlying Scriptures now thinks that our spiritual salvation is secure. (He also left the church last month, but not over these issues, nor any other doctrinal issues. But, he did tell me that they are encouraged to study the official Nazarene material, and not the Scriptures themselves.)

So, based on anecdotal evidence, I would say that the Nazarene's run the gamut just like Baptists do. They believe in holiness living, just like Baptists, and for different reasons, just like Baptists.

 

[tinytim]

The Nazarenes I am friends with think it is possible to be totally sanctified, and live a sinless life....

But then again... we have (or had) some Baptists here who believe that they can live without sinning...

I actually was an interim youth pastor about 10 yrs ago in a non-denom church that had a pastor with Nazarene Background.... He believed in Eternal Security, but still held to possible Sanctification. Although he admitted he has never seen someone totally sanctified.. he still thought it could be possible.

He was taking Baptist classes, and I really enjoyed working with him..