Do we need a creed?

I was told that a house church does not need any creed because everyone is accepted and a creed divides rather than unites.....

Well if that is true, then that will be really good, because it means no one will force his/her belief to anyone.....like if my conscience cannot accept trinity, no one will call me non christian just because I do not accept something that orthodox christians do......

I discovered this site just recently....homechristians.net.....from them I learned that those who comprise housechurch are christians of different religious background who value fellowship rather than creed......

sounds good to me.....

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1 Pet. 1:3
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!"

The Scriptures (John 20:17;Revelation 3:12) refer to the Father as "the God" of Jesus Christ.
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A Home Church is not just so everyone will get along. Home church is what the disciples did in the NT time and they walked as one and had everything in common. To say easy believism is the core of the home church "movement" is an error as bad as the world driven churches are. Sound hard core yes it is because there is only one truth and His name is Jesus. It is not about creeds or trinity or oneness - it is about Jesus and His Word.

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[b]Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ

But how do you solve disagreement in theological interpretation???

__________________
1 Pet. 1:3
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!"

The Scriptures (John 20:17;Revelation 3:12) refer to the Father as "the God" of Jesus Christ.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Creeds reflect our understanding of Scripture. They are not a badge for membership. Our acceptance of the Trinity from an earlier creed written as a summary of opposition to wrong doctrines taught by some people continues not because of an early statement but that the doctrine best explains the many scriptures that otherwise are difficult to understand.

Truth is not merely a matter of conscience. If it were Paul and the ether would NT writers would not have written with such logic and passion for correct belief. Also, the church did not begin somewhere in the 18 - 19 centuries. It has been continuous since Pentecost, and its history contains an exceedingly rich depository of Christian teaching, reflection, devotion and service. We must never turn our backs from that heritage.

John
NZ

Scriptures,
It happens through accurate exegesis of the biblical text? Preferably based on a knowledge of the original languages of the Bible.

What is exegesis? It is the practice of interpreting the Scripture, based on the grammar, context and cultural understanding.

I don't agree with this perspective. What would happen if, say, some people like those who participate in this Forum were to come to a house church and present their unorthodox views? How would the house church deal with them without a statement of faith providing the parameters of orthodoxy.

I believe a statement of faith is necessary. What about a statement like this from the National Association of Evangelicals?

Sincerely, Spencer

Statement of Faith
• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
+++++++++++
For me, I would include something like: "We believe in the ministry and participation of all believers in the spiritual gifts and roles God has given to them, for the building up of the Church. We believe all ministry should be done in an orderly and accountable manner."

God often surprises us. I have enjoyed rich Christian service and fellowship with Christians from many different denominations and backgrounds, even though we had very different views on some doctrines that were important to both of us. It's the life of Jesus not merely our doctrinal statements that must be the centre of our faith.

John
NZ

Johnnz,

I also have had and still have rich fellowship with Christians from different denominations. I didn't know that this was the issue we were discussing. We are debating the benefit or otherwise of having a Creed in a house church.

I am in support of a Statement of Faith as a broad outline of a house church's orthodoxy so that the unorthodox and heretical doctrines will have parameters for not allowing such teaching.

It is much too long a process to have to exegetically refute every unorthodox doctrine that might be promoted by new people entering a house church.

I think that the one I copied from the National Association of Evangelicals is a good one for those of us who are committed evangelical (Bible-believing) Christians. The Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed are also ones that have been used extensively as summaries of orthodoxy.

Spencer
The Aussie

I pretty much agree, although I must admit to having had to rethink what I actually do understand and believe about some of statements at times.

John
NZ