Why are Preterists Not Christian?

[RhetorTheo]

Aside from circular reasoning and the forum's definitions, why can't a preterist be a Christian? Can a preterist believe in the Nicene Creed?

 

[Bulldog]

Can a preterist believe in the Nicene Creed?

Partial preterists yes, full no. Full preterists cannot believe the Nicene creed because it says that Jesus will come for a 2nd time. If I'm correct, full preterists believe that all of the prophicies were fullfilled in A.D 70, including the second coming of Jesus.

 

[seebs]

I have no idea. The preterists I've known seemed Christian enough to me.

 

[parousia70]

Full preterists cannot believe the Nicene creed because it says that Jesus will come for a 2nd time.

Allow me to correct you.
The Nicene Creed does not mention the 2nd coming.
I am a Full, consistant preterist, and I adhere to the Nicene Creed in totality.

While the Nicene creed indeed says, "He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead", it is merely your personal interpratation that this verse can only be referring to the "2nd coming". Nothing in the Creed itself confines this verse to the "2nd coming", only the personal interpratations of the creed do that.

While As a Full preterist, I understand biblical truth of the past fulfillment of the 2nd coming, I also understand that the Judgement seat of Christ is eternal, as is the function of Christ as Judge an eternal function.

I also understand that Christ "comes" whenever we call upon His name, and especially each Sunday as we gather to worship Him in eucharist, He "comes again in Glory".

So, As A Full preterist, I can confidently say "He shall come again in glory to Judge the living and the dead", and remain a Full preterist.

 

[RhetorTheo]

Have you read the forum rules? They say that preterists are not Christian, but "Christian."

This forum is for the discussion of doctrines held by people who are members of churches and denominations that do not fall within conventional mainstream evangelical Christianity - basically people who hold beliefs that do not fall within the definition of Christianity as laid out in our Forum Rules, which is based on the Nicene Creed. These people will not be allowed to post in our Christian-only forums.

Examples of these people who fall within this category are "Christians" who are also Preterist, "Christians" who reject the Trinitarian nature of God, or "Christians" who are Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses, and other denominations considered cults or sects by mainstream Christianity.

It appears that not only is the choice of the creeds (Nicene or otherwise) arbitrary, but the creeds are not the true standard used here. It looks to me like whatever views the moderators hold is Christian, and anything else is false.

 

[countrymousenc]

Have you read the forum rules? They say that preterists are not Christian, but "Christian."

This forum is for the discussion of doctrines held by people who are members of churches and denominations that do not fall within conventional mainstream evangelical Christianity - basically people who hold beliefs that do not fall within the definition of Christianity as laid out in our Forum Rules, which is based on the Nicene Creed. These people will not be allowed to post in our Christian-only forums.

Examples of these people who fall within this category are "Christians" who are also Preterist, "Christians" who reject the Trinitarian nature of God, or "Christians" who are Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses, and other denominations considered cults or sects by mainstream Christianity.

It appears that not only is the choice of the creeds (Nicene or otherwise) arbitrary, but the creeds are not the true standard used here. It looks to me like whatever views the moderators hold is Christian, and anything else is false.

This forum is for the discussion of doctrines held by people who are members of churches and denominations that do not fall within conventional mainstream evangelical Christianity

Preterism, whether partial or full, is not a church or a denomination, although there are beginning to be a few churches established around the preterist paradigm. Most preterists are members of mainstream churches, and hold preterism as an opinion.

IMO, as long as the preterist agrees with the ecumenical creeds there should be no problem. I am a preterist, yet I believe that when the creation is transformed, there will be a final resurrection and judgment, as the creeds affirm. It simply makes sense, for one thing, and the Church has always taught it. That doesn't compromise in any way the importance of what happened in AD70.

 

[Bulldog]

Allow me to correct you.
The Nicene Creed does not mention the 2nd coming.
I am a Full, consistant preterist, and I adhere to the Nicene Creed in totality.

While the Nicene creed indeed says, "He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead", it is merely your personal interpratation that this verse can only be referring to the "2nd coming". Nothing in the Creed itself confines this verse to the "2nd coming", only the personal interpratations of the creed do that.

While As a Full preterist, I understand biblical truth of the past fulfillment of the 2nd coming, I also understand that the Judgement seat of Christ is eternal, as is the function of Christ as Judge an eternal function.

I also understand that Christ "comes" whenever we call upon His name, and especially each Sunday as we gather to worship Him in eucharist, He "comes again in Glory".

So, As A Full preterist, I can confidently say "He shall come again in glory to Judge the living and the dead", and remain a Full preterist.

Thanks for the correction.

 

[parousia70]

Have you read the forum rules? They say that preterists are not Christian, but "Christian."

A very interesting juxtaposition indeed, and one I have struggled with here as well.

It appears that not only is the choice of the creeds (Nicene or otherwise) arbitrary, but the creeds are not the true standard used here. It looks to me like whatever views the moderators hold is Christian, and anything else is false.

Fascinating insight once again. I certainly don't claim to know the reasons behind CF's ongoing decision to compartmentalize the topic of Fulfilled eschatology, but I have indeed pointed out several times, both privately and publically why I feel in agreement with you that the creeds do not seem to be the true standard, since CF currently allows for a variety of interpratations of the creeds among those members it deems "orthodox" Christians.

I have the highest respect for the Forum owner and staff, and pray in my heart that one day they will choose to face this issue head on, and either disclose the real reasons behind the ban, or simply recognize there is no good reason, and finally once for all lift the ban and recognize that the topic of preterism belongs as an "in house" debate.

 

[parousia70]

This forum is for the discussion of doctrines held by people who are members of churches and denominations that do not fall within conventional mainstream evangelical Christianity

Preterism, whether partial or full, is not a church or a denomination, although there are beginning to be a few churches established around the preterist paradigm. Most preterists are members of mainstream churches, and hold preterism as an opinion.

Excellent point CM (And Hi BTW )

Preterism is not a denomination, and therefore seems to fall outside of the above classification, and as you correctly pointed out, most preterists belong to Churches that teach an eschatology of futurism. I know I do.

Ever being the hopeful one, I really believe one day soon, CF will take a fresh look at those members who hold to a fulfilled eschatology and realize we are "conventional mainstream evangelicals" after all, Just as the rest of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and thus FULLY belong here as well.

 

[countrymousenc]

P70! So good to see you again!