I think that it was White Horse Inn where one of the gentlemen noted that doctrinal creeds not only united Christians - they were written to divide.
They were written in response to something and emphasizes beliefs that oppose the errors that were (mostly) considered the most
The Apostle's Creed laid out beliefs that refuted Gnosticism. The original Creed of Nicaea was written to combat the heresy of Arianism. Why?
Because it is vital to divide those who hold to Biblical Christianity and those who do not.
If we do not identify that which is wrong, it is more difficult to follow that which is right. It's why I talk to my kids about what I believe is wrong doctrine.
It's why I blog about doctrine.
It's why I believe that, as this election cycle really heats up, the idea of what constitutes "Christian" will become a very valid question in the eyes of those who believe in Christ. The question is "who will govern best?"
But there is another question that has little bearing on the election, but that had tremendous bearing on "mainstream" Christianity:
What is "mainstream"
To merely say that "whoever calls themselves a 'Christian' should be considered a 'Christian'" is avoiding real thinking. If a person claims to be a 'Christian', but belongs to a church whose doctrine does not support Biblical Christianity, and that person fully adheres to the doctrine of that church, how can we treat them as spiritual siblings - if they are not?
They should not be treated as siblings, they should be treated as ministry opportunities. And we should be aware of doctrinal differences and not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, in presenting the Gospel to those who call themselves Christians, but are not.
Carrie
Amen to that!
Sophia Sadek
Thanks for the posting.
You ask a question about the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed with the statement, "Because it is vital to divide those who hold to Biblical Christianity and those who do not." (I'm sure that you actually meant to say "from" rather than "and.")
Your statement doesn't really address the reasons for the creeds since both the Arians and the Gnostics considered themselves to be Christians. There is support for their positions in the sacred literature, so they weren't "unbiblical."
What is fascinating about the process at the Nicene Council is the way that Athanasius deliberately misrepresented Proverbs 8:22 in his opposition to the Arians. If you consider him to be a "biblical" Christian, then the term implies a Christian who deliberately abuses sacred literature for his own personal agenda.
Ellen
Thank you for the grammar correction.
I'd like you to show that Athanasius "deliberately" misrepresented the text (versus the view of the time that sincerely held to his belief). One is a lie (misrepresentation); the other is a sincere belief.
My post was about the need to divide Biblical Christianity FROM doctrine that is not Biblical. The history behind the creed was not relevant to today's politics.
😉
Moonshadow
No slandering Athanasius allowed.
since [...] the Arians [...] considered themselves to be Christians.
Arians found a way to affirm the creed from Nicaea, and Arianism prevailed until Constantinople I more than 50 yrs. later.
I've long found it interesting how the Council Fathers at Nicaea were careful to avoid alienating the Pneumatomachians, Semi-Arians, Binitarianism, that is, those who denied the divine Personhood of the Holy Spirit. A case of choosing one's battles or development of doctrine, I can't say.
After the 325 Council of Nicaea defeated Arianism, the Council of Constantinople was called in 381 in order to attempt to deal with the binitarians, who were referred to as "Semi-Arians". However, as the Trinity was finalized at this time as official Christian doctrine, the offended Semi-Arians walked out.
In the mid-4th century, orthodox apologist Epiphanius of Salamis noted, "Semi-Arians...hold the truly orthodox view of the Son, that he was forever with the Father...but has been begotten without beginning and not in time...But all of these blaspheme the Holy Spirit, and do not count him in the Godhead with the Father and the Son" Binitarianism, Wiki
The history behind the creeds is politics too!
Tony
The Apostle’s Creed laid out beliefs that refuted Gnosticism. The original Creed of Nicaea was written to combat the heresy of Arianism. Why?
Because it is vital to divide those who hold to Biblical Christianity and those who do not.
This is an interesting statement referring to a group of Council fathers who did not subscribe to bible-only Christianity.
And the mandates of an ecumenical council only make sense if you bow to the authority of the council fathers.
Interesting that the Council of Trent was convened to address the heresy of "Protestantism". Somewhere along the line many of the faithful lost faith in the authority of the council fathers.
Was it after the echo of Martin Luther's hammer faded?
BTW, Ellen, stay true to your doctrinal beliefs. Don't fall for, as some have, "mushy" ecumenism. The differences are important and they must be given the importance they deserve in the discussion.
Ellen
Perhaps people lost faith in the councils when they started reading Scripture and seeing that the decisions of the councils didn't line up with the Bible.
The early fathers sought to align doctrine with Scripture. Today the magisterium has to explain away Scripture in order to write doctrine.
Tony
Perhaps people lost faith in the councils when they started reading Scripture and seeing that the decisions of the councils didn’t line up with [their personal interpretation of] the Bible.
Very possible.
The early fathers sought to align doctrine with Scripture. Today the magisterium has to explain away Scripture in order to write doctrine.
Catholic doctrine hasn't changed a lot in 2000 years. You're familiar with the ecumenical councils, so you understand that councils are called to clarify doctrine, not necessarily "invent" doctrine. Much of the time the doctrine that the councils address has been held as an article of faith by the vast majority of the faithful since the beginning, but there are questions that need to be cleared up.
Ellen
Including those which cannot be found anywhere in Scripture.