<You are wrong as it has been amply demonstrated. The Creeds have been at universal test of Orthodoxy since their inception nearly two thousand years ago and they remain so to this day among the vast majority of Christian Churches of all stripes and denominations.>
Greg, Greg, Greg....
Before we even start let's look up the definition of Christian:
thefreedictionary.com
1. Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus's teachings.
3. Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christlike.
4. Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
5. Showing a loving concern for others; humane.
n.
1. One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. One who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.
Huh... imagine that... no creed in there. Hmm, maybe a bad dictionary... let's try another:
<<relating to or characteristic of Christianity; "Christian rites"
a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination
following the teachings or manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus Christ >>
Hmmm, getting curious... better make sure...lets go to a more holy source:
reformationtheology.com
Paul’s Definition of a Christian:
1) Worship in the Spirit of God
2) Glory in Christ
3) And put no confidence in the flesh
Jeez, this is getting frutstrating!! NO CREED!
Hmmm yet another:
religioustolerance.org
Alright... as if that's not enough, you refute your own assertion above:
<among the vast majority of Christian Churches>
OH! So it's NOT some UNIVERSAL definition (like you said).... THATS RIGHT... it's NOT:
In fact the Baptists are specifically 'non-creed':
Rev Robert Woods:
<<As Baptists were are non creedal, meaning we don't follow any creed or confession but only the Bible. Now having said that, there is nothing in the Apostle's creed that Baptists don't believe in. Even were it says one "catholic" church, the word catholic means universal. So Baptists do believe in a universal body of all believers.
Both the Apostle's Creed and the Nicean Creed were written and became popular before individuals really had the chance to have their own copy of a bible. The creeds summed up what most Christians believed. So if you couldn't read the Bible for yourself, memorizing a creed gave you a foundation for what you believed.>>
en.allexperts.com
Huh... heathens all of em!?? They Christian? How about all the other Christians with differing creeds??
Apparently you don't need Baptism either:
No, baptism isn't what makes you a Christian. Your trust in Jesus and your commitment to be His disciple is what makes you a Christian. The Bible teaches, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) Remember the thief on the cross next to Jesus? When he called out to Jesus in faith, Jesus promised him, "Today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). He didn't have time to be baptized, and yet he was forgiven and offered eternal life with Jesus.
joyfulheart.com
Huh...<<Faith makes us a Christian.>>
What, no Creed????
Huh, that guy sounds like Martin Luther... FAITH ALONE!
en.wikipedia.org
That's probably because a creed is a creed and a definition is a defintion... here's a creed:
Creed:
en.wikipedia.org
<<Some Christian denominations and other groups have rejected the authority of those creeds.>>
Oh, imagine that!
Oh, look a creed is a "measuring stick"... not a definition.
creeds.net
<<The Creeds and Confessions produced by the Christian Church over the centuries are not inspired additions to Scripture nor in any way replacements for the words of Christ {snip} Creeds are statements of faith that are true and authoritative insofar as they accurately reflect what Scripture teaches. Those linked here have been found useful either by the entire Church or by important segments and/or denominations of it over the ages. They are thus helpful "measuring sticks" for orthodoxy. Canons but not the canon.>>
<<Even if we reject some of their insights>>
Oh, you can reject some of it??? Hmmm.....
< at least we should pause to consider what they have gleaned from Holy Writ and how their historical situation influenced their Biblical interpretations. Let us remember the words of Peter when he said, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:20-21 KJV)>>
Yea, nice try...
DAK |
