Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene)

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The Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene) is a Christian denomination of the Anabaptist movement. It was formed in the early 1900’s as the result of separating from their sister church, The Apostolic Christian Church of America. The Nazarene faith is widely spread across the globe, with congregations in Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, North America, Africa, Israel and Oceania.

Contents

[edit] History

Samuel Heinrich Froehlich (1803-1857) after experiencing a spiritual metamorphosis began his ministry throughout Western Europe, where he founded the ‘Evangelical Baptist Church’. This new religious body enticed many communities throughout Europe and started to span out to North America.[1] In 1847 the first American church was founded in Lewis County, New York. An Amish congregation was facing divisions and consequently a man who was baptized in one of Froehlich’s churches declared he knew a man that could solve their problems. The answer was Samuel Froehlich himself. Upon receiving a letter from Lewis County, the European congregation decided Benedict Weyeneth, would be best suited and thus the first Apostolic Christian Church was formed. The church in America flourished, however after half a century, the church met it’s first division. With the arrival of members from the Eastern European congregations, language and cultural clashes erupted. After failed negotiations, many families decided leaving would be the ultimate compromise. This was the foundation of the “Apostolic Christian Church Nazarene” (ACCN) another branch in Samuel Froehlich’s schism.

The Nazarene community of Europe originated in the 1840’s. Louis Hencsey, after his baptism brought this new faith to his native country of Hungary. From Hungary, the Nazarene faith spread throughout Eastern Europe. The Nazarene’s were widely persecuted by their European authorities due their stance on peace and objection to weapons or war. During World War II many men were imprisoned and tortured for their beliefs.

[edit] Statement Of Faith

The Statement of Faith was put together from 1948 to 1950. Before this time the Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene) had no organized doctrinal statement. Jack Kinkle of Mansfield, Ohio worked with Tony Betz and Pauline Miller to create the first "We Believe" statement. Since then it has been updated and expanded to its current form: [2]

1. WE BELIEVE that the Bible has been inspired by God, and is the complete and infallible Word of God. II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:20, Revelation 22:18-19

2. WE BELIEVE that there is one God, without beginning and without end. Revelation 1:8, Micah 5:2

3. WE BELIEVE that God is a trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19, II Corinthians 13:14

4. WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is God incarnate. He was born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life. He died on the cross in the place of the sinner, and His shed blood is the atonement for our sins. John 20:28, Isaiah 9:6-7, Hebrews 1:1-8, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, John 8:46,Hebrews 7:26, I John 2:2, II Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 2:13:20

5. WE BELIEVE in His bodily resurrection and His ascension to the right hand of God, and that He will make a personal return to earth in power and glory. I Corinthians 15:4-8, Matthew 25:31, Acts 1:9-11

6. WE BELIEVE that all are sinners and lost, awaiting the judgment of God, but God is not willing that any should be lost. Romans 3:10,23, II Peter 3:7-9, Romans 11:32

7. WE BELIEVE that the sinner may have salvation by repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. Acts 2:38, Acts 20:21, Romans 10:8-13, Hebrews 7:25

8. WE BELIEVE that a saving faith will result in regeneration by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God without which there is no salvation. John 1:12-13, 3:6-8, 16-17,Ephesians 5:26-27, I Peter 1:22-23

9. WE BELIEVE in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, by Whose indwelling the believer is empowered to live a Godly life in spiritual unity with Christ. John 1:33, Acts 8:16-17, Romans 8:2-17, John 14:23, I Corinthians 3:16, 12:13, I John 2:6

10. WE BELIEVE that both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; the saved unto life eternal and the lost unto eternal damnation. John 5:28-29, I Corinthians 15:51-58

11. WE BELIEVE that under any and all circumstances, we should speak the truth, and should not swear - obeying the commandment of Christ: "Swear not at all; but let your communication be Yea, Yea; and Nay, Nay. . . " Matthew 5:34-37, James 5:12

12. WE BELIEVE that government is ordained of God to enforce law and order and to prevent evil works. Government should, therefore, be supported and obeyed. Laws and ordinances - local, state and national - are to be respected and conscientiously obeyed, except when to do so violates the commandment of God. The call to military service, likewise, is to be respected and obeyed, but with the limitation to non-combatant service, as taught by Jesus Christ; "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matthew 5:44, Romans 13:1-10, I Peter 2:13-15

13. WE BELIEVE that God now commands all men to repent and be baptized and that immersion is the scriptural mode of water baptism, but WE BELIEVE that baptism should be administered to those alone who have believed on Christ, and have been converted by Him, who have indeed died to sin and have experienced a spiritual rebirth. Matthew 28:19-20, John 3:3, Acts 2:38; 26:20, Romans 6:1-13, Acts 3:19, II Corinthians 5:17

14. WE BELIEVE in the exercise of discipline by the church in order to deal with the presence of sin in the lives of its members. I Corinthians 5:1-13, II Corinthians 2:5-11; 5:14-18, II Thessalonians 3:6; 14,15, Matthew 18:15-17, Hebrews 10:24-26, Galatians 6:1-2, Titus 3:10-11, I Timothy 5:20

15. WE BELIEVE that the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ is an invitation for everyone to live a life of abandonment to Him Who loved us and gave Himself for us - surrendering His personal ambitions and possessions in an unreserved committal to take the proclamation of the Gospel throughout "all the world to every creature". Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47, II Corinthians 5:18, Luke 14:26-27, 33, Luke 5:27-28

16. WE BELIEVE that the gift of eternal life is a present possession of every true disciple of Jesus Christ, and that nothing nor anyone can take it from him; but, that it is a realistic possibility, however, for a true believer, once saved, of his own free will to no longer "continue in the faith" but instead to apostatize, "depart from the faith" return to sin, and consequently forfeit the eternal life he once possessed. I John 5:11-13, Romans 8:35-39, Acts 14:22, Hebrews 3:6, 12-14, Romans 6:16, II Peter 2:1-22, Matthew 25:24,30; I Corinthians 9:27; 10:1-12, I Timothy 1:18-20, 4:1-3, Revelation 2:10, 3:5, John 3:15-18, 15:1-7

17. WE BELIEVE that "the bread and fruit of the vine" in Holy Communion, symbolize the body and blood of Christ. Communion is served to members of the fellowship only, following self-examination. I Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:17-32, Luke 22:7-20

18. WE BELIEVE that a veil or head covering should be worn by Sisters in the Lord during public prayer and worship, as a symbol of their submission according to God's order of creation. I Corinthians 11:1-16

[edit] Church Practices

  • Many churches have separate seating for men and women, depending on local custom and occasion.
  • Leadership consists of one or more locally-ordained elders assisted by one or more ministers. [3]
  • Informal attire is expected during church events, including women who are discouraged from wearing low-cut clothing or trousers in keeping with an expectation of modest dress and limited to no religious ornaments or fashion jewellery.
  • Female members of the church are expected to wear a Christian headcovering during prayer and worship. [4]
  • The greeting of a Holy Kiss has been practiced by members in the past, but is not required.
  • Communion is served throughout the year for church members, most often near Easter and after baptism services.
  • The hymnal “Zions Harp” is used in most congregations.
  • Converts generally wait for a time until a formal baptism is conducted.
  • Different churches typically exchange "greetings" between each other and their members, either in person or at-large while any church events are shared (or "announced") to the congregation.

[edit] Locations

Spread throughout the world, churches can be found in many countries.

  • Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Paraguay and United States of America.
  • Austria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden and Ukraine.
  • Australia and Papua New Guinea.
  • Ghana, Africa.
  • Although small, there is also a Nazarene church in Israel

Along with missionary work, the church also engages and operates in several nursing homes, schools, charities and orphanages.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ruegger, H: "Apostolic Christian Church History", Apostolic Christian Publications, Inc., 1985
  2. ^ "History of the Statement of Faith" accnorthphoenix.com
  3. ^ "The Biblical Definition & Goal of Leadership" nortonacc.org
  4. ^ "Statement of Faith" Statement 1.8, accnorthphoenix.com