Nazarene Belief?

[Summerset276]

My teenage son has been visiting a Nazarene church and likes it very much. I have never been to a Nazarene church and was not sure what their beliefs were at all. I did some research and I belive with most if not all of the beliefs I have found about the church. I have been mainly Southern baptist for many years. The Southern Baptist seem to follow the closest to what I personally believe.

The main question I have about the Nazarene church is wheather or not thay believe in the rapture and wheather or not they believe it will be a pre-trib rapture.

If anyone who is knowledgable in the beliefs of the Nazarene church could let me know how their beliefs differ from mine (Southern Baptist mainly) and also if they do or do not believe in the pre-trib or if they even take a stance on the rapture, I would very much appreciate it.

Thanks & God Bless everyone this Easter,
Ashli

[CountryPerson]

Summerset, if you go to www.nazarene.org, click on Enter, you will see a list of topics on the left sidebar. Articles of Faith is one of the topics. I went on their website, too, because I wanted to know how they line up with Southern Baptists, as well, since we are currently looking for a church.

Nazarenes do not believe in eternal security. "All persons in possession of regeneration and entire sanctification may fall from grace, apostisize, and be eternally lost."
Nazarenes permit baptism by sprinkling, pouring, immersion, depending on the choice of the applicant.
Nazarenes believe in a second work of grace that provides entire sanctification.

The Nazarene site wasn't as clear regarding their endtimes beliefs, i.e., pre-trib rapture. The articles of faith do list the second coming of Christ, but what is described sounds like the rapture as stated in 1Thess. on one of the pages of their site, and another page seems to be worded differently. You can judge for yourself what you think they are saying, or even call your local Nazarene church to inquire. Not all churches in all denominations hold to the same beliefs that are posted on denominational websites. We found this to be the case when visiting a church from another denomination.

[Summerset276]

I have seen all the reffernces stated by Country Person. Thank you for your reply. I was hoping someone who has been involved in the Nazarene church could answer atleast what their church believed. I understand how one particular denomination may state a certain belief and yet a church in that same denomination may not preach/ teach that same belief.

Informative knowledge is still appreciated.
Thanks,
Ashli

[SetApart]

i have attended two different nazarene churches in the past 5 years--just beginning with a new one (since a new pastor from the one i had previously attended for 5 years outwardly supported the emergent church movement)...

in both, i asked the pastors about their position on the rapture and end times prophecy--and i got a very similar answer from both. they said that they beleived in a second coming, but that the nazarene denomination did not hold a particular position about any of the end of days scenarios. they basically don't want to get into debates about detail.

frankly, i have not heard one sermon from either church about the second coming of Christ or any discussion related to end times prophecy at all. however, in all honesty, i hadn't really been looking for that discussion until the last year or so either--but i am quite sure those subjects never came up.

i was fearful about the nazarene denomination supporting the emergent church because of that one experience i mentioned, however, that is not the case because i directly asked the pastor of the new nazarene church i have been attending about it, and he said it was a movement that christians should run away from because it is a very dangerous path. i also asked him about the word of faith movement, and he said that it too was a false doctrine of sorts and that it was not something he supported.

so...basically, my experience with the nazarene church has been VERY NEUTRAL on the subject of end times/rapture/prophecy as they don't care to debate the detail of it---in a nutshell---they beleive that it is important to be ready and living right in the eyes of God at all times so that we are always prepared.

hope that helps...

[comicnurse]

I graduated from a Nazarene University a few years ago :D: In one of our classes we discussed the end times. Our instructor was in agreement about the second coming of Christ and the turbulent times beforehand. Somebody commented, "We'll be in Heaven when all that is going on right before He comes." Our teacher said, "Exactly." I didn't get any ill feelings about their stance.


Kendra

[Summerset276]

Thank you Comicnurse & Set Apart. Your information is very helpfull. The only other question I have is about the santification part. I understand the OSNAS belief they have but what is the total santification belief. The way it is worded on the sites I have found I amm not sure I understand it.

[tjplaw]

My advise, stay away them them!

[comicnurse]

Thank you Comicnurse & Set Apart. Your information is very helpfull. The only other question I have is about the santification part. I understand the OSNAS belief they have but what is the total santification belief. The way it is worded on the sites I have found I amm not sure I understand it.


Now, I'm not sure about that. I have never attended their church. Let's hope somebody will respond who can be of better help. :):

Kendra

[SetApart]

My advise, stay away them them!

why do you say that?
i am very curious..

[SpaceAngel]

We definately believe in the Rapture. I think the pre/mid/post trib stance is not one of the Articles of Faith so to speak, and it varies between people.

[Summerset276]

My advise, stay away them them!

I am also very curious as to why you say that.

[Summerset276]

We definately believe in the Rapture. I think the pre/mid/post trib stance is not one of the Articles of Faith so to speak, and it varies between people.

You say "we" so I assume you attend the church. I like what I see in their beliefs. As far as the Pre-trib/ Post-trib ect. I do not believe it is a salvation issue. We will be raptured when He calls us. Some of us will be surpised while other will be saying"yes, finally!" I personally believe i the pre-trib, but that is another discussion for another thread.

If you have attended or do attend the Nazarene church, could you please help explain the santification belief?

Thanks again,
Ashli

[HeXp£Øi±]

they beleive that it is important to be ready and living right in the eyes of God at all times so that we are always prepared.

You are neutral on this? Sounds like it hits the mark to me. The bible doesn't command that we preach rapture but it does command that we be ready.

[HeXp£Øi±]

Also i want to say that i don't think you can judge all churches by their name. One Nazarene church is not necessarily going to teach the same as all others just like one baptist church is not the same as all other baptist churches. I think it would be a mistake to judge in this fashion.

[Elizabeth_S]

My teenage son has been visiting a Nazarene church and likes it very much. I have never been to a Nazarene church and was not sure what their beliefs were at all. I did some research and I belive with most if not all of the beliefs I have found about the church. I have been mainly Southern baptist for many years. The Southern Baptist seem to follow the closest to what I personally believe.

The main question I have about the Nazarene church is wheather or not thay believe in the rapture and wheather or not they believe it will be a pre-trib rapture.

If anyone who is knowledgable in the beliefs of the Nazarene church could let me know how their beliefs differ from mine (Southern Baptist mainly) and also if they do or do not believe in the pre-trib or if they even take a stance on the rapture, I would very much appreciate it.

Thanks & God Bless everyone this Easter,
Ashli
I go to a Nazarene church. The ones I have attended all believed in a pre-trib Rapture and that we are close to those times. The Pastors all preached a pre-trib Rapture from the pulpit.

The only thing that the Nazarene hold to that I do not is OSnAS. I obviously believe in OSAS (not debating it here)

I have been to big and small (around 30 members) and they were pretty consistant.

But there is some emergent church types out there in the bigger Nazarene churches. But I see it creeping into large member churches of many denominations. It is insiduous and spreading.

[Elizabeth_S]

Thank you Comicnurse & Set Apart. Your information is very helpfull. The only other question I have is about the santification part. I understand the OSNAS belief they have but what is the total santification belief. The way it is worded on the sites I have found I amm not sure I understand it.

Sanctification is holiness living.

I get confused on this also as the Nazrene denomination holds to not always saved. Which basically translates to you can lose your salvation. But none have ever said to me what constitues when it gets lost. Backsliding is not the same as falling away.

But every Nazarene church I have been to, they preach straight from the hip and pull no punches, sin is sin and God's saving grace is available to those who truly seek Him. The Nazarene church is huugggeee on missionary work, the denomination devotes a lot to it.

Me personally, I have been home in this denomination, except one church that was starting the PDL stuff. But until then, that church had been spot on and the Pastor very biblical.

[Summerset276]

they beleive that it is important to be ready and living right in the eyes of God at all times so that we are always prepared.
You are neutral on this? Sounds like it hits the mark to me. The bible doesn't command that we preach rapture but it does command that we be ready.

I belive what Set Apart said was this:
so...basically, my experience with the nazarene church has been VERY NEUTRAL on the subject of end times/rapture/prophecy as they don't care to debate the detail of it---in a nutshell---they beleive that it is important to be ready and living right in the eyes of God at all times so that we are always prepared.
What I took from that is that the Nazarene Church is neutral on wheather or not the rapture will be Pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib and that in a nut shell we should be ready and living right in the eyes of God at all times so that we are always prepared. Which i agree, is right on the mark.

In your response to this:
Also i want to say that i don't think you can judge all churches by their name. One Nazarene church is not necessarily going to teach the same as all others just like one baptist church is not the same as all other baptist churches. I think it would be a mistake to judge in this fashion.
I do not judge all churches by their name. as I have stated in an earlier post on this same thread... I understand how one particular denomination may state a certain belief and yet a church in that same denomination may not preach/ teach that same belief.
I am not trying to judge this particular Nazarene church on the information I receive on this board. I am only trying to get some answers to some of the questions I have (in general) about the Nazarene belief. I will be attending the church soon and will ask my specific questions as I feel the need to do so if I decide to continue to attend that church. In the mean time the informative knowledge of those who have attended different Nazarene churches are still very much appreciated due to the fact that I am gaining knowledge of something that I had very little knowledge of before I asked the questions.

One very good example of that is the post from Elizabeth_S, before now, I have not seen any evidence that any of the Nazarene churches believed in or preached the endtimes or the pre-trib rapture. This is knowledge i find interesting and helpful.

Thank you to all who have replied and I look foreward to mre replies.

Ashli

[SetApart]

I belive what Set Apart said was this:

What I took from that is that the Nazarene Church is neutral on wheather or not the rapture will be Pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib and that in a nut shell we should be ready and living right in the eyes of God at all times so that we are always prepared. Which i agree, is right on the mark.

yes....i don't take issue with the fact that the church does not preach one rapture position over another---maybe it is a wise move because many people forget that it is not a salvation issue and can get easily offended on that subject.


I do not judge all churches by their name. as I have stated in an earlier post on this same thread...
I am not trying to judge this particular Nazarene church on the information I receive on this board. I am only trying to get some answers to some of the questions I have (in general) about the Nazarene belief. I will be attending the church soon and will ask my specific questions as I feel the need to do so if I decide to continue to attend that church. In the mean time the informative knowledge of those who have attended different Nazarene churches are still very much appreciated due to the fact that I am gaining knowledge of something that I had very little knowledge of before I asked the questions.

i think it is very smart to ask questions...i would not attend the nazarene church in my hometown because of the emergent church support...however, 25 miles down the road is another nazarene church who calls the emergent church movement dangerous and one to "run away from"---and the pastor knew nothing of this issue at my previous church when he said that (at least from me).

One very good example of that is the post from Elizabeth_S, before now, I have not seen any evidence that any of the Nazarene churches believed in or preached the endtimes or the pre-trib rapture. This is knowledge i find interesting and helpful.

that is interesting to me too!! i have set up meetings with my new pastor--and am beginning to ask him via email, about OSAS questions...i think i will be having another meeting soon to discuss this further...so...i think it is a good idea to talk to the leadership of ANY church to get a sense of their beliefs etc before committing---and it is so true that one church in the same denomination does not define other churches in that same denomination---my church story is proof of that! i am glad i asked questions because i honestly was assuming that the nazarene church, in general, supported the emergent church!! not true...

[SpaceAngel]

To be honest, I grew up in the Nazarene church, but am not altogether sure about sancitification. Sorry.

[Stephen]

Our family use to attend a Nazarene (mega) church. My impression (only) was that the Pastor was pre-trib (or possibly mid trib) with regards to the Rapture.

I also recall him talking about the Armenian/Wesley/Calvin debate with regards to eternal Salvation, but he didn't voice his opinion on the subject at that time.
I do recall him saying in response to a question on pre-martial sex (perpetual sin?) among believers, that "while your Salvation may not be at risk, your marriage might be".

Our new Pastor is very open to answering specific theological questions, and I've not hesitated to ask them.

[AnyDayNow]

...I also recall him talking about the Armenian/Wesley/Calvin debate...

:hand PLEASE...don't draw Wesley into this....that's ALL we need! :lol

[Stephen]

:PLEASE...don't draw Wesley into this....that's ALL we need!

Yea, the Gospel is so simple:): , but Theology is so complicated:confused .