Week 4 Discussion

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Liberty University Online Academy *

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610

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Philosophy

Date

May 5, 2024

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docx

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4

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Week 4 Discussion: Confession When adopting a confession of faith, churches should carefully evaluate and asses the theological views, opinions, and importance that the confession of their faith conveys and symbolizes spiritually, as well as its historical and cultural context of what the confession of faith is stating biblically. The church needs the confession of faith to be constantly spoken by the believer because of all the lies, heresies, and falsehoods that we see in this modern age (Colossians 2:8-10). It is crucial to confirm that the confession aligns with the church's devotions and assignment and that it accurately reproduces the instructions of the Bible. Also, churches should evaluate how the confession of faith will be utilized and deciphered by members and how it may influence the church's association with other churches and denominations. Members should embrace a confession of faith prayerfully with assistance of the church administrations and leadership concerning any questions or issues they may have. Olson states, “The Council of Nicaea in 325 bishops who had signed the Nicene Creed reconsidered the homoousios formula for describing the equality of Father and Son because it could be interpreted in a Sabellian or modalistic way.” 1 The pros of adopting a confession of faith can have several advantages and blessings for the church in the eyes of the Lord (John 20:21–22). First, it can aid in establishing a straightforward and unmistakable originality of the beliefs of the church, which can be specifically crucial in reference to the Christian faith in reference to our God concerning the Godhead (Trinity). The confession of faith separates churches seeking to distinguish themselves from other similar churches by professing their statement of faith congregationally. Further, having a confession of faith can keep the unity in the church that represents the Godhead oneness as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (John 17:20–21). The church members promote 1 Roger E. Olson, The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition & Reform (Downer Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 240.
oneness in confessing their faith, which creates a sense of shared intention among members of the assembly. It can also deliver a framework for pedagogy and uncovering the religion's beliefs and practices by our forefathers in the early church who suffered and went through hardship to keep the truth and purity of the Gospel for Christians now today, so they would not be confused nor swayed in their declaration of faith unto the Lord. Olson, states, “Nicene theology was needed to commend the Chalcedonian Definition and to win for it full acceptance.” 2 Having a confession of faith can aid in confirming that the congregation remains authentic to their core convictions and significance to the Word of God concerning their faith in Him. On the other hand, the cons of adopting a confession of faith can include probable divisiveness within the church, as diverse people may decipher the terminology of the confession differently or may even dispute with leadership concerning certain aspects of the confession of faith, because some people may feel like they do not need to make a statement of their faith when they have God already in their heart, so there is no need to keep professing the faith over and over again. Further, some people may clash on the fact that confessions of faith can restrict intimate individual growth spiritually because the repetitiveness of the confession of faith may seem a bit rehearsed in nature. The confession of faith may be too religious for some individuals because they would preferably seek to have their statement of faith concerning their spiritual journey. Moreover, there is the risk of legalism and control over others in the congregation by leadership, as the confession of faith may be regarded as a stringent and uncompromising set of ordinances, regulations, or even rules rather than a compass for individual faith and tradition. The Nicene Creed defends the faith by enunciating the absolute views of Christianity. It asserts the Creed of the Trinity and the Godhead of Jesus Christ, and it defines the affinity between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Creed also confirms the 2 Ibid., 240.
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