Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene)
Encyclopedia
The Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean) is a Christian denomination of the Anabaptist movement. It was formed in the early 1900s 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. This church should not be confused with the Church of the Nazarene
or the Pentecostal Apostolic Church
which are entirely different denominations.
In Europe, the church was known as Evangelical Baptist. It later became known as Apostolic Christian in America. This name was chosen because the church follows the teachings of Christ and the Apostles.
(Basel, 1778-1858), a Swiss silkweaver who became known as a visionary was founded by Wirz under the name Nazarener as one of the groups associated with the Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene)
of Samuel Heinrich Fröhlich (1803-1857). Two visiting Hungarian locksmiths were converted by Wirz and Fröhlich around 1830, these men returned to Budapest and converted a nineteen-year old blacksmith Louis Hencsey (Lajos Hencsei, 1814-44) who was to be known as the Hungarian Samuel Fröhlich, promoting Wirz and Fröhlich's teachings where it briefly flourished in Hungary, Serbia and Romania. The group survives today primarily as the Nazirineni church in Romania with around 1,000 members. The Nazarenes 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.
AS WE BELIEVE...
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 prayer and worship, as a symbol of their submission according to God's order of creation.
I Corinthians 11:1–16
... THIS, WITH THE HELP OF THE LORD,WE LIVE
Along with missionary work, the church also engages and operates in several nursing homes, schools, charities and orphanages.
Apostolic Christian Church
The Apostolic Christian Church is a religious body in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Paraguay, and Japan that originates from the Anabaptist movement....
of America. The Nazarene faith is widely spread across the globe, with congregations in Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Africa, Israel and Oceania. This church should not be confused with the Church of the Nazarene
Church of the Nazarene
The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged from the 19th century Holiness movement in North America with its members colloquially referred to as Nazarenes. It is the largest Wesleyan-holiness denomination in the world. At the end of 2010, the Church of the...
or the Pentecostal Apostolic Church
Apostolic Church
The Apostolic Church is a Pentecostal Christian denomination which can trace its origins back to the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival. Despite the relatively recent origin of the denomination, the church seeks to stand for first century Christianity in its faith, practices, and government.The purpose of the...
which are entirely different denominations.
History
The church was founded in the early 1830s by Samuel Heinrich Fröhlich, a young seminary student in Switzerland, who had experienced a biblical conversion. Being led of God through a true conversion, he began preaching the simple truths of the Bible. Approximately 110 congregations were formed in 35 years in several European countries. Froehlich's intent was to organize a church based on a literal interpretation of God's Word. He emphasized the scriptural principle, "...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Mt. 28:20 The church, while recognizing Froehlich's work, gives God the glory for all these accomplishments. Froehlich's attitudes and biblical understandings were shaped, in part, by the Sixteenth Century Anabaptists, whose doctrinal motto was "Sola Scriptura." This meant that Scriptures alone constituted the true foundation for doctrine and life-and they were to be followed. The church has continued over the years to diligently follow New Testament teachings, and to regard the entire Word as infallible and inerrant.In Europe, the church was known as Evangelical Baptist. It later became known as Apostolic Christian in America. This name was chosen because the church follows the teachings of Christ and the Apostles.
America
The Apostolic Christian Church took root in America in 1847, when a church was organized in Lewis County, New York. The site was in the Croghan-Naumburg area. Another church was formed a year later at Sardis, Ohio. From this beginning in America the church grew, primarily in the fertile farming areas of the Midwest. As immigrants came from Europe (mostly from the Froehlich churches) and new converts were added in the United States, the church flourished. The believers were zealous in living and spreading the Word in America. From the 1920s on, most of the new churches formed in America were founded in metropolitan areas. This was because many of the church's offspring sought occupational opportunities in areas other than farming. Thus, today the Apostolic Christian Church consists of a blend of city and rural churches.Hungary
The Nazarene community of Europe originated in the 1840s. The name Nazarener-Gemeinde or Nazarene Community of Johann Jakob WirzJohann Jakob Wirz
Johann Jakob Wirz was a Swiss silkweaver who became known a Theosophist prophet and who with Samuel Heinrich Fröhlich was one of the founders of the German Nazarener movement which survives today only as the Nazarene Church in Romania with around 1000 members.His works were published after his...
(Basel, 1778-1858), a Swiss silkweaver who became known as a visionary was founded by Wirz under the name Nazarener as one of the groups associated with the Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene)
Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene)
The Apostolic Christian Church is a Christian denomination of the Anabaptist movement. It was formed in the early 1900s 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...
of Samuel Heinrich Fröhlich (1803-1857). Two visiting Hungarian locksmiths were converted by Wirz and Fröhlich around 1830, these men returned to Budapest and converted a nineteen-year old blacksmith Louis Hencsey (Lajos Hencsei, 1814-44) who was to be known as the Hungarian Samuel Fröhlich, promoting Wirz and Fröhlich's teachings where it briefly flourished in Hungary, Serbia and Romania. The group survives today primarily as the Nazirineni church in Romania with around 1,000 members. The Nazarenes 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.
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:AS WE BELIEVE...
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 prayer and worship, as a symbol of their submission according to God's order of creation.
I Corinthians 11:1–16
... THIS, WITH THE HELP OF THE LORD,WE LIVE
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.
- Formal attire is expected during church events. Women are encouraged to be modestly dressed, including not wearing jewellery.
- Female members of the church are expected to wear a headcovering during public prayer and worship.
- The greeting of a Holy KissHoly kissThe kiss of peace is a traditional Christian greeting dating to early Christianity.The practice still remains a part of the worship in traditional churches, including the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Churches, Eastern Orthodox churches, Oriental Orthodox churches and some liturgical...
is practiced by members, but not enforced. - CommunionEucharistThe Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
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.
Services
Most churches have the following:- Sunday Morning Worship Service
- Sunday Afternoon Worship Service
- Sunday Evening Song Service
- Midweek Evening Worship Service
- A few churches also hold a Saturday Evening Song Service
Locations
Spread throughout the world, churches can be found in many countries.- Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Paraguay and United States of America.
- Austria, Croatia, France, 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.