Concerned Nazarenes

More Sad Compromise in the Church

***This most recent news that I just read about concerning the Nazarene movement reminded me of when I received my July/August 2006 edition of the Holiness Today and I read about their new and revised statement on creation in their 2005-2009 Nazarene manual.  Here it is, paragraph 903.8 – http://www.nazarene.org/files/docs/Manual2005_09.pdf ***

903.8. Creation

The Church of the Nazarene believes in the biblical account of creation (“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth . . .”—Genesis 1:1).We oppose any godless interpretation of the origin of the universe and of humankind.  However, the church accepts as valid all scientifically verifiable discoveries in geology and other natural phenomena, for we firmly believe that God is the Creator. (Articles I. 1., V. 5.1, VII.) (2005)

In that Holiness Today article (p.24-25) the question was asked, “How do Nazarenes understand the origin and development of our universe?”

Their answer: This new statement on creation affirms that God is the Creator but that they now accept as valid all scientifically verifiable discoveries.  What is interesting is what the previous version of the manual stated on creation.  The statement said Nazarenes “oppose any godless interpretation of the evolutionary hypothesis.”  In the new version, “evolutionary hypothesis” is replaced by the more general statement, “origin of the universe and of humankind.”  According to the article the statement  leaves open the question of which current origins theories, such as progressive creationism, intelligent design, young-earth creationism, or theistic evolution,  best correspond with or support the affirmation that God is Creator.

At a recent conference one Nazarene leader stated:

“We do not draw a line in the sand and demand adherence to any one view. One can believe that God created all things in a seven-day period of 24-hour days or that God employed some form of gradual creation or continuing creation that encompassed millions of years.  You can believe either view and be a good Nazarene.”

The article when on to say that “Nazarenes can embrace theistic evolution, as long as they interpret the origin of the universe or of humankind in a way that includes an explanatory role for God’s creative work.”

Theistic evolution is the “explanation of life coming about as a result of God’s use of the evolutionary process.”  This belief is in direct contradiction with the Bible.  (see 10 Dangers of Theistic Evolution.)  There is a gradual trend of many churches to seek to place man’s ideas over the ideas of God.  If the views of the Bible become incompatible with the world, they just “adjust” the interpretation of the Word of God to make it more comfortable and palatable with the current humanistic views.  If the church was supposed to do that, why did Jesus say that the world would hate us as it hated Him?

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”  John 15:18-19

The Apostle Paul tells us to see that no one takes us captive by deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition and basic principles of the world rather than on Christ. Col0ssians 2:8  Remember Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ferocious wolves.”  Seems harmless enough, just changing a few words here and there, but the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever…Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.  (Hebrews 13:8-9.)  Stay true to the Scripture no matter what church you are in.

Charles Darwin was asked, “Do you think God could have used evolution to create?”  He said, “Absolutely not! You do not understand my theory. My theory is based on a natural process. It does not require the supernatural, so do not tie God to evolution. Evolution is this directing force.” Darwin himself made it clear you cannot connect the two. (1)

We are seeing a major shift towards lukewarmness in our modern day evangelical churches that is spoke about in Revelation 3:16 and it is not just in the Nazarene movement.  All the signs of our day seem to point to the fact that we are rapidly approaching the return of Jesus Christ.  We must strive now more than ever to be diligent in reaching the lost with the real Gospel.***

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Who are Concerned Nazarenes?  In August, 2008, Tim Wirth, a former drummer in several rock bands, helped coordinate an event featuring author Ray Yungen (“A Time of Departing”, and “For Many Shall Come In My Name”), at the Piqua Church of the Nazarene in Ohio.  Since joining the church, he’d become deeply concerned about emerging church philosophy that had crept into the Nazarene denomination – and wanted to alert others to the emergent movement.  Tim met Don and Sue Butler, long-time Nazarenes, who shared the same concerns – and Concerned Nazarenes was launched. “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3) 

           Concerned Nazarenes has grown to include Nazarene pastors and evangelists across the United States – each grieved by the spiritual demise of our much-loved denomination under the influence of the emergent movement.  Concerned Nazarenes is a grassroots movement that serves to give voice to all those in the church that share our dismay at the direction in which the emergent movement is striving to guide Nazarene beliefs and practices.  In 2009, more than 500 Nazarenes across the United States delivered a petition to our General Superintendents, seeking clarification of their stance on the Emergent Church movement. Our fervent hope and prayer is that the General Superintendents will respond by purging our denomination of the emergent cancer before it is too late.

Why are we so concerned?   On this website, we list the specific concerns of our group, and provide articles and links that give more depth to our concerns.  Please read these carefully and prayerfully, as the future of the Nazarene Church is at stake. 

http://www.concernednazarenes.org/