2 Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions
which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."
Let me begin by saying that I am glad that you are making the decision to seek the Truth. So many people attend Church not knowing what they believe or how they practice. Contrary to belief, every Church is not the same. The Apostles established Churches and leaders to run the Churches. These leaders have written to us what they did, how they believed, and how they practiced their faith. It is these important truths or recipes given to us by these early Christians on how to worship and conduct services truly.
So let us begin with a little bit of History:
The Church that the Apostles began through the Holy Spirit was called the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Now don't get that confused with the Roman Catholic Church or Othodox Catholic Church. These are much different from the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church in faith and practice.
In 325 A.D., that is, over 200 years after the last apostle died, the Church began to change—a majority, not all, Bishops met at a council in a city called Nicaea. This council will be called the Council of Nicaea. The Roman Emperor Constantine organized it.
In Nicaea, 300 out of the 1800 bishops joined with the Roman Government to organize and reshape Christianity.
It was during this time that traditions, teachings, and beliefs were changed, and people were forced to adopt them.
The Council of Nicaea had great intentions, but it did not take long before it began to be polluted by the doctrines and teachings of men.
It is these teachings and doctrines instituted by the council of the Nicaean period and after that Harvest rejects. We believe that they conflict with the Bible and the teachings of Christ, the Apostles, and their immediate successors.
Being Ante-Nicene means you hold to the teachings and traditions of the earliest Church and the First Catholic and Apostolic Church. Harvest Christian is an Ante-Nicene First Christian Church. Which means Ante = Before, Nicaea
How does being ANTE-NICENE differ from many Christian Churches today?
1) Many Churches hold to the Roman Catholic Church as it began to develop in the 300's . The Church began to equalize the Father and the Son and to distort the view of God. God became a what, not a who. While we hold the Trinity view, this view is in the Godhead, not God. To say God is three persons who speak to one another, but it is only one God, makes absolutely no sense. Then to mystify it as if it is a mystery because it cannot be explained is nothing less than disingenuous. Anyone reading the Bible can see that there is only one True God and that is the Father. That the Son is God, Jesus is divine, because he was begotten of the Father. (Click Here To Know More)
2) Many Churches today do not serve the Eucharist, better known as Communion. The Church gathered for this purpose in the first place. When many Churches hold communion, they also see it as a symbolic gesture. This is not at all what it is. The Eucharist is not just a symbol or a motion; rather, in the sacrament, the presence of the Body and the Blood of Christ is mystically in them. That Christ is among those who partake. It is not to be taken as ordinary bread and cup but as if one is partaking of the Body and the Blood of Christ. The Eucharist was also reserved for those who believe and have been baptized. Those in attendance are cautioned not to take in an unworthy manner. This is living a life of sin, or one who has not believed and been baptized.
3) Many Churches are dispensationalist. They believe that God still has two covenants. That with Israel and the Bloodline of Jews and the other covenant with the Church or believers in Christ. This doctrine developed in the 1800s. They believe that God will rapture the Church or believers before the tribulation and then deal with Israel in the last days, fulfilling His second covenant. This doctrine is new and false and was never taught by Christ, the Apostles, or the successors of the Apostles. We believe Christ will return at the end of the tribulation, where the dead in Christ rise first, and we who are alive will be raptured to be with the Lord forever. Dispensationalism and Dual Covenant Theology is rejected. The believers in Christ, both Jew and Gentile, are the Israel of God. Those who have been circumcised in the heart whether Jew by blood or Gentile by blood are the true circumcision of God. As the Apostle Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit...Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: (29) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
So let us begin with a little bit of History:
The Church that the Apostles began through the Holy Spirit was called the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Now don't get that confused with the Roman Catholic Church or Othodox Catholic Church. These are much different from the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church in faith and practice.
In 325 A.D., that is, over 200 years after the last apostle died, the Church began to change—a majority, not all, Bishops met at a council in a city called Nicaea. This council will be called the Council of Nicaea. The Roman Emperor Constantine organized it.
In Nicaea, 300 out of the 1800 bishops joined with the Roman Government to organize and reshape Christianity.
It was during this time that traditions, teachings, and beliefs were changed, and people were forced to adopt them.
The Council of Nicaea had great intentions, but it did not take long before it began to be polluted by the doctrines and teachings of men.
It is these teachings and doctrines instituted by the council of the Nicaean period and after that Harvest rejects. We believe that they conflict with the Bible and the teachings of Christ, the Apostles, and their immediate successors.
Being Ante-Nicene means you hold to the teachings and traditions of the earliest Church and the First Catholic and Apostolic Church. Harvest Christian is an Ante-Nicene First Christian Church. Which means Ante = Before, Nicaea
How does being ANTE-NICENE differ from many Christian Churches today?
1) Many Churches hold to the Roman Catholic Church as it began to develop in the 300's . The Church began to equalize the Father and the Son and to distort the view of God. God became a what, not a who. While we hold the Trinity view, this view is in the Godhead, not God. To say God is three persons who speak to one another, but it is only one God, makes absolutely no sense. Then to mystify it as if it is a mystery because it cannot be explained is nothing less than disingenuous. Anyone reading the Bible can see that there is only one True God and that is the Father. That the Son is God, Jesus is divine, because he was begotten of the Father. (Click Here To Know More)
2) Many Churches today do not serve the Eucharist, better known as Communion. The Church gathered for this purpose in the first place. When many Churches hold communion, they also see it as a symbolic gesture. This is not at all what it is. The Eucharist is not just a symbol or a motion; rather, in the sacrament, the presence of the Body and the Blood of Christ is mystically in them. That Christ is among those who partake. It is not to be taken as ordinary bread and cup but as if one is partaking of the Body and the Blood of Christ. The Eucharist was also reserved for those who believe and have been baptized. Those in attendance are cautioned not to take in an unworthy manner. This is living a life of sin, or one who has not believed and been baptized.
3) Many Churches are dispensationalist. They believe that God still has two covenants. That with Israel and the Bloodline of Jews and the other covenant with the Church or believers in Christ. This doctrine developed in the 1800s. They believe that God will rapture the Church or believers before the tribulation and then deal with Israel in the last days, fulfilling His second covenant. This doctrine is new and false and was never taught by Christ, the Apostles, or the successors of the Apostles. We believe Christ will return at the end of the tribulation, where the dead in Christ rise first, and we who are alive will be raptured to be with the Lord forever. Dispensationalism and Dual Covenant Theology is rejected. The believers in Christ, both Jew and Gentile, are the Israel of God. Those who have been circumcised in the heart whether Jew by blood or Gentile by blood are the true circumcision of God. As the Apostle Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit...Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: (29) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
