Members of the Church of the Nazarene are rare among Christian denominations in that they have a clear grasp of the complete sanctification available to believers as a gift of Yahuwah through the active agent of the Holy Spirit. They are committed to living holy lives in harmony with Yahuwah.
Despite the mature Christian understanding found in many Nazarene doctrines, some of their beliefs are in error because they are founded upon tradition or assumption, rather than Scripture.
- Nazarenes believe that God “is Triune in essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (Articles of Faith, I) The belief in a trinity contradicts Scripture which declares of Yahuwah’s nature: “Hear O Israel, Yahuwah our Eloah is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4) A mysterious, Three-persons-in-one godhead comes from ancient paganism and destroys the very real sacrifice Yahuwah made in offering His only Son to be the world’s Redeemer. The Bible makes plain that Yahushua, while born of a virgin, is a human being - not a diety.
- Some Nazarenes baptize infants. This practice originated in a belief that all are born guilty of Adam’s sin, which is a doctrine that contradicts both Scripture and Nazarenes’ own fifth Article of Faith. Yahushua, by His example, teaches that believers should be old enough to understand what is happening. When the Ethiopian eunuch was converted and asked what was to prevent him from being baptized, the answer was: “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” (Acts 8:37) An infant is not old enough nor has he yet been taught to believe, therefore he is too young for baptism.
- Nazarenes teach that all who persist in rebellion against the government of Heaven will suffer consciously in hell for all eternity. The doctrine of eternal torment not only denies what Scripture teaches about the character of Yahuwah, it also contradicts the clear word of Yahuwah which declares that death, not eternal life in suffering, is the reward of the wicked: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of Yah is eternal life through Yahushua the Annointed our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
- Nazarenes unintentionally dishonor Yahushua by commemorating His birth, death and resurrection on Christmas and Easter. These pagan holidays have their origins in the grossest abominations of paganism. The early Christians did not celebrate these pagan festivals. Instead, for several centuries, they continued to keep the annual feasts of Yahuwah as directed by Scripture. Additionally, many Nazarenes observe Lent as a spiritual preparation for Easter. This is in defiance of the Bible, which clearly forbids weeping for Tammuz, the pagan origin of Lent.
- While some Nazarenes believe in soul sleep after death, others believe in the immortality of the soul. The Bible says Yahuwah “is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see.” (1 Timothy 6:15-16)
Nazarenes understand the importance of sanctification and holy living. Yahuwah is now inviting His Nazarene children to lay aside the errors that are preventing them from living in complete accordance with His law and step into a closer relationship with Him than they have ever known.
