HUMAN CREEDS The word “creed”, from the Latin “credo”, means “I believe.”  In light of this, the creed of the early church was Jesus Christ.  He was the object of their faith (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 8:37).  Guiding their faith was the teaching of Christ and His apostles who were guided into “all truth” by the Holy Spirit, the Comforter promised in John 14:26 and 16:7-15. The writings of these inspired men have been preserved for us in what we know as the Bible, scripture given by inspiration of God, which is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”, and wherein we are “thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).    Church creeds did not appear until the third and fourth centuries. Denominations have adopted various creeds to distinguish themselves from others.  Some may be called “Confessions of Faith,” “Church Manuals,” etc, but church membership is based on the acceptance of these creeds.     What is wrong with creeds? They all contain elements of truth, but obviously they also contain elements of error or the absence of necessary truth.  If they were all in harmony with the Bible, they would not differ from one another.  The fact is, if a man-made-creed teaches less than the Bible, it contains too little.  If it teaches more, it contains too much.  We are warned in Scripture against adding to or taking from Scripture (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:18-19; Matt. 15:9).  Having the Bible, there is no need or place for the creeds of men.  We urge all to get back to the Bible and the Bible alone as our guide in faith and practice.   

GUEST SPEAKER this Sunday a.m.: A.L. Carter, Elder, Mattoon.  There will be no Sunday            and Wednesday evening services through the 19^th.