New Apostolic Church

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Schismatics

Western (Latin) Catholicism Eastern (Greek) Orthodoxy Protestantism Restorationism

Devil's in the details

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The New Apostolic Church (NAC) is a restorationist Christian denomination that was created in 1863 after branching off from the also-restorationist Catholic Apostolic Church (not to be confused with the mainstream Roman Catholic Church.)^[1] The denomination holds that they are the restoration of the original Catholic Apostolic Church, which had been created in 1832 by Jesus himself to prepare the world for His second coming (or at least by followers of Scottish clergyman Edward Irving at Jesus's instigation).^[2] Sound familiar to anyone?

Despite having some Protestant-like beliefs, the NAC also holds the Catholic belief in a hierarchical church structure led through apostolic authority. Their belief that baptism is needed for salvation means that Evangelical Protestants consider them to be a cult.^[3] In a way, the NAC feels like a novus ordo boomer Catholic Church cut off from the main organization in the same way baraminology is evolution cut off from the main stem.

NAC claims apostolic authority, meaning that people have to listen to and obey whatever they teach. With a smaller organization that, unlike bigger apostolic churches like Roman Catholicism, does not receive much media scrutiny, it's easy to see how this could potentially go wrong.

Beliefs[edit]

Core Theology[edit]

Salvation[edit]

The NAC rejects the Protestant interpretation of sola fide, believing that salvation begins with baptism.^[4]

Trinity[edit]

The NAC accepts the mainstream view of the Trinity.

Society and Family[edit]

Homosexuality[edit]

The NAC does not yet have a clear teaching on homosexuality and seems to be in the process of discerning the topic. It does not call homosexuality a sin, but does view it with caution with regard to homosexuals serving in ministry and homosexual marriage.^[5]

Abortion[edit]

The NAC is anti-abortion but states that abortions should be dealt with on an individual basis.^[6]

Faith and Science[edit]

Evolution[edit]

The NAC's statement on evolution seems to point toward theistic evolution. It objects to the secular theory of evolution that "takes no account of God" but also says that current scientific findings are not incompatible with the Bible.^[7]

References[edit]