Faith And Public Expression: A Personal Testimony

A profession of faith is a personal and public statement of belief. In Christianity, this often takes the form of baptism, where believers declare their faith in Jesus. In many Christian churches, people are required to make a personal profession of faith according to a prescribed formula when joining their denomination. This can be a risky act, as in some parts of the world, it can lead to persecution or even death. In this context, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a prominent atheist and women's rights activist, publicly professed her newfound faith in Christianity. Ali, who was raised Muslim in Somalia, noted that atheism is a weak and divisive doctrine that offers no hope or defence against destructive forces. She suggested that Christianity provides meaning, solace, and a unifying doctrine that can fortify us against our menacing foes.

A profession of faith is a personal and public statement of a belief or faith

A profession of faith is a personal and public statement of an individual's belief or faith. It is the act of openly declaring one's faith and making a commitment to follow a religious doctrine or path. In the context of Christianity, a profession of faith often refers to a person's public declaration of their intent to follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. This declaration is usually made during baptism, where individuals immerse themselves in water to symbolise their death to sin and resurrection in Christ.

The concept of a profession of faith is deeply rooted in the New Testament. Believers, such as Cornelius, proclaimed their faith in Jesus during their baptism. Additionally, Paul of Tarsus, in his First Epistle to Timothy, reminds Timothy of his profession of faith made in front of several people. The early Church also summarised the profession of faith in the kerygma, proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Son of God, who died and rose again.

Various Christian denominations have their own practices and requirements for individuals to become members of their faith. For example, the Catholic Church requires individuals to make a profession of faith, reciting the Nicene Creed and professing their belief in the teachings of the Church. Lutheran churches also require individuals to make a profession of faith when joining. In Anglican churches, it is those who are elected or nominated for the office of bishop who make a profession of faith.

While the specific rituals and practices may vary, the underlying principle of a profession of faith remains the same—it is a public affirmation of one's spiritual beliefs, a declaration of commitment to a religious path, and often, a pivotal moment in an individual's spiritual journey.

The rite of reception of baptized Christians into the Catholic Church involves a profession of faith

A profession of faith is a personal and public statement of a belief or faith. It involves openly declaring one's intent to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The profession of faith has its origin in the New Testament, where believers declared their faith in Jesus during baptism.

Various Christian churches require people to make a personal profession of faith when joining their denomination. For instance, in the Anglican Church, a profession of faith is made by those nominated for the office of bishop, and for baptisms, the Apostles' Creed is the profession of faith made by the candidate.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process through which non-baptized individuals enter the Catholic Church. It includes several stages marked by study, prayer, and rites at Mass. Participants in the RCIA are known as catechumens and undergo a process of conversion as they study the Gospel, profess their faith in Jesus and the Catholic Church, and receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Holy Eucharist.

> "I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God."

This profession of faith is followed by the sacraments of initiation, which include baptism, confirmation, and Holy Eucharist, marking their full initiation into the Catholic Church.

A profession of faith is made by those elected or nominated for the office of bishop in the Anglican Church

A profession of faith is a personal and public statement of religious belief. In the Anglican Church, a profession of faith is made by those elected or nominated for the office of bishop.

The Anglican Church, also known as the Church of England, is the religious tradition started by King Henry VIII in 1534 when he broke from the Roman Catholic Church. The Anglican Communion is made up of 41 or 42 churches worldwide that are autonomous but remain in communion with the See of Canterbury. Each province, usually corresponding to an individual nation, has a high degree of independence from the other provinces.

Despite its official break with Rome, the Anglican Church has retained several similarities with the Catholic Church. Anglican church services are conducted very similarly to Catholic liturgies, and the Anglican church hierarchy is composed of bishops, priests and deacons, who perform similar roles to their Catholic counterparts.

Anglican bishops are the spiritual leaders of the church and provide guidance and direction to churches across the country. They are elected or nominated and must make a profession of faith. For example, the Anglican Catholic Church includes the following in its profession of faith:

> I believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God. They are the authentic record of God’s revelation of Himself to man and contain all things necessary to salvation.

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> Firmly I believe and truly in the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity as put forth by the Holy Catholic Church. I believe the Trinity is One God, and that within the indivisible Godhead there are three co-equal, consubstantial, and co-eternal Persons.

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> I believe that God became man by the special operation of the Holy Ghost. I believe Jesus Christ was born of a Virgin Mother, and was truly God and man, and that both of these natures were perfectly united in His One Person.

This profession of faith affirms the beliefs of the Anglican Catholic Church and is made by those elected or nominated for the office of bishop in the Anglican Church.

In the United Methodist Church, a profession of faith is made by parents or sponsors when a person receives the sacrament of Holy Baptism

Baptism is a sacrament, which means that God uses common elements, in this case, water, as a vehicle for divine grace. God's grace is offered to people of all ages, including infants, who have not previously received Christian baptism in any form.

In the case of infant baptism, the parents or sponsors make the profession of faith on behalf of the child. The child is initiated into the covenant with God and becomes a member of the Church, which is the body of Christ in the world. The child is also admitted into the universal church, the denomination, and the local congregation.

The United Methodist Church recognises that, while an infant cannot make a profession of faith for themselves, they are still members of the Church and the family of faith. As the child grows and matures, they will later profess their own faith after being nurtured and taught by their parents, sponsors, or the faith community.

Confirmation is another important step in the spiritual journey. It is not a sacrament but a sacred day of commitment and celebration. During confirmation, individuals publicly declare their intention to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and make vows of membership in the United Methodist Church and their local congregation.

The United Methodist Church emphasises that baptism is not merely an individualistic or private occasion but a rite of the whole church. It is a crucial threshold that marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith and discipleship.

In Baptist, Pentecostal and nondenominational Christianity, the profession of faith consists of witnessing to one's personal conversion and faith in Jesus before believer's baptism

In Baptist, Pentecostal, and nondenominational Christianity, the profession of faith is witnessing to one's personal conversion and faith in Jesus before undergoing believer's baptism. This rite is reserved for adolescents and adults, as it requires one to be able to make a conscious profession of faith.

Believer's baptism, also known as adult baptism, is the practice of baptizing those who can consciously declare their faith, as opposed to infant baptism. Credobaptists, including Baptists and Pentecostals, believe that infants, being incapable of conscious belief, should not be baptized. Instead, they adhere to the doctrine of the believer's church, where baptism is seen as an outward symbol of an inner conversion that has already occurred.

In the New Testament, believers such as Cornelius declared their faith in Jesus during baptism. This practice is reflected in the early church, where the proclamation of Jesus Christ as Messiah and Son of God, death, and risen, summed up the profession of faith.

Pentecostalism, a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement, emphasizes a direct personal experience of God through baptism with the Holy Spirit. Pentecostals believe in both "baptism in the Holy Spirit" and water baptism, enabling Christians to live a Spirit-filled and empowered life. This includes the use of spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues and divine healing.

Baptists and Pentecostals share a commitment to believer's baptism, but there are some differences in their modes of baptism. While Baptists practice immersion, Pentecostals may perform baptism by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling, depending on the specific denomination.

In summary, Baptist, Pentecostal, and nondenominational Christianity share a common understanding of the profession of faith as a public declaration of one's personal conversion and faith in Jesus before believer's baptism. This rite marks a significant step in one's spiritual journey within these traditions.

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