A Call to Corporate Repentance
A Call to Corporate Repentance

I have noticed that when I deeply study and then preach on a passage of Scripture it affects me in a much deeper way than any previous reading or study of it. Preaching is not, or at least should not be, something that merely happens in the mind and mouth. It impacts the preacher’s heart in a new, deeper way. There are many passages I could point to as examples, though I have one in particular in mind as I write this.

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Nathaniel Bickford, ACGCNathaniel Bickfordrepentance
The Biblical Case for Creedalism
The Biblical Case for Creedalism

Although there was benefit to the dialogue on Creedalism and Non-Creedalism, there was one glaring oversight: explanations of our respective views with biblical support. The format and time constraints tended to lead us towards clarifying and interacting with each other’s views. David Dean and I have both written on these subjects in the past, and the resources we recommended are informative of our positions.

Since the matters at hand are not inconsequential, there is, I believe, tremendous value in sharing a concise, direct presentation of my own position: creedalism. It is my conviction that the following view faithfully represents both the charge to the Church given by God in his Word, and the example set down by the earliest churches, as recorded in God’s Word.

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Nathaniel Bickford, ACGC, Theology, UnityNathaniel Bickfordcreeds, creedalism
Creeds & Creedalism: Clarifying Terms for Better Conversation
Creeds & Creedalism: Clarifying Terms for Better Conversation

An ongoing debate among Advent Christians has focused around creedalism and non-creedalism. As the 2026 Triennial Convention approaches with significant proposals for us to vote on, that discussion has become more prominent.

We have, for a few months, been evaluating these proposals through articles, videos, and various other discussions. These have been helpful in getting us to think through what is before us. At the same time, it has also become clear that we often use the same words in different ways, and this tends to create confusion and misunderstanding. I suspect, however, that we all want this discussion to be productive and clarifying. With that goal in mind, I would like to define several key terms as they are understood by one who gladly considers himself a creedalist.

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Nathaniel Bickford, ACGCNathaniel Bickfordcreedalism, creeds, non-creedalism, 2026 DOP, 2026 Declaration of Principles, Declaration of Principles, bylaws, Triennial
Paul for the World (and a look at the past fifty years of Evangelicalism)
Paul for the World (and a look at the past fifty years of Evangelicalism)

Often, we think of the apostle Paul’s New Testament writings mostly in terms of eschatology, and while the future is important in Paul’s thinking, he is just as concerned (if not more) with how we live now. Nijay Gupta suggests that if we reduce Paul’s theology to mere escapism, we’ve missed the entire point. For Paul, “Life in the here and now—however challenging or confusing or difficult it may be—has meaning, purpose, and hope in Christ” (3).

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Robert Mayer