Christenism

Christenists
Christenistas
Classification	Amendant
Orientation	Missionarist
Theology	Christenist
Polity	Presbyterian
Branched from	Orthodoxy
Separations	Companions
Other name(s)	Ebrarian Baptists

Christenism is a Missionarist Amendant branch of Christianity, distinguished by christening and baptizing professing Christian believers only (as opposed to infant baptism). Christenists take the name of a saint or Biblical figure as a second "Christian" name when they are baptized, and place a great degree of importance on this choice and the act of baptism.

Theology

Two Christenist ministers wearing traditional vestments

Biblical authority and canon

Christenists are adherents of the doctrine of prima scriptura, where the Bible is considered the primary or first authority concerning divine revelation. Christenists also believe that Holy tradition, the Holy Spirit, and reason may be appealed to as secondary sources of knowledge from God. However, they tend to reject charismatic gifts.

The Christenist canon is inherited from the Orthodox canon, being identical to that held by the various Orthodox churches.

Justification

Christenists, like most Amendants, adhere to the doctrine of justification by faith alone. They also believe that the act of baptism is a necessary component of salvation.

Sacraments

Christenists believe in four sacraments of baptism, christening, chrismation, and the Eucharist. The movement does not believe that infants should be baptized or christened, and only a person of sufficient age and maturity to accept Christ may be baptized and christened. Christening, chrismation, and baptism are distinct sacraments in Christenist theology, although all three take place concurrently. Christenists elevated christening (taking a Christian name) to the level of a sacrament, and take a distinct name by which they are known in the church and believe they will be called in Heaven.

Christenists see the Eucharist as having the real spiritual presence of Christ.

Stance on icons

The Christenist movement has a moderate stance on icons in line with the majority of the Amendant movement such as the Parishists. Christenists believe that religious artwork depicting Christ and other Biblical figures is acceptable to be displayed in church, but that this art should not be in or behind the pulpit (or in any other position) where it might become the object or adoration or worship. Many Christenist churches contain ornate depictions of Biblical scenes in stained glass windows.

Major denominations

Christenist Union of Ebrary

The Christenist Union of Ebrary is the largest Christenist denomination in Ebrary. This organization has a presbyterian church structure.

United Christenist Church

The United Christenist Church is the second-largest Christenist denomination in Ebrary. This groups split from the Christenist Union of Ebrary in 1855 over the issue of complete immersion. The United Christenist Church believes that baptism must include being completely immersed in water, while the Christenist Union of Ebrary does not require this.