Bio Clips Teaching Writings Art and Drama Beliefs

I Believe...

About Beliefs

• I believe that it is impossible to fully know a person's heart through a brief statement of beliefs listed on a webpage.
• It is only through dialogue and community that these written words begin to make sense or have power.

About Christianity

• I believe in God
  • the Father
  • Almighty
  • Maker of heaven and earth.
• And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord;
  • Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
  • born of the virgin Mary
  • Suffered under Pontius Pilate
  • was crucified
  • dead
  • and buried
  • He descended to the dead
  • The third day He rose again from the dead
  • He ascended into heaven
  • and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
  • From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
• I believe in the Holy Spirit.
• I believe a holy catholic Church
• the communion of saints
• The forgiveness of sins
• The resurrection of the body
• And the life everlasting.¹

About Worship

• I believe that worship is far than singing, rather it is "extolling the character and acts of God in thought, word, and deed."
• I believe worship is interconnected to everything we do as Christians! Whether we work or play, sing or serve, if we do it as unto the Lord, it is worship!
• I am convinced and convicted that worship of God needs to be part of our daily lifestyle.

About the Church

• I believe that the Church exists
  • to equip the saints with "everything good for doing [God's] will, [that He may] work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ,"
  • to seek and save the lost, and
  • to abide in Christ and He in us, accomplished through worshipping the Father by the power of the Spirit.
• I believe that all people need to experience the grace and forgiveness that Christ offered in His death on the cross.
• I believe that all people need to be infused with the hope that Christ offered in His resurrection.
• I believe that all people need to experience the community and support that God offered at Pentecost.
  
  
• I believe that we are to be producers and not consumers of ministry.
• I believe that we are to be proclaimers and not enforcers of truth.
• I believe that the Church is about community and corporate transformation just as much as it is about the individual and personal transformation.
• I believe that we as the people of God must be about the business of our Father.
• I believe that we carry the mandate to care for others needs, and thus fulfill the prayer, "Your Kingdom come."
• I believe that the Church must be culturally relevant without losing the countercultural nature of the gospel.

About Song and Corporate Worship

• I believe that our worship in song must be intentional.
• I believe that attention to the theology of what we sing is more important that the newest catchy tune.
• I believe that sometimes the lyrics of hymns or psalms need to be retained and new music applied to them to accomplish the formation we seek.
• I believe that Church history is rich with all forms of worship and that we do well to use it as a guideline and a resource.
• I believe that not all new things are improved.²
  
• I believe there are times for corporate "rote" prayers. It stirs up our remembrance and unites us in one declaration.
• I believe there are times for spontaneous worship. Through it we join into heavens song.
• I believe there are times for singing hymns. They are doctrine and encouragement cloaked in song.
• I believe there are times for singing a song written a week ago. It is a fresh word from/to God.
• I believe there is a time and a purpose for everything under heaven.

About the Gifts of the Spirit

Scripture is clear that the Spirit of God gives gifts as He wills for the edification of the Body. The Holy Spirit provides whatever the Body needs, if we allow Him the freedom. I believe all the gifts revealed in scripture are active and relevant for spiritual life today. I believe, as Paul said, that we are to eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. At the same time, we must be careful not to seek after the gifts of the Spirit while ignoring the fruit of the Spirit. The gifts are given for our common good, but they should not be our aim. Our aim should be to be transformed by the renewing of our minds into Christ's likeness.

About Grace

What can you say about grace? Grace is the central doctrine in the Christian faith. It is what sets Christianity apart from every other world religion.

• I believe that it is only by the Grace of God that any of us can be Christians. It is God's overflowing grace that seeks to reconcile us to Himself.
• I believe that we, who are called by His name, must be "Spirit empowered grace dispensers," or as Paul put it, "Ministers of reconciliation," to call all humanity back into relationship with God.

About Discussion

I would love to clarify anything above or dialogue about our common Christian faith. In closing, I believe that there are more things that unite us as Christians than divide us as denominations. Though there may be significant differences between our specific doctrines, those can be discussed together, and unity found. Doctrinally I fall very close to John Wesley, but even he and I have our differences. However, in the areas of potential differences between us, I would quote John Wesley and say:
"I do not mean, "Embrace my modes of worship," or, "I will embrace yours." This also is a thing which does not depend either on your choice or mine. We must both act as each is fully persuaded in his own mind. Hold you fast that which you believe is most acceptable to God, and I will do the same. ... It appears to me, that forms of prayer are of excellent use, particularly in the great congregation. If you judge extemporary prayer to be of more use, act suitable to your own judgment. My sentiment is, that I ought not to forbid water, wherein persons may be baptized; and that I ought to eat bread and drink wine, as a memorial of my dying Master: however, if you are not convinced of this act according to the light you have. I have no desire to dispute with you one moment upon any of the preceding heads. Let all these smaller points stand aside. Let them never come into sight "If thine heart is as my heart," if thou lovest God and all mankind, I ask no more: "give me thine hand." - John Wesley Sermon 39

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¹ The Apostles Creed is one of the most ancient creeds of the Christian faith. It has long been a rule by which people can recognize those things which can rightly be called Christian. Many people are confused by the phrase "I believe in the holy catholic Church." This phrase does not refer to the Roman Catholic Church, but rather to the universality of the Christian faith. It refers to our unity in Christ, as opposed to our apparent disunity through denomination.

² I tend to chafe against the labels "traditional" and "contemporary" because they never quite encompass what we label. I believe all our worship should be traditional in that it is grounded in the word of God, and enriched by the history of Christianity. I believe that all worship should be contemporary in that it engages the people in the moment. The question should not be, "What style is a song?" But rather, "What does this song accomplish?" Our worship should not be limited to style, but to engaging the Father in the best way possible. We should be open to the richness of the history in the tapestry of worship.