Beliefs

At our core, our beliefs are quite simple. It’s something that we value here. As such, we follow the basic Christian doctrines articulated in the Nicene Creed, first drafted in AD 325 and revised several times over the following centuries:

  • We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
  • And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
  • And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
  • And we believe one holy catholic [“catholic” meaning “universal” and not a particular tradition or denomination] and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

In addition to this ancient creed, we believe in a simple process for becoming a Christian:

  • First, one must hear about God, Jesus, the Spirit, the church, salvation, etc., and reason the necessity for each in his or her life.
  • Second, one must believe in these core truths of the Christian faith and commit to living under them.
  • Third, one must ask forgiveness for the things he or she has done wrong in his or her life (what the Bible calls “sins”) and acknowledge that Jesus will be the leader of his or her life.
  • Fourth, one must be baptized, a public expression of discipleship where we proclaim to the world proudly that we wish to be a Christian.
  • Finally, one must spend his or her life emulating Jesus in all he or she does. It’s not easy, yet we can live in such a way that honors Jesus and draws others to him.