befitting Beliefs & Behaviors

For many centuries, Jesus' followers survived and thrived without any extensive written doctrinal statements. It was during this time period that the church grew from a few hundred to tens of millions, and eventually won over the Roman empire. The gospel message applied to people's hearts by the influence of the Spirit within a formative community of believers was the sufficient means to pass on sound doctrine, which included a very limited number of core beliefs along side of many examples of the kinds of behavioral patterns that were befitting of a follower of Christ as an outward evidence of having been transformed by the gospel.

Below is a helpful summary of New Testament orthodoxy and orthopraxy, that is, a recounting of what was really important to Jesus and his apostles regarding these facets of a faithful life in Christ, and by implication, what was not. We would do well to imitate their emphases, noticing where they spoke loudly, where they whispered, and where they did not speak at all.

We Believe

Jesus is fully human and fully divine.
Jesus died for our sins, was raised on the third day, ascended to God the Father, where he rules and reigns until his bodily return.
Salvation is by grace through faith (rejecting all forms of legalism, law-keeping-for-salvation, and cultural/ethnic elitism).
Repentance and allegiance to Jesus as Master/King are the call upon all people, and that bearing the fruit of love and good deeds are necessary outworking thereof.
We are to live within the prescribed moral boundaries set forth by Jesus and the NT authors (avoiding both asceticism and hedonism).
A factious or divisive spirit (“heresy”) is a serious transgression of Jesus’ intention for his Church.
Stewardship of our material possessions functions as a hallmark of the good works that must necessarily flow from our commitment to Christ.
Acts of love and mercy always trump ritual.
We must embody a spirit of winsomeness to those who are not followers of Jesus, winning them with love and persuasion, not coercion.
While gentle correction is appropriate for believers who stray from any of the basic beliefs and behaviors highlighted above, differences in most other areas should be accommodated to the fullest extent possible for the sake of unity.

Adapted from the conclusion of Craig Blomberg's article: THE NEW TESTAMENT DEFINITION OF HERESY (OR WHEN DO JESUS AND THE APOSTLES REALLY GET MAD?), JETS 45/1 (March 2002), 59-72

Rule of life

We are a community that...

Regularly connects with God through personal prayer, Scripture-reading/meditation, and other disciplines (e.g., fasting, solitude, practicing the presence of God).
Regularly connects with each other for meals and the mutual building up, encouragement and equipping of one another towards Christlike maturity.
Embodies Jesus’ teaching and example in our everyday lives.
Makes the most of every opportunity God brings to speak about Christ with others in our conversations.
Serves and cares for one another, the larger body of Christ, and those outside the believing community.
Generously gives financially and materially to those in need and for the support of gospel ministry.