I actually almost feel embarrassed that I have to post this blog entry. Not embarrassed at all of the doctrines or truths I am listing here. But somewhat embarrassed because it is in response primarily to the way some brothers and sisters in Jesus can make assumptions, write blogs, write books, be on radio shows and make generalized statements and aggressive judgments about what it means if anyone is associated with anything “emerging” (it’s hard to even know what “emerging” even means anymore).
But if this helps, this is for those that ask me specifically about what I believe or teach at our church. Or for those who hear or read things that anything "emerging" means you don't believe in any certainty or truth, that this at least for myself, can dispel that myth that has been created in certain circles.
I have become more vocal lately and participating in some blog conversations, to try and show how most of the more vocal critics really are misleading people with the broad and sometime even absurd generalizations that some extremists make. I blogged about these before here and here. I know the Scriptures teach to watch doctrine closely (1 Timothy 4:16). I hope we always do.I believe doctrine is important, and that is why I am even posting this. If someone says something that they disagree with about me or someone else that is a true statement they make, then I just agree that we disagree. Or if made an error, I would want it pointed out, so I can correct it. But when someone is saying something that is just not true, that is where I am trying to be more vocal. Not agreeing about something that is true is different than saying things that aren't true.
I recently had really wonderful conversation on the phone recently with Phil from another blog. We started going back and forth on a blog comment section and realized it is just better as two human beings and brothers in Jesus to dialog on the phone. So we had a great talk and I began understanding him better and his perspective and I believe he understood me better and my perspective. We may not agree on everything, but we certainly cleared up the critical things that were confusing each of us on-line as well as had a fun talk. Talking in person makes a world of a difference, rather than shooting out quick things on blog comment sections. I am wondering if one of the evils of the internet is allowing us to sinfully take sharp jabs at people on blogs and in comment sections since we aren't looking them in the eye as we type, or hearing their voice. So we can more easily vent out wicked and hurtful words and hide in our isolation behind our laptops. I wonder if the tone of conversation would be entirely different and more loving if we were looking at each other.
Anyway - as I get asked about what are the “core” beliefs that I personally have, here is a list if anyone is ever interested. It isn’t all I believe, but it is a list of what I believe are "core" eternal truths that the Scriptures teach. Ones that if we were reading the Bible in the year 385 or the year 1885 or the year 1985, below are truths which I believe you would conclude no matter what culture or time one lives in. To me, "core" truths are ones that are very important. But by saying that, I am not saying all of the Bible isn't important. But there are "fundamental" (to use that word in a healthy way) truths that the Scriptures reveal. It is difficult to think of any metaphor to use here, but "core" seems to be the one I can try and explain this with, although the metaphor of using the term "core" as any metaphor has weaknesses. Even writing a "list" like this has weaknesses and doesn't represent the heart and holistic nature of what following Jesus is about. But for the sake of trying to communicate in imperfect ways, this is the best I can think of at the moment.
An underlying presupposition in this all is that I do believe in the gospel as Paul defined it in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. I am also not writing out Scriptural references on these below, and I just typing them out as I am writing here from just thinking about them as I type this out now - but they are all based out of Scripture. So for those who ask me and to be specific - here are "core" truths I believe and teach:
- The Trinity: that there is one God, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. the Trinity
- that the Bible is inspired (God-breathed) and what God wanted in the Bible is what we have in the original manuscripts and it is an authority and guide for our lives
- the deity of Jesus
- the virgin birth of Jesus
- we are sinners in need of a Savior
- salvation is through Jesus alone
- the substitutionary atonement
- the bodily resurrection
- the future return of Jesus
- there will be judgment and heaven/hell
- the future return of Jesus
- the Spirit regenerates us, indwells us and is our source of power to follow Jesus
- the lifestyle of repentance when we sin, we repent and ask God to help us change
- that God designed a beautiful covenant of marriage for a man and woman
- that a follower of Jesus will be transformed by the Spirit and in our lives the fruit will be seen in our minds, hearts, words, blogs etc. that are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
- that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, pray for our enemies, and care about the oppressed, the poor and those experiencing injustice as God cares about them
- that Jesus said that a sign of being His disciple is if we love one another
In the life of our church these are ones we hold to and practice and which unite us as a local church in unity in terms of key doctrines. As I am putting together our “Church and Mission” class, which is going to be like a membership class – these will be the ones we focus on as uniting all those in leadership at our church.
At the same time I write those, there are also doctrines that I believe we as sin-tainted human beings have trouble fully understanding for certain what is for sure true and are more of a mystery to what God actually meant when the Scriptures were written about certain things. God knows what He meant, but there are godly Spirit-filled scholars and believers throughout history who have come to different conclusions on what I would consider non-core doctrines. Such as:
- whether someone is an amillenialist or a premillenialist or if someone is a pre-trib or post-trib believer of how the end times will specifically play out.
- Whether someone is a 4 point or 5 point Calvinist or an Arminian
- Whether someone baptizes infants or adults
- Whether you hold a literal 6 day creation or a extended time period for creation
I actually wonder if some people will be disappointed reading this list. I sometimes wonder if there is actually a disappointment among some of the more fervent anti-emerging anything people out there to find out that most of us do hold to the core orthodox historic Christian doctrines. It honestly feels like there are those who like to cry that the “big bad wolf” is coming. But when people actually ask and talk to individuals and it is discovered that many of us hold to, teach and live out these core historical doctrines – it seems that it hard to accept and there is even disappointment and even denial when discovering that.
It feels like there are certain types of people seem to love to focus their ministries and lives on pointing out things they don’t agree with. So when they have been making a big deal about something they disagree with, but only to find it is really not there if you look closely or talk to the person – they then start making even crazier accusations and start pulling from almost anything to make a case through association. Your name begins with a “D”, so you must be aligned with the “d”evil etc. is practically what happens with some of the things I read. I just hope they don’t keep crying out “wolf” so often, that then when a real wolf comes, no one will listen as they have lost their credibility. We do need to be watching for “wolves” as Jesus and Paul both warned the church about (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29), but I think we are crying wolf and attacking our own fellow sheep who happen to like experimenting in wearing their wool in different styles or like coloring their wool different colors, but they are not wolves - they are fellow sheep. But because they are not monotone white wooled all-the-same-look sheep, they get attacked as though they were a wolf.
My prayer in all this is that we who are followers of Jesus will steward our time and focus our energies on what is most important. With all the trouble and pain this world and people are in, I hope we who blog will steward our time in the right way and right hearts, attitudes, and words we use towards others and whenever possible be building up, instead of tearing down. OK, that's my long and lengthy post for those that care about what I believe on these things. May we yield to the Spirit's guidance and obey Paul's teaching where he says in Ephesians 4:29-5:2 .......
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
