OUR CORE VALUES

LOVE

We resonate with these simple observations about how Jesus drew crowds: He loved them, met their needs, and taught them in practical and interesting ways.¹ Elevating and starting with love does not mean that teaching truth is not in the mix. Tim Keller’s insight informs how we “speak the truth in love:” “Paul does not simply dismiss a culture’s aspirations; rather, he both affirms and confronts, revealing the inner contradictions in people’s understanding. This is why it is so important to enter a culture before challenging it. Our criticism of culture will have no power to persuade unless it is based on something that we can affirm in the beliefs and values of that culture.”²

MERCY

“Lord, have mercy on me a sinner” is the prayer that’s at the heart of genuine Christianity. Martin Luther prayed “May a merciful God preserve me from a Christian Church in which everyone is ‘good.’ I want to be in a church of the fainthearted, the failed, the feeble, and the ailing… who believe in the forgiveness of sins.” As Jesus was called a friend of sinners (Luke 7:34), so we want to be known as that too.

CONNECTION

In welcoming others into our church, we want to connect them with the “beautiful orthodoxy” associated with historic Christianity. Further, we find it significant that in the book of Revelations,Jesus stands in the midst of his lamp stands (churches)—errors and all (Rev. 1:13). In sync with this, we see ourselves as part of the three-branch unity of the Church: Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant.³ Finally, we value the kind of connection that’s associated with the accountability of healthy Presbyterianism: churches led by a plurality of elders (Heb. 13:17; 1 Tim. 5:17) that are connected to area presbyteries (Titus 1:5) and a national (or international) general assembly (Acts 15).

SIMPLICITY

The pace of our culture can be soul-killing and the church can feed into that busyness with its programs and non-essential infrastructure. Additionally, addictive consumerism and crippling debt are at the root of much of our busyness, stealing precious margin God desires us to use for love and hospitality (Rom.13:8). Understanding this, we will provide help in these areas and keep church programs and events to a minimum. Prioritizing“simple church,” we will stay laser-focused on these three S’s: 1) Sunday Worship (Acts 2:46; 5:42; 20:20; Heb. 10:24-25); 2) Small Groups (Rom. 16:3-5; Col. 4:15; Acts 2:42-47). 3) ServingOut of Giftedness (John 15:8,16; Eph. 2:10; Eccl. 9:10a) and reminding people of their specialness (Psalm 139: 1-18).

GODSPEED

This refers to the pace of being known. It’s also a reminder that ministry flows at the speed of trust and only God can make things grow (John 15:5; Acts: 2:47b, 16:14b). Again, we want “three easy steps” to “fix” others or ourselves, but it’s only He who can bring change from the inside out (Phil. 2:13). In waiting on Him for change or even guidance, we often want the ecstasy of the “wings as eagles” or the energy to “run and not grow weary” (Isa.40:31). More often than not, however, He only gives endurance to “walk and not faint.”4 Moreover, His normal MO in our lives is to use suffering to produce perseverance that brings about proven character and in the end hope (Rom. 5:1-5).

1 Rick Warren makes these observations in The Purpose-Driven Church. And one of the top needs in our day is addressing our mental health crises.

2 Center Church, 124.

3 https://www.carpentertheologian.com/three-branch-unity-reflecting-the-heart-of-god/

4 The preacher John Claypool is credited with this three-e alliteration.