I Believe---

Often when you read the opinions of a writer you often would like to know what they believe on other issues.  I am sharing what I believe about several areas of life.  I am not writing this to change your mind or even to challenge you to consider other beliefs.  I am doing this so you know what I believe.  This is almost like a mission statement for life.  I would encourage each person to write out what they believe and not necessarily what you have been told you are to believe.  More often than not, most individuals have not taken the time to establish their own personal belief system.    

Quakers, over the years have changed from what is sound doctrine according to the Scriptures to a standard that is relativistic and changing.  The absolute standard or Scriptural teachings have over the course of time been consumed by the secular liberal teachings of a universalist doctrine.  This universalist doctrine has triumphed over the absolutes of the Scripture among many who call themselves Quaker.

The deep-seated convictions of early Quakers were founded upon the teaching of the Scriptures. Through immediate revelation (not continuing revelation) Quakers found the absolute set of standards, which were rooted in the character of God.  From this revelation Quakers were able to know Him who created us and redeem us.  Only from the revelation of scriptures by the Holy Spirit do we find the absolute standard on which we base our lives and carry out our obligations to God, family, church, and state. 

God’s absolute standards are not up for private interpretation.  These absolutes not only reflect the character of God but also define our duty as humans.  God instructs us to love Him and love our neighbor as ourselves.  The ethical standard set forth by the scripture contains our duty to God and our duty to man.  They define what is right, just and perfect.  They define what makes our action right and what actions are wrong.  It is God that sets the standard of ethical conduct, He alone--the Creator of all things.  That is why all behavior and conduct must be measured by the standards He has established.

Progressive socialist, Universalist Quakers do not know how to evaluate Christian ethics or conduct in the light of the Scriptures.  Instead they sit back and allow non-Christians or even atheist to dictate what is to be the ethical standard by which the followers of Christ are to conduct their spiritual lives.  Non-believers who deny the authority of the scripture have established the ethical standards for abortion, human sexuality, the role of the state, issues concerning the taking of life, bioethics and even the environment.  There are very few Quakers who are willing to give a scriptural defense of the absolute standards of God’s written Word.  

The constant temptation for Quakers is to blend in. Quaker no longer  want to be thought of as being “different.” We had no problems in the beginning of being viewed as different. Today, the thought of living a godly life different from the rest of the “Christian” family where we might be looked upon with contempt by our neighbors is very disagreeable. Such thoughts make us feel very uncomfortable, and although we know the Scripture calls upon us to be pilgrims in our own culture (Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 11:13), we do not enjoy feeling like pilgrims. Satan, our enemy, by reason of his experience with the human race, knows our weaknesses very well and is not slack in exploiting them. Realizing that he would probably fail in a full frontal attack, he attempts to convince us that Christianity is a relaxing, easy-going religion tolerant of diverse views. He tries to convince us that we do not need to keep our minds razor-sharp (I Peter 1:13). He tries to tell us that we do not need to be careful.  Nothing could be further from the truth taught in God's word! 

If my behavior is not radically different from the world, then I can be certain that I am not pleasing to our Lord and Savior. If I am being conformed to this world instead of to the image of Christ, then I can be sure that God is displeased with me. If my mind has not been transformed from what it once was when I served my own lusts, then I am  not proving to the world what the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God is (Romans 12:2). 

I have taken the time to cover areas that I feel are important for me to write down concerning what I believe.  Here are some of the areas I feel important.  I have not included every area of my faith and practice in life.

MARRIAGE                                                                                                                        
 I believe marriage is a solemn contract made only between a man and a women made in the spiritual presence of God.

FAITH IN GOD

I believe God is the Creator and Sustainer of the cosmos, whose creative work provides the basis for order, beauty, purpose, and rationality. God is holy and eternal; He is loving, almighty, and all-wise. He reveals Himself and His will to His creation. He illuminates humankind through rational understanding, experience, and direct revelation. He speaks through the Scriptures.

I believe that in redeeming humanity, God is bringing the universe into a glorious expression of His purpose. In joy of this hope we offer Him honor and praise.

I believe as essential Christian truths the following teachings of the apostolic church the sovereignty of God; the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ; the atonement through Jesus Christ by which persons are reconciled to God; the resurrection of Jesus, which assures the resurrection of all true worshipers; the gift of the Holy Spirit to believers; and the authority of the Holy Scriptures.

I believe in an inward encounter with God, a worship of communion without ritual, an individual responsibility for ministry and service, and a striving for peace and justice. In addition, I believe the Believer speaks to contemporary issues concerning morality, human relationships, and Christian commitment.

I believe that an authentic Christian belief includes both an inward faith and an outward expression of that belief.

I believe that we may experience Christ directly and immediately without the necessity of priestly or ceremonial intervention and that this experience is available to every person. The Holy Spirit, who teaches and guides us both individually and corporately according to His commandments, nourishes the spiritual life.

I believe in a spiritual communion, which is an inward feeding on Christ by faith in response to His broken body and shed blood.

I believe that the word of God spoken into every heart was supremely manifest in Jesus Christ, who in His virgin birth and sinless life was true God and perfect man. Christ is the Word. He is the Light that exposes our sin and brings us into the righteousness of God. He is the Redeemer through whose atoning death and resurrection we receive the forgiveness of God. He is Lord and to Him we give our obedience. Christ is the first and last word of divine wisdom by which God is drawing His creation into a new covenant of peace.

I believe Jesus Christ is the source of truth, that there are no spiritual insights or principles independent of His revelation. God's Spirit teaches us through the Scriptures and through the creation. He convicts and instructs conscience, testifies to salvation through Christ, and gives wisdom and power for holy living. The Spirit gives discernment concerning the purposes of God through natural and social history. The Spirit enlightens reason and quickens human creativity that we might share in the work of the Creator.

I believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God. They are the divinely authorized record of the doctrines that we as Christians are bound to accept, and of the moral principles that are to regulate our lives and actions. By their own declaration, the Scriptures are able to make us "wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15 NIV). Interpreted by the Holy Spirit, they are an unfailing source of truth. I believe the Spirit will not lead persons or groups contrary to the teachings of the Scriptures.

I believe that God created the human being, male and female, in His own image; but that when Adam and Eve fell from a state of holy obedience, the human race lost a perfect relationship to God, and self instead of the Creator became the center of life. Through the blood of Christ our Savior we may be recovered from the fall and made right (justified) before God. To those who put their faith in Christ, God offers forgiveness of sins, regeneration of affections and actions, and final glorification of the resurrected body.

I believe Christ's baptism to be the inward receiving of the promised Holy Spirit, whereby the believer is immersed in Jesus' power, purity, and wisdom. This baptism is the essential Christian baptism: an experience of cleansing from sin that supplants old covenant rituals. The sanctification that is initiated with this experience is a continuing work of the Holy Spirit in which we are instructed into righteous living and perfected in love. Thus sanctification is the work of God's grace by which our affections are purified and exalted to a supreme love of God.

THE COMMISSION TO EVANGELIZE

I believe when a Christian possesses an inward passion to see souls saved such as Christ possessed, it will lead him or her to live like Christ lived, act like Christ acted, pray as Christ prayed, and weep over the lost as Christ wept over the lost.  It will prompt the Christian to go out and seek the lost as Christ sought the lost. 

I further believe, the anointing of the Spirit on the believer is essential for the Christian to work for Christ.  This anointing will cause the believer to employ kindness, compassion, empathy, and tact. 

CHRISTIAN SERVICE

I believe the Christian life is characterized by disciplined devotion and commitment, by a hunger for God and a thirst for righteousness. This commitment is strengthened by habits of prayer and Bible reading.

I believe this Christian faith involves commitment to the work of God. Although we respect freedom of conscience and honor diversity in the family of God, we believe our covenant with God as Christians to be a peculiar people.  Therefore, we aim to be faithful to those structures of our denominational life through which our Gospel witness is made clear.

I believe that the Holy Spirit bestows gifts on the followers of Christ for them to use on behalf of church and society and that these gifts should be exercised in all of life, not just at religious gatherings.

I believe God calls the Church to encourage the general ministry of all Christians and to facilitate the special work of the men and women He ordains for public ministry. Believers desiring to be of service should remain open to the leading of the Spirit. Service and ministry should spring from a devotion to the will of God.

THE STATE                           

I respect government as an instrument of God to restrain evil and promote justice, and I submit to it in matters that do not interfere with obedience to Christ my Lord. When conflicts arise among persons, I will resolve them in a spirit of humility, with love for those who oppose me, and in accordance with biblical methods of peacemaking.

I believe that integrity of speech and action honors Christ as it advances truth and, therefore, should characterize our social and business relationships. In allegiance to Christ's command, we refrain from swearing oaths and from profanity of speech. I consider integrity a mark of Christian holiness.

I reject the unchristian preempting of God's authority over human life. Because we trust God as the righteous and final judge before whom we spend our lives in probation, I oppose any government that violates the principles of the Kingdom of God.

I believe the Church is called to demonstrate in this life the righteous character of Christ's present and coming Kingdom. The Kingdom is present now to the extent that the people of God hear His voice and obey it. The coming Kingdom will be initiated by the second appearing of Jesus Christ and by the resurrection of the dead. Jesus Christ will then judge the world righteously and there will come everlasting punishment for the finally unrepentant wicked and everlasting blessedness for the righteous. At that time the world will be freed from the grip of evil and satanic power, and Christ will reign over a restored universe.

THE ENVIRONMENT

I believe in adhering to scriptural injunctions for plain living. In this respect, we are encouraged to work toward transforming the values of our culture rather than conforming without question.

I believe our responsibility for the care and use of the earth and, therefore, our obligation to maintain a style of living that will conserve resources for future generations.

JUSTICE

I believe in the dignity and worth of all persons before God.

I deplore the use of selfish ends to gain unfair advantage, and I urge political, economic, and social justice for all peoples. I consider civil order just when the conscience is free and religious faith unforced.

 CAPITAL PUNISHMENT                                                                                                            I believe a central principle of a just society is that every person has an equal right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

 I believe a community founded on moral principles has certain requirements. The right to belong to a community is not unconditional. The privilege of living and pursuing the good life in society is not absolute. It may be negated by behavior that undermines the nature of a moral community.

I believe the essential basis on which community is built requires each citizen to honor the rightful claims of others. The utter and deliberate denial of life and opportunity to others forfeits ones own claim to continued membership in the community, whose standards have been so flagrantly violated.

I believe the preservation of a moral community demands that the shattering of the foundation of its existence must be taken with utmost seriousness. The preciousness of life in a moral community must be so highly honored that those who do not honor the life of others make null and void their own right to life. Those who violate the life of others, especially if this is done persistently as a habit must pay the ultimate penalty.

I believe this punishment must be inflicted for the sake of maintaining the community whose foundation has been violated.

SELF DEFENSE

I oppose a morality, which requires the poor to sacrifice for the rich, the sick to sacrifice for the healthy, and the oppressed to sacrifice for the oppressor. I oppose a morality, which allows the neighbor to be terrorized, brutalized, and slaughtered, because restraint of the aggressor is forbidden. All this is indefensible on moral grounds.