The I don't go to church version...
/doktrin/
- noun a set of beliefs or principles held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group.
(The Oxford Dictionary)
[if you want the 'formal' version, go HERE.]
For people who haven't been to church before...
What do we believe about the Bible?
We believe the Bible is true. We believe it can be trusted. We believe it is God's actual words for us written by men who were inspired by God to write the things they did. We believe that the Bible is like the 'constitution' for Christians. What is says goes. Period.
What do we believe about God?
We believe God has existed forever. No one created Him. He is the ultimate uncaused cause. We believe in one God who exists in three persons; God the Father, Jesus Christ God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is tough, we know, but you'll come to understand it as you hear the Bible preached about Jesus and study it yourself and experience the presence of God the Holy Spirit in our times of worship, prayer and preaching together. We all know that 1+1+1=3 so the whole 'One God three Persons' things is a bit of a mind-bender but it might help to rotate the plus (+) signs so that they become multiplication (x) signs so that you can see that 1x1x1=1. The way I explained it to my five year old son the first time he asked me how one God could be three persons was by telling him that it's kind of (and just kind of) like how Daddy (me) is father to him, son to my dad and husband to mommy all at the same time while still being one dude. Or, if you like physics you can think about the fact that light is both particle and wave at the same time without ceasing to be light.
What do we believe about Jesus?
We believe that Jesus was, and is, God. He wasn't just a nice moral teacher who got killed for making a bunch of religious people angry. We believe that Jesus became man, God the Son entering into space time (actual human history) as fully God and fully man so that He could deal with sin, death and evil once and for all. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (a mystery, we know) and born of a virgin (Mary, you've probably heard of her) so that He might grow up--living a perfect and sinless life--to die so that we might live. He did that by dying on a cross (a popular form of capital punishment during the time of the Roman Empire) for our sins (because the Bible says that all sin is punishable by death because God is holy--meaning without sin) in our place (you and I both know that we sin all the time--that's why you have a conscience to remind you that what you're doing is wrong, and you know it, which means you and I deserve to die for our sins) as a substitute. Simply put. You and I are sinners. We deserve to die for it. Jesus died in our place. But because Jesus was fully man AND fully God when He died He didn't stay dead but rose again the Sunday after he was buried (which is why we celebrate Easter) because death and the devil (yes, there is an actual devil and an actual hell but don't worry if you don't believe this yet, it takes all of us a while to admit it...) couldn't hold Him. He was, after all, God in a body. After He rose again from death Jesus appeared to His followers and ate with them and told them that everything they read in the Bible is about Him and that they should wait in Jerusalem after He ascended (meaning He literally floated back up into the sky in front of their very eyes...crazy-sounding...we know) until the Holy Spirit (the third person of God remember?) fell on them empowering them (literally giving them access to the power of the life of God like some kind of super-fuel) to live and work in such a way that the story of Jesus was spread to their city and--eventually--the whole World.
[if this sounds like we've lost our mind we admit it. It sounds like we've lost our mind. The only thing we can say is that we like Milestones just like you and watch football just like you and have our kids in soccer or basketball just like you and love to drink beer just like you and hate eating liver just like you and usually don't know how to vote, just like you, 'cause it doesn't feel like either party accomplishes much of anything anyway, and we have car payments just like you and work jobs just like you and feel fear and hope just like you AND YET we've had an experience--usually in church which is why we've started one--where God made Himself real to us and saved us. And there are billions of us alive on the earth right now. So, don't freak out. Ask yourself this, "Is it more likely that the billions of Christians alive on the Earth today have lost their mind or that they've just had an experience which has caused them to change their mind?" Until you have that same experience all of this is going to sound crazy--just so you know. We're just being honest. Don't worry about getting stuck on one or two points here. If you feel like this might be something for you just keep coming and--we promise--that moment will come for you. Then you can start explaining that you're not crazy either but used think we were :) ]
What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is a big deal. The Holy Spirit is the third person in the whole 1x1x1=1 thing. He convicts you of sin--meaning that it's the Holy Spirit that's at work with your conscience--and is that force that's alive in you that helps you recognize something as 'right' from 'wrong'. When you encounter Jesus--whenever that it--it's the Holy Spirit that makes that miracle happen. When you become a Christian the Holy Spirit rushes into you (you'll usually actually 'feel' it--most people cry a bit at this moment but that's by no means 100% true or necessary...) making you a member of God's family, taking up actual residence in your life and guaranteeing that when the World ends and Jesus' kingdom becomes the new reality (finally!) you're going to be with Jesus which means you'll be alright. The Holy Spirit also gives you gifts (like talents) to use in serving your local church and the city in which you live. These gifts are very amazing and interesting (you'll learn about them if you end up attending THE WELL) and often dovetail with the things you've known yourself to be good at all your life long. When the preaching makes you cry or makes you angry or makes you want to change your life, that's the Holy Spirit you're feeling. When the singing makes you cry or makes the hair stand up on your neck or gives you the goosebumps, that's the Holy Spirit you're feeling. When you go see 'Sting' perform live and the same thing happens to you it's because the Holy Spirit (God's ultimate creative force) is there doing it's thing, working with the people to awaken the people to life.
What do we believe about people?
We believe God made you--and made you like Him in some distinct way. That means you, and every person on the planet, has an intrinsic value to them. This means that we respect and honor all people regardless of what they believe. This doesn't mean we tolerate all people 'cause you and I would both agree that criminals shouldn't be tolerated they should be punished. But when it comes to your average everyday 'person' we treat them with respect and kindness and interest because we believe they are God's creation. We believe that everybody is sinful. This sinful condition is something we inherited from our first parents Adam and Eve (yes, we believe the story of the Garden of Eden...) which means that all of us, without exception, are rebellious towards God by our nature and by our actions. This means that--left to our own devices--there is nothing we can do to make ourselves 'good' or 'moral' or acceptable to God. God made us like Him and we rejected him and continually reject him, like a toddler telling his parents that he's got a better idea and is going to go ahead and run out into traffic. We believe that because people were made by God they were made for God which means that nothing will ever satisfy you except learning to live a life of friendship with God. The only way you can be God's friend is by surrendering (giving up) your life to Jesus saying--in effect-- "I can't do this anymore. I give up. Please save me and make your friend forever..."
What do we believe about Salvation?
'Salvation' means 'to be saved'. You should be asking yourself "Saved from what?" Christians believe that God is holy, meaning He is without sin and that He must (to be just and true which is His nature if He is--after all--in fact 'God') punish sin. The Bible, which we believe is God's actual words to us, tells us that sin is punishable by death. 'Death' in the Biblical sense refers to physical death--which you see all around you as people are dying all the time--and eternal death which refers to hell which--again the Bible tells us--is a literal place where some people will spend eternity (forever) separated from God and tormented. Needless to say talking about hell is very unpopular. There are some kinds of churches where they don't talk about hell, or sin, or they might say they believe that, after all, everyone is going to be saved 'cause why would a good God punish anyone forever? The problem here lies in the 'forever' part. If you believe that humans have been made for eternity (and almost everyone believes that some part of us continues...) then--in the Christian sense--that means that everyone is going to live forever. Now mix that 'forever' part with the fact that all humans--in their natural state post-eden--are evil. We cheat on our taxes, we get road rage, we lie, we steal, we fight, we curse. Some people kidnap little girls and murder them. Back to the 'forever' bit. Do you think it would be good of God to allow those kidnapping murderers to continue doing that forever? Of course not. The issue then is in understanding 'degrees of sin'. We can all agree that kidnapping child-killers should go to hell we're just not sure if liars should go or tax evaders should go or gossipers should go or gluttons should go or proud people should go or nasty people should go. Do you see the point? From God's perspective everyone should go because everyone is guilty of sin. There is no such thing as a genuinely 'good' person. This is why all 'self-help' books and new-age philosophies (Oprah-style stuff where they tell you that all you have to do to find fulfillment is 'look within' which basically equates to saying that you are god...) are ultimately useless. They tell you you can be good but you know--deep down in the bones of you--that you can't. You need to be saved. You can't do this. So... Salvation is something God gives you--even though you don't deserve it--because God IS good, and kind and just and righteous. He always does the right thing in every given situation. You are saved because of what God has done in the person and work of Jesus (as described above) and you can 'get' (or receive) that salvation by simply expressing faith (believing in something you can't see) in Jesus. It could even be this simple. "Jesus, I've heard about what you've done and, even though I don't fully understand it yet, I feel in my bones that it's true. So, please save me. Make me yours. I don't want to go on living the way I've been living 'cause it's clearly not working. I want to live like You want me to live. I don't want to die forever. I want to live forever. Please forgive me and make me Yours. Amen."
What about 'Eternal Security'?
"Eternal Security' is one of those thing that Christians fight about. Don't let the fact that Christians argue over what they believe make you think they've got it all wrong or that Christianity is fake. It's not Christianity that's the problem it's Christians. Have you ever met two people who agree on everything? Why should it be any different with faith? There are things the Bible is crystal clear on and still people argue about it. Typically that kind of arguing (against something that's very clear in the Bible) is because the people arguing want to 'do' something the Bible forbids but they don't want to jettison their belief in Jesus altogether ('cause they KNOW it's true) so they're trying to find a way to twist what the Bible says. Then there are things that the Bible is a little unclear on or doesn't address at all (Like smoking. Does the Bible forbid smoking? Nope. Can I smoke? Sure. Is it good for you? Nope.) 'Eternal Security' is one of those 'unclear area's. The basic question is, 'Once you're saved, can you ever lose that salvation?' The underlying question is 'Is there anything I can do that's BAD enough that it will make God stop loving me?' If you're asking the question 'cause you're looking to give yourself permission to sin, you've got a problem, but if you're asking it because you're insecure, or worried, or have been hurt in the past or you just don't quite 'get' it yet the answer is, "No, you can't ever lose your salvation." If you have genuinely been saved. If the Holy Spirit has worked that miracle in your life, you will always be saved and you will be kept--your whole life long--for that great and wonderful day when Jesus returns and His Kingdom becomes the new reality. Knowing that should inspire you to live as Jesus' friend.
What about spiritual gifts?
This is, again, one of those things Christians fight about. The issue is this. "How much miraculous stuff should we actually expect to see in our churches?" Some churches go way overboard with spiritual gifts and the fear is that we start 'faking it' trying to conjure up some mystical experience to 'make' people believe. Other churches go the opposite direction and their services are dead, the singing is just singing, the preaching bores you to tears or is just recycled moralism and nobody's life is changing at all. Also, there are some spiritual gifts (you'll learn about them if you keep attending THE WELL) that people have emphasized as more important that others. We don't do any of that. We're not looking to 'manufacture' anything. We're not trying to 'fake it'. We're also determined to be a church that is alive. For us this means that without encountering the supernatural presence of God, at church, in the worship singing, in the preaching and in your time together with the other people there, you're wasting your time. If God isn't real, and the Holy Spirit isn't at work in His Church then we'd much rather be at a Dave Matthews concert or a football game drinking Moosehead. But if God can actually be experienced in the context of our local church and in the lives of its people? Well, that'd be awesome wouldn't it? And we could love Jesus AND drink Moosehead...
What is the Church?
The Church (capital 'T' and capital 'C') is the worldwide 'body' of Christ. This means that all the people in the World who love Jesus are on the same 'team'. We work together and we need each other and we're different from each other. Our church (small 'c') aka: THE WELL is a part of that team. We exist so that people can meet Jesus, learn to love Him, surrender their lives to Him, live for Him and--because of Him--be a redemptive force in their homes, neighborhoods, at work and in their city. We believe all local churches (like THE WELL) should be autonomous, meaning free of government intervention, and that they should be governed by a team of men (Elders) who are appointed by Jesus (and vetted by the other elders) to lead the church by example according to the requirements that are outlined in the Bible. Those requirements are spelled out in the book of 1 Timothy chapter 3 verses 1-7 (you'll get used to looking things up according to their book, chapter, and verse that's how we study the Bible, bit by bit...) and in the book of Titus chapter 1 verses 5-9. Some people don't like this. They have been taught that everyone is the same and therefore feel that it's not 'fair' for the church to be governed by a team of men. They feel this excludes women. A few quick things on this. 1) Men and Women are equal image-bearers of God. God made you the way you are and your value is undisputed. 2) In Jesus gender distinctions or racial distinctions or socio-economic distinctions have nothing to do with your access to Jesus. We are all 'one' in Jesus is what the Bible says. No one can exclude you from new life in Jesus. 3) When it comes to governing His Church, Jesus (who is God) speaking through the Bible has said that it is only 'some' men who can have the highest position of authority--under Jesus--in the church. It's important to note that not 'all' men can be elders, but only the 'best' men. Not all men and women can be 'Deacons' (the next level of key leadership in a church) but only certain highly qualified men and women. 4) What it all comes down to it there are two things an Elder can do that no-one else can do in a church (i) Preach with authority from scripture--meaning your main Sunday preacher must be an Elder and only an Elder in the church can effectively say 'this is what the Bible says so this is what we must do...' (ii) make final decisions as to the work or the conduct of the church as an organization. Leading worship, speaking, teaching classes, running programs, administering, serving, writing, studying, giving--all the things that happen in a church with the exception of preaching and teaching and making final decisions--can and should be done by all qualified men and women who are members in the church. To hear a friend of our pastor's take on this click here.
For more on ELDERSHIP click HERE.
We also believe that churches should plant other churches. Finally we believe that churches should be theologically (in terms of the study of and belief in God as revealed in the Bible) conservative, meaning we should preach and teach the Bible about Jesus and live in light of it, and culturally liberal, meaning we should be deeply enmeshed with real people who live real lives in the real world of our city, nation and culture. A church should not look to create 'christian sub-culture' but rather seek to become a 'city within the city' (Mars Hill/Redeemer) that functions as a vibrant counter-culture where people learn to love Jesus, each other and the world around them, living for Jesus in the context of their actual culture.
What about 'sacraments'?
If you grew up nominally Catholic or Anglican or _________________ you might wonder if we're big on ceremony. We're not. We believe that when you surrender your life to Jesus you should get baptized, which means one of our Elders will dunk you in a tank of water (they used to do it in rivers or cisterns) in front of a bunch of people as a symbol and public confession of the new life you've begun living in Jesus and because of Him. We also will do communion (that thing with bread and wine that churches do) as a reminder of what Jesus did for us in dying in our place for our sins and rising again for our salvation.
