Navigating the gray areas of my life
1. Is it of the Lord? Does it bring praise to Him?
For not one of us lives for himself,
and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we
die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:7-8
2. Can I do it in His name? Can I thank Him for it? Whatever you do in word or
deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the
Father. Colossians 3: 17
3. Does it belong in the home of the Holy Spirit?
Of do you not know that your
body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God,
and that you are not you own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore
glorify God in your body.
I Corinthians 6:19-20
4. Would Jesus do it? For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also
suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps. I Peter 2:21
5. Is it of faith? The faith which you have, have as your won conviction before God.
Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who
doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and
whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:22-23
6. Does it positively build up? Does it edify? Therefore, since we have so great a
cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and
and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1
7. What does my biblical authority thing about it? Obey your leaders and
submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an
account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be
unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17 Children, be obedient to your parents in all
things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Colossians 3:20
8. Does it come from, or have the potential of leading to bondage? All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me,
but I will not be mastered by anything.
I Corinthians 6:12
9. Does it spring from, or lead to, love of this world? Do not love the world
nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not
in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes
and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
I John 2:15-16
10. Does it involve union with an unbeliever?
Do not be bound together with
unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what
fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or
what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
2 Corinthians 6:14-15
11. Is the motive lover or pride?
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of
others. Philippians 2:3-4
12. What is my mind set on? Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of
good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on
these things. Philippians 4:8
13. Would I like to be doing this when Jesus returns? Now, little children, abide
in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away
from Him in shame at His coming. I John 2:28
Based on An Introduction to Biblical Ethics by Roberts McQuilken
Where "Christ Centered... People Oriented is more than a slogan...It is a way of life!
Christ Centered...
Means that there are some key truths that we cannot and will not ever compromise.
The Bible is the inerrant word of God:
This means that the Holy Spirit gave the very words of scripture to Holy men of old and that these words are completely with out error as found in the original manuscripts.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20)
The virgin birth, sinless life and deity of Jesus:
This means that Jesus was born in a miraculous way, of a virgin (Mary), without an earthly father. As such, Jesus did not have a sin nature and lived a sinless life. In addition, not only was Jesus fully man, but He was fully God and part of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit). (Matthew 1:23, John 20:28, 1 John 2:23)
Salvation through Faith alone by Grace alone:
This means that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. We reject the need for any works as a basis for or contributing to salvation. (John 1:12, Eph. 1:7, 2:8-10, Hebrews 9)
The Bodily resurrection of Christ:
This means that Jesus literally and physically came back to life after He died on the cross. This was witnessed by not only the Apostles, but by others including a group of over 500 people who He appeared before at one time.
(John 19:30-31, Mark 16:1-6, 1 Corinthians 15:16)
The Authenticity of Christ's miracles and His literal return to the earth:
This means that we believe that all that Scripture teaches about our Lord Jesus Christ, from first to last, including His person, work of miracles, also His first and second coming as being literal, accurate and reliable.
(John 14:11,: 1 Thess. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 2 Timothy 3: 1-5; Titus 1:11-15)
People Oriented: Means that while we stand for truth, we realize that unless truth is put into action, it isn't beneficial. So to put truth into action we offer many outreach and services opportunities.
