Statement of Faith

Gregory D. Seckman 

            “In the beginning God…” This is the first statement of faith.  All that follows is the attempt to understand the nature and character of God “whose ways are not our ways and whose thoughts are not our thoughts.”  Knowing God focuses on “the Word made flesh” and the Word revealed in scripture.  Faithful interpretation of the Word requires conversation with others and personal reflection as one listens for the “still small voice” of God.

            “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Everything seen and unseen, everything that has ever been and ever will be comes through God.  That which God creates, God creates to be good. 

            “In the beginning God created humanity, male and female in God’s image.” In that act of creation we were given the responsibility to care for the garden and the opportunity to grow in love and community with the Lord and each other.  With one commandment God gave the gift of freedom and the responsibility to use that gift faithfully. This freedom includes both possibilities of fulfillment of God’s intent or resistance to and even rejection of those hopes and dreams for humanity. 

            From the beginning we have resisted God’s call to live in love and rejected the Lord’s hope for life lived in a faithful caring community of faith.  This rejection, which the Bible calls sin has severe consequence: separation from God, which leads to destruction and separation from others which leads to isolation. 

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Out of great love God came into our world through a babe born in Bethlehem to redeem and bring reconciliation.  Jesus Christ is unique in all of history because in him God and humanity inseparably intertwined into one individual. In Jesus’ words and actions and especially his death and resurrection “the fullness of God was pleased to dwell”. 

            By the cross Christ redeems and reconciles.  Justice and mercy, righteousness and grace come together.  The holiness and love of God expressed and demonstrated through this sacrifice offer the way that leads to salvation.  This was confirmed by the historical resurrection and is revealed in the heart of every believer who affirms Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

            As we are called to become the Church, the body of Christ, God continues to move in an ongoing way.  The Holy Spirit calls people to repentance that leads to salvation and follows with guidance, healing, and comfort.  The movement of the Holy Spirit is always confirmed and never contradicted by the revealed Word. 

            God’s people are called to express their faith through attitude and action, through word and deed to fulfill both the great commandment and the great commission.  We are to minister to body and soul.  In order to help us to this end, the Lord has given means of grace to unite the community of faith and strengthen our resolve.  We mark entrance into the faith community with water.  In Baptism God extends a hand of grace to individuals welcoming them into the community and initiating a covenant between that community and the individual.  The community commits to nurture and lead the individual to decision and discipleship. 

            The Lord’s Supper reminds us of God’s redeeming work in the past and promises Christ’s presence and power for today.  Worship, prayer, study, service and participation in the fellowship of believers are also means of grace God has given to help us grow. 

            God exists in a community of three-in-one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  They are equal and interwoven with each other. In the Trinity the functions of creating, redeeming, and sustaining are carried out. Those in the community of faith also have different functions, yet each is also equal and connected with the other.  In this way we better reflect the image of God “in whom we live and move and have our being.”