I've always hated memberships and the exclusive us-verse-them mentality that memberships promote. Perhaps this is because I was picked last in P.E.? Regardless, I have decided to give "membership" a try, and become a member of MBCC. I think I've done this for a variety of reasons, but mainly because I really feel at home at MBCC and I want to be responsible, at least in some little way, for the direction and action of the church. I am proud to be able to associate with so many intelligent and beautiful people. I am excited about what we are doing and where we are going. I hope that the rest of the church feels this way, even the non-members.As part of the membership process, we were encouraged to write Statements of Faith. This is an intimidating, introspective challenge, one worth of volumes of text and hours of soul searching. So, naturally, I wrote mine up this morning. I hope that an off the cuff approach allows a genuine expression of my sentiments. I've pasted my Statement of Faith below.
Statement of Faith for December 2008
Me
I find that in all regards my will seeks its own gain above all else.
The Holy Spirit
I believe that the Holy Spirit entices me to look beyond myself, to question myself and my place in the world, to examine the motivations behind the intent of my actions. If I allow myself to listen to the Spirit, I begin to recognize that my will is not satisfied, even when it gets what it wants.
Jesus
In will, deed, and word, Jesus Christ lived counter to my own experience: he unfailingly sought others' gain at his own expense. His life and words exemplify an alternate way of living, which to me, on my own, is foreign, irrational, and unachievable.
The contrasting and unachievable lifestyle of Jesus points out His exceptionalness: He is not like me, not like I could ever be; He is something more; He is Divine. Because of this, I believe Him to be who He said He was: the Son of God, fully divine and fully human, who for a short while showed us a different and better way.
Through Jesus I am able to move beyond myself. Jesus died and rose again to allow for this. His great sacrifice forgives my sins and bridges the gap between His unattainable righteousness, and my feeble wickedness.
God
I think that God shares the same Divinity as Jesus. (Jesus did describe him as His Father, after all.) God goes out of His way to show himself to us; He let his only Son suffer and die for our sake. I believe that he cares about me, even when I was depraved and rejected Him. I believe that the Divine God has expectations for me. He wants me to be like Jesus, and as I am willing, He will transform my will to be like Jesus's.
I think that because of God's unimaginable Divinity, it is reasonable to assume that he has created the universe and that He has power over what happens on earth. As the creation of the Creator, I feel I share a kinship with other people and created things. I do not find myself unusual or extraordinary, so I expect that God desires the same basic things for my life as for all people. God did not send Jesus as my personal example, but He gave his Son as an example for all. Because of this I think that God values all people equally.
The Church
Although Jesus has ascended into heaven, God's presence and will is still active on the earth. He has brought up the church to continue the good work that Jesus has started. God wants all people to be freed from their selfishness and hatred. God wants to transform the world through the church; helping the weak, fighting injustice, and growing in righteousness. The church must remain distinct from the world while remaining within the world so that it can be God's example to the world. As the world changes, the church too must change so that it may remain within the world as a viable and relevant force.
