Abiding Savior Lutheran Church
801 Charlotte Highway
Fairview, NC 28730
ph: 828-298-2608
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Guiding Principles
Abiding Savior Lutheran Church's
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
adopted by the Church Council, October 2006
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
adopted by the Church Council, October 2006
1. GOD ALWAYS COMES DOWN
We believe there is NOTHING we can do to earn our salvation, win God's forgiveness or buy eternal life. Romans 3:28 says, "we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law [NLT]." God came down to us in Jesus. God still comes down in bread and wine, in water and word, and in the fellowship of believers. The only thing we can do is accept this gracious gift through faith and say "Thank you."
2. JESUS IS OUR CENTER
We believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins. John 3:16 says, "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life [NRSV]." This is the center of our faith and our church. However, we also believe that godly people can disagree with one another on a variety of issues. We honor this diversity of thought and affirm that we can learn a great deal from those whose opinions are different from our own.
3. EVERYONE IS WELCOME
We believe that everyone is welcome at Abiding Savior no matter who they are or where they are on life's journey. Galatians 3:28 says, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. [NRSV]" This means we strive to make Abiding Savior a community of grace where people do not have to be afraid of being rejected or excluded because of who they are.
4. EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER
We believe God has blessed everyone with a diversity of gifts "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." [Ephesians 4:12, NRSV] We are committed to helping everyone discover their unique gifts and encourage them to use these gifts to serve the church and the world.
5. LOVE CHANGES PEOPLE
We believe people aren't changed by rulebooks, lectures or laws; they are changed by love. Something happens when we meet the God who loves us and welcomes us home. In John 15:12, Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." We seek to follow Jesus' example and strive to love God, each other and the world through acts of justice-making, compassion, service and prayer.
We believe there is NOTHING we can do to earn our salvation, win God's forgiveness or buy eternal life. Romans 3:28 says, "we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law [NLT]." God came down to us in Jesus. God still comes down in bread and wine, in water and word, and in the fellowship of believers. The only thing we can do is accept this gracious gift through faith and say "Thank you."
2. JESUS IS OUR CENTER
We believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins. John 3:16 says, "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life [NRSV]." This is the center of our faith and our church. However, we also believe that godly people can disagree with one another on a variety of issues. We honor this diversity of thought and affirm that we can learn a great deal from those whose opinions are different from our own.
3. EVERYONE IS WELCOME
We believe that everyone is welcome at Abiding Savior no matter who they are or where they are on life's journey. Galatians 3:28 says, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. [NRSV]" This means we strive to make Abiding Savior a community of grace where people do not have to be afraid of being rejected or excluded because of who they are.
4. EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER
We believe God has blessed everyone with a diversity of gifts "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." [Ephesians 4:12, NRSV] We are committed to helping everyone discover their unique gifts and encourage them to use these gifts to serve the church and the world.
5. LOVE CHANGES PEOPLE
We believe people aren't changed by rulebooks, lectures or laws; they are changed by love. Something happens when we meet the God who loves us and welcomes us home. In John 15:12, Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." We seek to follow Jesus' example and strive to love God, each other and the world through acts of justice-making, compassion, service and prayer.
801 Charlotte Highway
Fairview, NC 28730
ph: 828-298-2608
davideck
