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What are the core values of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ)? In other words, what special convictions
define us? The difference between a core value and a "regular" value is
like the difference between the hubcaps and the transmission of your car.
One is nice to have, but the other really helps the auto function. What
are those elements without which we'd not be who we are? I'm not talking
about things like the way we Disciples love to eat, for example, No, these
core values run even deeper. For me, five-core values stand out.
Our belief in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and our soul stipulation that
a member of its movement confess this and accept Jesus Christ as Savior.
Beyond this sole test of fellowship, we do not put belief requirements on
people. Beyond this one essential conviction, beliefs will differ, and we
will accept one another without insisting that all agree. This kind of
inclusiveness defines us.
Our celebration of an open Lord's Table. We celebrate this feast weekly,
and no human can bar any other human from participation. It is Christ's
table, He is the host, we are all simply His guests. The hospitality that
characterizes the Lord's Table is, we pray, true of every part of life.
The ministry of all believers, We don't limit ministry to the ordained.
All of us are called to ministry at our baptisms. All are called to
represent Jesus Christ to the world. All of us have a vocation of
servant-leadership. No one is absolved of this call.
The Love of unity. We have long carried this in our pursuit of Christian
unity. Our founders made this a clear vocational call of this movement.
Yet we are called to be uniters, not dividers, of all God's created order.
So let us build a united church, yes, but let us also work for a united
human community as well.
The justice of God. Abraham Lincoln said, "I tremble when I realize that
we serve a just god." God's justice roots in the truth that God is creator
of everything, non-human as well as human. It becomes our responsibility ,
therefore, if we are going to be faithful to God, to treat every person
and every thing as being precious to God. Wouldn't this make a difference
in the way we live our lives? Wouldn't it revolutionize our stewardship of
money, time, talent, relationships, war and peace and everything else in
life? Ultimate justice belongs only to God.
I believe they are the core principles on which our founders acted and we
are called to act. In a world fractured by war, where fear and suspicion
of those who dare to disagree with policy and practice sometimes prevail,
isn't it time the Disciples of Christ showed who we really are? |
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