Non-Essential Ecclesiology (Doctrine of the Church)

• I affirm Alan Hirsch's 5Q (APEST) model based on Ephesians 4:11–13 as a framework for church governance
• The elders collectively bear responsibility for seeking out and establishing the vision and mission of the church (Proverbs 29:18; Acts 13:1–3)
• All elders should be able to speak to and participate in all five APEST functions, while each elder takes primary governance responsibility for one specific function (1 Corinthians 12:14–20)
  • Apostolic elders guard the mission, vision, and future direction and ensure outward focus (Acts 13:1–3; Acts 15)
  • Prophetic elders advocate for biblical fidelity and alignment with God's purposes (1 Corinthians 14:29–32)
  • Evangelistic elders champion outreach and gospel-centered growth strategies (Acts 8:26–40; 2 Timothy 4:5)
  • Shepherd/Pastor elders serve as the primary execution link between the elder team and the congregation, staff, and lay leaders. They provide pastoral care over the church (1 Peter 5:1–4; Acts 20:28)
  • Teaching elders ensure doctrinal soundness and biblical foundation for all ministries (1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:9)
  • The Shepherd/Pastor elder role is unique in bridging governance and implementation while also carrying pastoral care responsibilities
• This balanced approach ensures both sound governance and effective ministry implementation
• The goal remains equipping believers for ministry rather than centralizing power (Ephesians 4:12; 1 Peter 4:10–11)

Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom

• Molinist perspective on God's sovereignty and human free will
• God, outside of time, can both unconditionally elect people and preserve genuine free choice (Romans 9:18; Joshua 24:15)
• God is omniscient, as such possesses "middle knowledge": knowing what any person would freely choose in any circumstance (Psalm 139:1-4, 16)

Creationism

• Hold to John Sailhamer's "Historical Creationism" as presented in "Genesis Unbound"
• Genesis 1:1 ("In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth") describes God's creation of the entire universe, which could have occurred over vast time periods
• The Hebrew word "eretz" in Genesis 1:2 onwards refers to "land" (a specific territory) rather than the entire planet (Genesis 12:1; 15:18 - same Hebrew word)
• Genesis 1:2-2:4 describes God's preparation of the Promised Land for human habitation, not the creation of the entire Earth
• The six days of creation focus on preparing Eden and its surroundings as the perfect environment for Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:8-15)
• This view preserves the historical reality of Adam and Eve while allowing for an ancient universe (Genesis 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:45)
• Connects the creation account directly to the promise of land central to the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:18-21)

Spiritual Gifts (Continuationist Convictions)

• I believe that all spiritual gifts described in the New Testament remain active today, including miraculous and sign gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8–11; Romans 12:6–8)
• What some traditions call "baptism in the Holy Spirit" is better understood as a post-salvation empowerment or gift-distribution moment, not a second-tier salvation event (Acts 4:31; Acts 13:2)
• All gifts must operate within biblical guidelines for order, clarity, and edification (1 Corinthians 14:26–33)
• I respect believers and churches who hold cessationist views, provided they maintain the centrality of the Holy Spirit's ongoing work in salvation and sanctification

Discipleship and Spiritual Formation

• Rooted in the Great Commission and defined by Matthew 4:19 - following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, joining Jesus on mission (Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 4:19)
• Follow Jesus' methodology: intentional leadership in relational environments using a reproducible process (Mark 3:14; Luke 6:12-13)
• This process includes sharing, connecting, training, and releasing disciples (2 Timothy 2:2; Acts 14:21-23)
• The goal is reproduction - disciples who make disciples - not merely knowledge (John 15:8; 2 Timothy 2:2)

Christian Ethics

• Biblical worldview that prioritizes obedience to God's commands (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3)
• Discern between timeless moral principles and cultural applications (Acts 15:28-29; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
• Ethical decisions guided by careful biblical interpretation (Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• Moral authority derives from God's character and commands (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16)

Eschatology (End Times)

• Hold to premillennialism: Christ will return bodily before establishing His 1000-year kingdom (Revelation 19:11-20:6; Zechariah 14:4-9)
• Upon death, believers may exit time to enter God's eternal perspective (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23)
• From God's timeless viewpoint, all believers experience His presence simultaneously (2 Corinthians 5:8; Psalm 90:4)
• At the rapture, deceased believers re-enter time, receiving resurrection bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53)
• Christ returns visibly to defeat evil and establish His millennial reign on earth (Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 20:4-6)
• Following the millennium, final judgment occurs and God creates new heavens and earth (Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:1-5)
• This view harmonizes immediate presence with the Lord at death with the biblical teaching of future bodily resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
• The Tree of Life in the New Jerusalem represents full restoration of what was lost in Eden (Revelation 22:2; Genesis 3:22-24)

Hope, Eternity, and Kingdom Mindset

• The Kingdom of God is both present and future—already inaugurated through Christ, but not yet fully realized (Luke 17:20–21; Revelation 21:1–5)
• Real transformation begins inward, through spiritual rebirth and daily surrender to the Lordship of Christ (Romans 12:2; John 3:3–6)
• True hope is anchored in eternity, not circumstances, and enables believers to endure hardship with perspective and perseverance (2 Corinthians 4:16–18; Romans 8:18–25)
• Our eternal destiny gives present actions eternal significance; the fruit of faithful living ripples beyond time (Matthew 6:19–21; 1 Corinthians 15:58)
• Kingdom living is living in a fallen world yet embodying the values of Jesus: peace, humility, servanthood, and grace (Matthew 5:1–16; Romans 14:17)
• The Kingdom grows quietly but powerfully through lives shaped by Christ, not through control or political power (Mark 4:26–29; Matthew 13:33)
• Believers are called to be faithful nonconformists; reframing reality with gospel truth and resisting the patterns of the world by living lives transformed by Christ (Philippians 3:20; Romans 12:1–2)
• Hope is not escapism; it is the fuel for faithful presence in a broken world (Hebrews 6:19; 1 Peter 1:3–9)
• The longer eternity lasts, the less the weight of temporary pain matters, and the more the impact of eternal good becomes meaningful. Eternity reframes suffering, gives present faithfulness deep meaning, and reminds us that what is unseen is ultimately what is most real. As Paul writes, "this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)

Theology of Worship

• Worship is attributing worth to God (Psalm 29:1-2; Romans 12:1)
• Soli Deo Gloria - All things exist for God's glory alone (Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 10:31)
• The ultimate purpose of human existence is to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7; 1 Corinthians 10:31)
• Any form honoring God and not violating Scripture is legitimate (John 4:23-24; Colossians 3:16)
• Heart attitude matters more than external form (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8-9)
• Worship should be both Spirit-led and orderly (1 Corinthians 14:26-33; Ephesians 5:18-19)
• Encompasses all of life, not just music or services (Romans 12:1; Colossians 3:17)

Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare

• Angels and demons are created spiritual beings who continue to operate in the world today (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:14)
• Angels serve God's purposes by ministering to believers, delivering messages, providing protection, and executing divine judgment when appointed (Psalm 91:11; Luke 1:26; Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 8:6)
• Demons oppose God's work through deception, temptation, oppression, and possession. They cannot possess those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:33-36; 2 Corinthians 11:14-15; Romans 8:9)
• Believers can experience spiritual oppression or attack, but the Spirit of God within them ensures ultimate protection and victory (1 John 4:4; Ephesians 6:10-18)
• I avoid sensationalism or blaming spiritual warfare for every hardship, recognizing that consequences of sin, brokenness, and natural causes also affect human experience (Galatians 6:7-8; Romans 8:20-22)
• I affirm the reality of spiritual warfare as a biblical and pastoral truth, but acknowledge that discernment is needed in determining when and how it is manifest
• Spiritual warfare is not the central theme of my ministry, but a vital supporting doctrine. Believers may not always recognize it, but Jesus has called us to engage it (Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
• Angels and demons should never be worshipped or feared as only God is sovereign, omniscient, and omnipresent (Isaiah 45:5; Revelation 19:10)

Ordinances (Baptism & Communion)

• I affirm believer's baptism by full immersion as the biblical pattern as modeled by Jesus Himself. It symbolizes death to sin and resurrection to new life (Matthew 3:16; Romans 6:4; Acts 2:41)
• Baptism is not salvific, but a public act of obedience and identification with Christ. It is an outward sign of an inward change already made by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 8:12)
• I view the Lord's Supper as a symbolic act of remembrance and obedience, not a sacrament that imparts grace or contains Christ's literal presence (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26)
• I do not affirm transubstantiation or real presence as biblically supported positions. Jesus used clear physical symbols to point to spiritual realities. That said, the question of what "happens" to the elements is secondary to the heart of the matter: Jesus calls us to remember, and obedience is the point (1 Samuel 15:22; John 14:15)
• I practice an open table where anyone who professes faith in Jesus is welcome to participate. It is a moment of reverence between the individual and God, not a test of membership (1 Corinthians 11:28-29)
• I am comfortable with the term ordinances, as it emphasizes obedience to Christ's command, but I understand and respect the term sacraments in traditions that do not attach salvific meaning to them

Women in Ministry

• Lean egalitarian but don't believe this rises to the level of essential doctrine, as such can operate in either system (Galatians 3:28; Romans 16:1-15)
• Complementarian restrictions appear culturally conditioned rather than universal (1 Timothy 2:11-15 in context)
• Ministry roles should be based on spiritual gifting rather than gender (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
• Can work comfortably in either complementarian or egalitarian contexts (Romans 14:5; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
• Not a matter for division in the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:3; 1 Corinthians 1:10)

Apologetics & Cultural Engagement

• I engage cultural questions and apologetics through a lens of Kingdom identity, starting with internal transformation before external critique (Romans 12:2; John 17:15–18)
• I believe real change happens when individuals live out their faith with clarity, peace, and humility and not when we attempt to win culture wars (Matthew 5:13–16; 1 Peter 3:15–16)
• My approach to apologetics is relational and pastoral. I seek to understand the real questions beneath surface objections and respond with gospel-centered hope (Colossians 4:5–6)
• I avoid political partisanship and reactionary rhetoric, choosing instead to speak from Scripture with both truth and grace (John 1:14; Micah 6:8)
• I equip others to navigate a post-Christian world not through fear or defensiveness, but through formation. I teach believers to love compassionately, live distinctively, and think critically in a way that reflects Christ (Romans 12:1–2; Philippians 2:15)
• I believe the church's greatest apologetic is a transformed life rooted in eternal hope. Our presence, posture, and perseverance in our faith often speak louder than arguments (2 Corinthians 3:2–3; 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12)

Social Justice and the Gospel

• Gospel message remains primary; biblical justice flows from God's character (Romans 1:16; Micah 6:8)
• Prioritize spiritual transformation while addressing physical needs (1 Timothy 4:8; James 2:15-16)
• Focus on what can ultimately be restored: people through the gospel over systems in a broken world (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:19-22)
• The church's voice on justice should derive from Scripture, not partisan politics (Micah 6:8; Isaiah 1:17)

Ministry to Those Struggling with Sexuality, Gender Dysphoria, and Intersex Conditions

• God created humanity male and female according to His divine plan (Genesis 1:27; Matthew 19:4)
• The fallen world can affect both our desires and our biological development without our choice (Romans 7:15-25; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 8:20-22)
• Inherent sin can affect a person's sexual desires, their understanding of their gender, or their biological development without their choice (Romans 7:15-25; Jeremiah 17:9; Genesis 3:17-19)
• These unchosen experiences and conditions do not justify acting on desires that Scripture identifies as sinful or interventions that might oppose God's design (Romans 6:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Psalm 139:13-14)
• In cases of gender dysphoria or intersex conditions, we cannot know with certainty what sex God originally intended for that individual (Deuteronomy 29:29; Isaiah 55:8-9)
• Living with the results of sin's effects on creation (including gender dysphoria and intersex conditions) is preferable to potentially committing unintentional sin through interventions that might oppose God's will (Romans 12:2; James 4:17)
• Medical and surgical interventions should be limited to those necessary for physical health, avoiding unnecessary alterations that might oppose God's design (Psalm 139:13-14; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• People experiencing these struggles deserve love, compassion, and understanding rather than condemnation (John 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Matthew 7:12)
• Each person, regardless of their struggles or physical characteristics, is created in God's image and deserves dignity and respect (Genesis 1:27; Matthew 7:12)
• Ministry in these areas requires both Christlike compassion and unwavering biblical truth (Ephesians 4:15; John 1:14; Galatians 6:1-2)
• Support those with these experiences through encouragement toward biblical faithfulness, which may include celibacy for some (Matthew 19:12; 1 Corinthians 7:7-9)
• Those struggling with sexuality, gender dysphoria, or intersex conditions should be encouraged to find their primary identity in Christ rather than in physical characteristics or desires (Galatians 3:28; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

The Clockmaker Parable

"A master clockmaker creates intricate timepieces, each with a specific design and purpose. Long ago, his workshop was struck by a powerful earthquake—an event he foresaw but allowed to happen for reasons beyond the apprentices' understanding. This earthquake subtly altered the workshop's foundation, causing it to permanently tilt at a slight angle.

Now, while each clock is still crafted according to the master's designs, the tilted workbenches and shifted tools sometimes affect how the components form and fit together. Some clocks develop variations in their mechanisms - some tick irregularly, some have hands that move differently than intended, and others have internal components that formed in unexpected ways during assembly.

Though the master could instantly correct the tilt and its effects, he has chosen to work within these conditions for now, sometimes even incorporating the variations into his greater purposes. The apprentices know the master is aware of every variation and could intervene directly if he wished.

The apprentices face a choice: they can attempt to "correct" these timepieces based on their limited understanding of the master's original blueprint, potentially altering something the master has intentionally permitted; or they can focus on ensuring each clock functions as well as possible within its current configuration, intervening only when a mechanism threatens to damage itself.

As they study each unique timepiece, the apprentices must consider: When we encounter something unexpected in the master's workshop, how can we discern whether our intervention would honor his craftsmanship or inadvertently work against his mysterious purposes?"