1. God Is Love — fully Revealed in Jesus

I believe that:

God’s character is nonviolent, self-giving, other-oriented agape love.
Jesus is the clearest and truest revelation of who God is in human history.
Any view of God that contradicts the character of Jesus must be re-examined in light of Him.

2. Humans Are Created Good — in the Image and Likeness of God

I believe that:

Human identity begins with very good, not sinful.
Sin distorts but never erases our God-given worth—sin is trauma manifested, not ontology.
Every person retains the capacity for both good and evil, and every person is capable of restoration.

I reject doctrines such as Total Depravity.

3. The Call of Jesus Is a Call to Live Love

Faith is not just mental assent; it is a change in identity, and identity must lead to action.

I believe that:

Following Jesus means embodying His character.
Love of neighbor—especially the vulnerable—is central.
Neighbors include enemies, immigrants, prisoners, the poor, the oppressed, the widow, and the orphan.
Spiritual maturity looks like increasing resemblance to Christ.

4. The Kingdom of God Opposes Empire

I see Scripture presenting a profound contrast:

Shalom — justice, flourishing, right relationships, wholeness
Empire — death, domination, fear, violence, oppression, greed

I believe the central spiritual battle of the Bible is shalom vs. empire, and that Christians must choose the way of life, not the way of domination and death.

5. Scripture Reveals God’s Story of Shalom

I believe that:

Shalom is God’s desire for creation—a state of wholeness, justice, harmony, and flourishing in which everything is in right relationship with God, with one another, with creation, and with oneself.
Scripture tells a unified story of God saving and restoring creation, moving from goodness to brokenness to renewal under God’s loving reign.
To understand, Scripture must be read in its cultural and historical contexts—Hebrew thought, the Ancient Near East, and Second Temple Judaism—so that we understand Scripture as its first audiences did.
The truest interpretation of Scripture aligns the whole narrative with Jesus—His life, His teaching, and His self-giving love as the fullest revelation of God and the lens through which all Scripture is understood.

6. Salvation Is Participation in God’s Restorative Work

Preparing for the World to Come — Olam Ha-Ba (עוֹלָם הַבָּא)

I lean toward:

Christus Victor — God’s triumph over cosmic evil and the liberation of humanity from the powers that destroy, a victory already accomplished in Jesus.

I believe:

Restorative, healing salvation for all creation, not merely individual souls.
The renewal of all things, rather than escape from the world.

Salvation is not oriented toward heaven as a destination; it is entrance into the present reality of God’s Kingdom—the in-breaking reign of God on earth as it is in heaven—drawing us toward Olam Ha-Ba, the world to come. We are invited to participate now in God’s shalom-restoring work, learning to live under His self-giving love in this life and to serve within His everlasting Kingdom into eternity.

7. Community Is Essential

I reject individualistic Christianity.

I believe that:

Faith is formed, sustained, and matured in community.
Discernment is a communal practice, not a solitary one.
The shared life of the early church (Acts 2–4) offers a compelling and faithful model of mutual care, generosity, and shared purpose—one worth pursuing today.

8. Truth and Discernment Matter

I place high value on:

evidence and critical inquiry,
historical awareness,
examining the theological origins of questionable doctrines (Plato, Constantine, Augustine, Calvin, and contemporary influences),
testing ideas, resisting misinformation, and naming disinformation when it appears.

I believe followers of Jesus are called to discern truth from falsehood, love from fear, and shalom from empire—pursuing a faith grounded in integrity, wisdom, and the character of Christ Jesus.

9. Human Flourishing Is Central

I believe that God’s intent is the flourishing of all creation—and that humans are called to steward and nurture this flourishing.

I believe the faithful life is about:

lifting the oppressed,
serving the hungry, thirsty, sick, imprisoned, and stranger,
building communities of justice, compassion, and healing,
participating in the stewardship and restoration of all creation.

I measure spiritual formation by the extent to which people, communities, and the world flourish.

10. Learning Is Lifelong and Based on Discovery

II believe that:

learning how to learn (metacognition) matters,
wisdom grows through study, reflection, and community,
truth-seeking is a spiritual discipline and an act of worship,
our God-given intellect is meant to explore, question, and wonder,
scientific discovery is not absolute certainty but an ongoing, humble pursuit of truth about creation.

I believe human learning is a gift—an invitation to know God and creation more deeply. We honor God when we use our minds to inquire, to discover, and to participate in the ongoing unfolding of what is.

One Sentence Belief Statement

I believe in a Jesus-centered, love-shaped, justice-focused faith that restores shalom, opposes empire, honors human dignity, seeks the flourishing of all creation, and lives out the character of Christ in community.

My Core Values (Derived From My Beliefs)

1. Agape Love

Love that is self-giving, sacrificial, other-focused, and shaped by Jesus. Everything starts here. Everything returns here.

Value:

I seek to love as Jesus loved — especially the overlooked, vulnerable, and oppressed.

2. Human Dignity

Every person is created “very good” in the image and likeness of God. Therefore every person deserves respect, justice, compassion, and opportunity.

Value:

I honor the image of God in every human being — no exceptions.

3. Truth & Discernment

Truth matters. Discernment matters. You refuse shallow thinking, misinformation, fear-driven theology, or inherited dogma.

Value:

I pursue what is true, test what I hear, and discern between the way of Jesus and the way of empire.

4. Shalom (Wholeness, Justice, Flourishing)

You value systems and relationships that bring life, integration, healing, and abundance.

Value:

I advocate for justice, pursue healing, and work for the flourishing of all people and creation.

5. Community

Faith is not private. Formation happens together. Belonging, accountability, and love are communal realities — not individual achievements.

Value:

I commit to communities that form Christlike character and cultivate mutual care.

6. Humility

Because God is love and humans are imperfect, you value openness, teachability, and self-examination.

Value:

I remain teachable, reflective, and willing to grow — avoiding arrogance and fear-driven certainty.

7. Courage

Your beliefs require confronting empire, injustice, and fear-based religion — with grace but also clarity.

Value:

I courageously align my life with the character of Jesus, even when it challenges culture, tradition, or comfort.

8. Servanthood

Rooted in Matthew 25 and Acts 2–4, you hold a deep commitment to serving others — not from duty, but love.

Value:

I live out faith through action — serving the hungry, the stranger, the imprisoned, the sick, the poor.

9. Lifelong Learning

You see learning as spiritual formation: discovering truth, unlearning false beliefs, and growing in wisdom.

Value:

I cultivate curiosity, study, and reflection as lifelong disciplines.

10. Integrity

Identity informs behavior. Faith must take shape in action. No double life, no compartmentalization.

Value:

I strive to live what I believe — aligning my actions with the way of Jesus.

The 10 Core Values in One Line

Love, dignity, truth, shalom, community, humility, courage, servanthood, learning, and integrity — all expressed in the way of Jesus.