Our BeliefsWhat do we believe at Westminster?
Some of our beliefs are shared by all Christians. Other beliefs are in keeping with those held by other Protestants. Finally, some of our beliefs are more unique to us, growing out of our Presbyterian heritage. What We Believe with All ChristiansWe believe in the mystery of The Triune God. Like other Protestants, Romans Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians, we believe that there is one God who has been revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and who is our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.
We believe that God became one of us, in Jesus Christ. This belief, again shared with all Christians, is the supreme demonstration of God’s desire to be with us. We are not alone: God comes to us. What We Believe with Other ProtestantsWe believe that we are "justified by grace through faith."
What does this mean? God’s Law calls us to love God with all our heart, mind and soul, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We fail to do this perfectly or completely--in a word, we sin. This sinfulness means that we are not justified to approach God in and of ourselves. The decision of Jesus Christ—the Son of God—to die upon a cross is the means whereby we are drawn back to God. We do not deserve this supreme act of love, in and of ourselves--it is an act of grace. We believe, therefore, that we are saved from everlasting condemnation by trusting in what God has done for us in Jeus Christ. . We believe in the authority of Scripture. The Bible (or “The Book”) lies at the center of the Christian faith. We believe it is the lens through which we know God, know who we are, and know how we must live. As such, we place a primacy upon the teachings of Scripture, and also believe that Scripture merits our life-long study. |
What We Believe as PresbyteriansWe believe in the sovereignty of God. We believe that God—and God alone—is the source and power of all that exists.
We believe God chooses human beings for salvation and for ministry. The grace given to us through the death of Jesus Christ, leads us to respond with lives of filled with gratitude and service to others. We believe that God binds Godself to ordinary people. Scripture shows us—over and over again—that God enlists ordinary people to follow God’s guidance and to spread the news of God’s amazing love in Jesus Christ. We rejoice that God decides to be faithful to us, no matter what happens! We believe that we easily sin by worshipping things other than God. As we read Scripture—and also examine our own lives—we see that we readily worship man-made items in the place of God. We believe this same worship has a dangerous, trickle-down, effect upon our life together. We believe God calls us to advance God’s Kingdom by transforming society. Even though we are sinful by nature, we believe God nevertheless enlists—and empowers—us to change the world for the better. We believe this is achieved by seeking God’s justice and by leading lives obedient to the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. Our task is not to be successful in bringing the Kingdom of God, but to be obedient in trying. We believe in faithful stewardship. As we read Scripture, we see the desire of God that human beings care for each other, as well as for the rest of Creation. |
