Reformation Manifesto 2017
Mission:
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in
Wittenburg, Germany. Reformation began with the sound of that hammer. On this 500th
anniversary, we declare that a new season of Reformation has begun. The Church of the Lord
Jesus Christ will love as Christ loved. We will stand for Truth as it is written in the Word of
God, the Bible, and in so doing will shift our countries toward righteousness and justice in
our homes, churches, areas of governmental authority, in the marketplace, financial arena
and business, in educational systems and schools, in arts and entertainment, and in media."
As we carry forth His Gospel, we will see the prayer of Jesus made manifest:
"Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)
As the Church of the 21st Century:
We acknowledge that Jesus Christ is our only Savior and Lord and we serve Him first and foremost.
We declare that the Word of God is the standard upon which we shall conduct our lives and we will carry
that standard into every arena of life God leads us into.
We believe that we have a biblical mandate to pray for all those in authority, regardless of political party
or persuasion, so that the decisions they make will be the best for all citizens of our nation.
We believe in the sanctity of life””that all individuals have the right to life from the point of conception
to death; therefore, no one has the right to take the life of another person through crime, abortion,
euthanasia, or assisted suicide.
Additionally, we believe that the quality of life for every individual matters; therefore, we believe in
addressing systemic issues like poverty, racism, and human trafficking, as well as advocating for
biblically-based systems of education, healthcare, justice, economics, and government.
We believe that God entrusted humanity with the stewardship of the earth; therefore, we believe we have
a responsibility to properly care for the environment and wisely use our natural resources.
We believe that God intentionally created human beings as male and female; therefore, the gender
identity we are born with is not a mistake and is unchangeable. Additionally, we believe that God created
men and women as equals; therefore, we believe in addressing systems, doctrines, and practices that treat
women as inferior or less valuable.
We believe that the creator of the universe, Almighty God, has endowed these rights and responsibilities
to all individuals:
1. Education:
We believe that every person has the right to an education in order to fulfill their God-given potential;
therefore, we seek to establish educational systems that not only provide solid job skills, but also
promote character development and critical thinking.
We believe every person belongs in the fellowship of a family, regardless of age or marital status; therefore,
we actively engage in building community and connecting the generations. We believe that every child has
the right to a family and that adoption is the option to abortion.
3. Government:
We believe that government is given by God to serve the people; therefore, we believe it is the right of every
citizen””regardless of race, gender or economic status””to elect to public office those who will govern them.
We believe that Christians should not shrink back from serving in elected and appointed government
offices, as this brings peace and justice to the land.
4. Church:
We believe that Jesus Christ is the one true God, the Creator and owner of the world. Every individual has the
right to hear that Jesus is God and needs to personally accept Him as Savior.
We believe it is the role of the church to steward His world and represent His kingdom; therefore, it is the right of
all people to have the freedom to share their faith in every institution of society.
5. Business:
We believe that biblical character and ethics are essential for the operation of righteous business to
produce wealth. We believe it is the right of every person to have purposeful work with adequate provision;
therefore, we believe we are called to eradicate systemic corruption and poverty.
6. Arts and Entertainment:
We believe that arts and entertainment are a means of celebrating our Creator and His creation.
We believe that arts and entertainment can provide rest and enjoyment, in addition to being an
expression of the culture, and should be consistent with biblical worldview; therefore, we are committed
to developing such expressions and fostering space for godly artists and entertainers to cultivate their
gifts.
7. Media:
We believe it is the role of media to inform, educate, investigate and report on issues related to the
establishment of righteousness and justice in society.
Fair and accurate reporting of the truth is essential for this to occur; therefore, we believe it is our
right to freely express a biblical worldview through all media outlets and to disseminate information
without censorship.
