Christ Church Midrand 4.23

Our Core Values - what we believe

1.
We believe that the ultimate purpose of both the individual and the church is the glory of God.
2.
We believe that Biblical teaching is the catalyst for transformation in individuals’ lives and in the church.
3.
We believe that lost people, throughout the world, matter to God, and therefore, ought to matter to our church.
4.
We believe that the church should be culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure.
5.
We believe that every believer should seek after personal godliness and holiness in every area of their lives.
6.
We believe that all believers should be committed to the local church, which will be seen as they steward their time, gifts and resources for the benefit of the body.
7.
We believe that spiritual growth happens best in community and loving relationships.
8.
We believe that excellence honours God and inspires people.

What we believe and teach

The Church of England in South Africa (CESA) of which we are a constituent church is a protestant, reformed, and evangelical denomination committed to the Bible as the Word of God. The basis of our doctrine and teaching is found in the Bible.

Historically, our theological roots originate in the Reformation in England in the 16th century and are spelt out in the “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion” first published in 1553. We remain firmly committed to this historic Anglican summary of Christian truth and all ministers and office bearers of CESA must subscribe to the 39 Articles. We are also committed to the doctrines as taught in the historic orthodox creeds of the Christian church, i.e. Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed.

As CESA enters the twenty-first century it reflects both continuity and discontinuity with the church that had its origins in the Cape Colony two hundred years ago.

Theologically we identify totally with the protestant, evangelical and reformed heritage of that day. We hold to the same insistence on the inspiration and final authority of Scripture, the fallenness and helplessness of sinful man, the sufficiency of the finished work of the God-Man, Jesus Christ our Lord, the necessity for new birth through the power of the Holy Spirit, justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ received by faith alone, and the necessity for holiness as the only adequate evidence of the new life.

Liturgically, we have sought to retain the reverent spirit of the reformers of old, without slavishly following the traditional letter.

As to our mission, we are aggressive but not superficial in evangelism, and have, after a period of being part of the evangelical retreat, recognised our responsibility to be salt and light in all aspects of society. Our theological college is seeking to rise to the intellectual and social challenges of the new South Africa and the new Western world, but without compromising the unchanging message of salvation through Christ alone, or accommodating it to modern whims and fancies.