Shared Values
Here at Christian Spectrum we have a number of deeply held shared values that undergird our decisions and actions. They are the fundamental beliefs and principles, which together with our Statement of Faith, underlie our culture and guide our decisions, behaviour and practice. They define who we are, what we do and how we do it . . .
1. Relationship with God
Central to our value system as individuals and as an organisation is our relationship with the God of the Bible. He is our motivation and desire. We believe the Bible is his self-revelation. He's transcendent and yet immanent and knowable through relationship with Jesus and the indwelling Holy Spirit. He is the only true God and the only way to know him is through faith in Jesus Christ. Being a Christian entails having a personal relationship with him. We're told in John 10, his sheep know his voice and follow him.
Sadly, the Bible makes it clear that it's possible to have the outward show of successful, charismatic Christianity without experiencing the life of the Holy Spirit on a day to day basis (Rev 3:1).
2. Prophetic revelation
We value prophetic revelation. The Church has a prophetic calling. We believe that in order to do the will of God and to follow his leading, we need to understand our prophetic mandate as a Church and to receive prophetic revelation. Jesus was a prophet and the whole of his life was a prophetic statement. His life witnessed to and fulfilled prophecy. The Church is prophetic as a result of Pentecost:
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy (Acts 2:17-18).
Not everyone in the Church will be a prophet, but the Church as a whole is to fulfill a prophetic role to mankind. The basis of the prophet's ministry is revelation (Eph 3:3):
Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).
Prophetic revelation is given so that the Lord can express his will, longings and purpose, to direct his people in the present and to reveal the future.
3. Lifestyle and heart of worship
A heart of worship is central to our lives. We seek to honour and worship God in all our daily activities and responsibilities, not just when we have worship meetings. He is worthy of our worship, adoration and praise. We continually ask him to increase our love and passion for him.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23,24)
We gain inspiration from Israel's king David who expresses what it means to be a worshipper.
One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple (Psalm 27:4).
4. Discipleship
Discipleship is one of our core values. Jesus tells his disciples to go and make more disciples:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matt 28:19-20).
Note that Jesus calls us to 'go and make disciples,' not simply to make converts or believers - there's a significant difference. In our view the majority of believers in the West are believers rather than disciples. The late David Watson said:
If we were willing to learn the meaning of real discipleship and actually become disciples, the Church in the West would be transformed and the resultant impact on society would be staggering.
We seek to disciple those who have 'servant hearts,' 'teachable spirits' and are 'faithful and able.' The word 'disciple' should be spelled 'relationship' because it's about mentoring in life. Discipleship, as understood by Jesus and the rabbis in first century Palestine, involved, wherever possible, a pupil and teacher in close relationship.
5. Community living
As a team we've lived within a prophetic community for a number of years. Some live in shared houses or as part of extended families. Just as God outworked his purposes through a family and later a nation, his heart for his people has always been for them to live within vibrant families and radical communities of faith.
The Early Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, came together in a radical way as we read in the book of Acts:
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47).
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need (Acts 4:32-35).
We believe that when persecution comes, just as in China (the fastest growing sector of the Church anywhere in the world), Christians will once again find the Holy Spirit leading them towards the benefits of relational unity, committed relationships, house churches and community.
6. Prayer
We value a lifestyle of prayer and fasting.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18)
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing (1 Timothy 2:8)
...... my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7)
There are many kinds of prayer (intercession, petition, thanksgiving, etc) but essentially it's about a relationship and on-going communion with the Lord. Research, spiritual mapping and prophetic revelation are all aids to prayer whilst identificational repentance, prayer walking and other forms of prophetic action can result from it.
Our shared values . . . are the fundamental beliefs and principles which underlie our culture and guide our decisions, behaviour and practice. In other words they define who we are, what we do and how we do it . . .