“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

Hebrews 10:23

What I Believe

Christian ministry begins with convictions about who God is, what God has done in Jesus Christ, and what God is doing through his Church. These convictions shape the way I preach, lead, and understand the calling of a pastor.

What I Believe About God

God is outside of time and all constraints with which we are familiar (Psalm 90:2; 2 Peter 3:8). He created everything, and by his power, everything continues to exist (Colossians 1:16–17; Hebrews 1:3). After man sinned and broke our perfect relationship with God (Genesis 3:1–24; Romans 5:12), he came as Jesus, fully human and fully God (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:6–8), lived a perfect life teaching and doing good works (Acts 10:38; Hebrews 4:15), died on the cross, and resurrected from the grave (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). By his death and resurrection, we have access to God now and forever (Romans 5:1–2; Hebrews 10:19–22). After a time of teaching and giving final words, Jesus ascended to heaven where he remains (Acts 1:3, 9–11; Hebrews 10:12). In his place, Christ continued his work through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–18; John 16:7–15; Acts 1:8). Anyone who has put their saving faith in Jesus has the Spirit of God living in them (Romans 8:9–11), empowering them to do good works for the building up of others (1 Corinthians 12:4–7; Galatians 5:22–25). The Spirit guides, teaches, counsels, and intercedes on our behalf (John 14:26; John 16:13; Romans 8:26–27).

What I Believe About Scripture

The foundational manuscripts of Scripture are completely trustworthy and without error in all that they affirm (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21; John 17:17). Because translations are the work of human beings, no translation communicates every detail of the original languages with perfect precision. Even so, God has faithfully preserved his word so that his people have what they need to know him, follow him, and grow in truth (Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:14–17). I believe familiarity with the original languages of Scripture can help pastors and teachers better understand and communicate God’s word. For everyday teaching and study, I have the most confidence in the CSB, ESV, NIV, NRSV, and NKJV, although other translations can also be useful for clarification and edification, including paraphrases like The Message.

What I Believe About Salvation

Sin separates us from God, who is perfectly holy, and all people fall short of his glory (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23). The consequence of sin is death, but God offers eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). Rather than bearing the judgment of sin ourselves, we can trust in Christ, who bore our sins on the cross (Romans 5:8–9; 1 Peter 2:24). By placing faith in Jesus, a believer is united with Christ in his death and resurrection, dies to the old way of life, and becomes a new creation prepared for good works (Romans 6:4–11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10).

Salvation involves recognizing our sin and need for God, trusting that Jesus died and rose again for our salvation, and confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Romans 10:9–10). Although sin continues to affect believers on this side of eternity (Romans 7:15–25; 1 John 1:8–9), those who belong to Christ are justified through faith, are being sanctified by the work of the Spirit, and look forward to the final glorification God has promised (Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Romans 8:29–30).

The natural response to salvation is a life increasingly surrendered to the lordship of Jesus. A genuine follower of Christ will seek, however imperfectly, to become more obedient to him throughout life (Luke 9:23; Romans 12:1–2; Philippians 2:12–13).

What I Believe About the Church

The global Church is comprised of all who have placed saving faith in Jesus Christ and have been joined together by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12–13; Ephesians 2:19–22). Brothers and sisters from every tribe, nation, and tongue are united in one Spirit and will one day gather around the throne to worship God together (Ephesians 4:4–6; Revelation 7:9–10).

The Church is called to testify to the world about the truth and power of Jesus (Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 2:9), to pray and work for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10), and to demonstrate Christ's love through mercy, generosity, justice, and care for others (Matthew 25:35–40; Galatians 6:10; James 1:27). Every local church is one expression of the larger body of Christ, which extends across cultures, nations, and generations.

At its most basic level, the church exists to make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:19–20). Of all the commands given to us, the greatest are to love God and love our neighbors (Matthew 22:37–40). In essence, the church exists to love God through worship and devotion and to love others by proclaiming the good news of Jesus and caring for people in tangible ways (1 John 3:16–18; James 2:15–17).

What I Believe About the Ordinances

Baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality: a believer has repented of sin, placed faith in Christ, and identified with Jesus in his death and resurrection (Acts 2:38–41; Romans 6:3–4). It is a public profession of faith celebrated in the context of Christian community and marks a believer's visible identification with the people of God (Acts 2:41–42). Baptism is commanded by Christ and is an important act of obedience, but salvation itself is received by God's grace through faith rather than earned through the act of baptism (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Because the pattern most often seen in the New Testament is belief followed by baptism, I believe baptism is intended for those able to understand and personally respond to the gospel (Acts 2:41; Acts 8:35–38). Full immersion most clearly portrays the biblical imagery of being buried and raised with Christ and reflects examples of baptism described in Scripture, and therefore it is the form I believe should normally be practiced when possible (Romans 6:3–4; Acts 8:38–39).

The Lord's Supper is an act of remembrance through which believers proclaim Christ's death and remember the covenant established through his sacrifice (Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26). It is also an expression of the unity and fellowship believers share in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16–17). Before receiving the bread and the cup, believers are called to examine themselves and approach the meal with reverence, repentance, and gratitude for Christ's sacrifice (1 Corinthians 11:27–29).

What I Believe About Discipleship

Christian growth is both personal and communal. God works in individual believers, but he also places Christians within a community where they encourage, teach, serve, correct, and strengthen one another (Acts 2:42–47; Ephesians 4:11–16; Hebrews 10:24–25). Discipleship is therefore deeply relational and is part of the lifelong process of becoming more like Christ (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

A genuine relationship with Christ should produce a growing desire to know him, obey him, and reflect his character (John 14:15; Philippians 3:8–10). Scripture plays a central role in this process by teaching, correcting, and equipping believers for faithful living (2 Timothy 3:16–17), while Christian community helps believers spur one another toward love and good works (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Because discipleship is rooted in relationship with both God and others, it takes place individually and in community. Practices such as prayer, Scripture study, worship, fasting, service, generosity, confession, and Christian fellowship help form believers into the likeness of Christ (Matthew 6:6, 16–18; Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 4:7–8).

What I Believe About the Return of Christ

Scripture teaches that Christ will return, but it also teaches that human beings cannot know with certainty the exact time of his return (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7). For this reason, I approach the details of eschatology with humility. Biblical prophecy gives us genuine revelation about what God will accomplish, while not always providing a complete chronological roadmap of how every event will unfold.

Scripture points toward the ultimate culmination of God's plan: the visible return of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16), the resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:51–52), the judgment of humanity (Matthew 25:31–46; Revelation 20:11–15), and the renewal of creation (Romans 8:19–23; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1–5).

The Christian hope is therefore not that believers will simply leave the physical world behind once and for all. God promises resurrection, renewed bodies, and a renewed creation in which his people will dwell with him forever (1 Corinthians 15:42–49; Philippians 3:20–21; Revelation 21:3–5).

What I Believe About Women in Ministry

There are passages in the New Testament that seem to provide differing messages of the role of women in ministry. The Scripture, however, is inspired by God and any apparent contradictions can be explained with careful consideration and prayer. In the same letter where Paul says a woman cannot speak in church, he also gives rules about how both women and men are to prophesy, and prophecy was an act which most commonly took place in the context of a gathering of believers. Other instructions about women leading deal with having authority over a man, but what constitutes authority? If someone is preaching the gospel, is that holding authority over someone? When I preach the gospel I have no authority to make anyone do anything. I am merely presenting God’s word and praying the Holy Spirit moves their heart. What is the definition of a man? I have yet to meet a woman in my theological studies at an egalitarian school who is pursuing a place of authority over men. They want to learn more about God and his word so they can faithfully teach and share the gospel. The church as we know it would be dead without the leadership of women and, what resonates most with me, is the Mary Magdalene was the first person to proclaim the risen Christ.

There are passages in the New Testament that Christians have interpreted differently regarding the roles of women in the church, and some appear to contradict each other. Because Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21), I believe these passages should be interpreted carefully within their literary, historical, and theological contexts rather than treated as contradictions.

For example, in 1 Corinthians Paul gives instructions concerning women praying and prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:5), while later in the same letter he instructs women to remain silent in a particular context (1 Corinthians 14:34–35). Whatever Paul intends in the latter passage must therefore be understood alongside his acknowledgment that women participated verbally in the worshiping community.

The New Testament also presents women serving in significant ministries. Priscilla helped instruct Apollos more accurately in the way of God (Acts 18:26). Phoebe is commended by Paul as a servant or deacon of the church at Cenchreae (Romans 16:1–2). Paul names numerous women as coworkers in the gospel (Romans 16:3–7, 12; Philippians 4:2–3).

I therefore believe women should be encouraged and equipped to use the gifts God has given them for the building up of the church and the proclamation of the gospel. One of the biblical images that has especially shaped my thinking is Mary Magdalene, whom the risen Jesus commissioned to announce his resurrection to the disciples (John 20:17–18).