We believe…
 

…that the Bible is GOD's supreme Word, inspired in the original text, which has been changed and edited by man to support their own worldly goals, and that it is - rightly divided and interpreted - an important document in matters of faith and conduct, but it is not the only text in which GOD speaks to us.  By the way, in rightly dividing the Bible [2Ti 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.] it finally makes sense!

…that there is one GOD.

...that all religions are from GOD and have to be respected as such.

...that GOD is not a flawed entity.  A jealous, devious, hateful GOD does NOT exist.  GOD is LOVE!

…in GOD, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power.  That He hears and answers prayers, and that He saves all who follow Jesus Christ's teachings - no matter what else they believe in.

…in Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD, who we accept as our savior and wayshower - which means to also accept his message of LOVE to the world - and with this be baptized.

...that believing in GOD entails to believe in the message of LOVE, brought by Jesus Christ as told to us Gentiles by Paul, and denounce all hate and war, killing, lies and deception, brought to us by man.

...that Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world, so we are not born in sin.  We will commit our own sins and repent for them.

...that we should celebrate the living GOD in Jesus by remembering him in the last supper on very special occasions. 

[1 Corinthians10:16-17 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

[1 Corinthians 11:23-29] For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken [broken as in the meaning of breaking bread, not a broken body] for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

…that it is not possible to receive absolution from a priest or a church.  The only authority a sinner has to confess to is GOD and it is up to him to forgive you.  [The Catholic Church made nice money in selling forgiveness in the Middle Ages and still controls the “flock” today with information obtained in confessions.]  No one can sin purposely and then be forgiven by man in the name of GOD.  In this case sin would not be sin. The confession to a priest or a church is not mentioned in the Bible either. [1 Timothy 2:5]

…that a church shall guide people how to engage in conversations with GOD and teach the message of love.

…in the Holy Spirit, that He was sent forth from the Father to convince the world of righteousness and bless his people.

…in the Commandments, which are constantly being broken by most politicians who claim GOD as their advisor.

…that color of skin does not matter in any way, that all men are created equal and that all deserve the same respect.

...and actually we know, that GOD created the world through Evolution.  This is a scientific fact.  There is no doubt either, that GOD created the world.  But not as some try to make us believe merely 6,000 years ago, but over many Millions of years.  We have the gift of spirituality as well as education.  So we know that the world is not as simple as the minds of Neo-Cons, and they won't be able to lower God's bar so far that they can understand the truth.  A famous movie director said in 2006: "Even though I am a Christian, I cannot relate to this fundamental way of Christianity. In the last years it was almost as if they hijacked Christianity and turned it into their own religion, called America. That is sad, because what is Christianity based on if not: Love thy neighbor, solidarity with the poor, the love of truth, and peace? If you look at current US politics, there has been that much lying in the past years."   The Neo-Cons (Neo Con-artists or New conservatives, which is pretty much the same thing) will have to hope for God's infinite grace and we as Americans for the forgiveness of the civilized world.

…in the Body of Christ - the living spiritual body of which all people who accept Jesus Christ as their savior are members. We believe that the Lord laid upon the Apostle Paul the task of taking the message unto all the world as a witness, giving a warning message of impending judgment to all, and the glorious message of salvation through the sacrificed blood of the Lamb Of God, Jesus Christ, for the body of Christ.

...that the Apostle Paul preached the Gospel for the Gentiles [non Jews] and the other eleven Apostles were sent exclusively to the Jewish community.  So the Pope, who claims to be the successor of Peter - who, like Jesus before his crucifixion, was preaching to the Jews only - basically claims to be head of a Jewish community.

...that the successor of Paul is the true Pope of the Body of Christ which our church is a part of.  It is also a fact, that the Epistles of Paul were written many years before the Gospels.  Paul, who was traveling with the other Apostles and heard their reports first hand when their memory was still fresh, was the closest to Jesus Christ with his writings. Paul's epistles focused on the spiritual meaning of Jesus Christ's death and his resurrection. He started to write his Epistles about 20 years after Jesus Christ's crucifixion.  The Gospel of Thomas , which was found 1945, could not be altered or hidden by the churches to distort the meaning and the message of Jesus Christ.  Surprisingly it has not found its way into the Bible yet.  It was written in a time overlapping with the Epistles of Paul and is the most believable and true Gospel, and in time and in it's meaning the closest one to Jesus Christ.  Many Experts nowadays share the opinion - also with our church - that the Gospel of Thomas was the starting point for all other Gospels, basically like a collection of Jesus Christ's sayings and teachings the other authors used to weave their stories around.  Mark was next with his Gospel, about 40 years after Jesus Christ's crucifixion (70 CE), drawing heavily on oral records and legends about Jesus' life in Palestine.  Matthew and Luke wrote in the 80's and John's Gospel was written about 100 CE, 70 years after Jesus Christ.  Please bear in mind, that all the Gospels were written for the Jews, not for the Gentiles, and that we have to be very careful - even within the Epistles of Paul, who preached the message of the Kingdom to the Jews, to converted Jews, and in the next session the Salvation through Jesus Christ to the Body of Christ - with the determination which parts apply to the Body of Christ.  If you click here you will  find some examples that mostly speak for themselves. Where they needed comments, I added them.

...that "accepting Jesus Christ" in your heart as your savior also entails to live your life according to his teachings of love and the Commandments.  Not to live according to Jesus Christ's commandments and standards is as if you never accepted him in your heart as your savior.

…that all Christians are ordained by the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel with whatever gift they are given from GOD. Not all are to be Pastors but all are to use their Gift of GOD to present the Gospel. [1 Corinthians 12:28-31]

…that LOVE is the most important message of GOD to the world. We shall love our neighbor as ourselves.

[Romans 13:8 -11] Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

 …that it is up to GOD whom he lets each one of us fall in love with.

…that GOD’s intended method of baptism is by water for his chosen people, the Jews, by fire for the Gentiles, and by accepting Jesus Christ in your heart as your Savior you are baptized by the Spirit into the “Body of Christ”. [1 Corinthians 12:13]

 …that there is no hell.  Hell is not mentioned in the Bible. In the King James Version and also in the NASB it has been mistranslated and actually has the meaning of Ditch, Grave, or Underworld (Hades).  In the Greek Originals, Hell is the place of the future punishment called "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire". This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; at the time a fit symbol of the wicked and their assumed future fate.  There is no hell except the one man creates for himself.

…that we shall respect and honor all other beliefs in GOD.  Even if we do not share their belief system, many others believe in the same GOD (we believe there is only ONE GOD), no matter what they call him.  If we disrespect our GOD when He is being worshiped under a different name and in a different way, we should not be surprised if others do the same to us.  And above all, we would disrespect our own GOD.

Amen

Rev. Dr. Alexander Hast