We believe Christians should be unified in the worship of Christ and the work of evangelism and social justice with Christians from differing backgrounds (Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic, Protestant, etc) who hold to essential doctrines concerning salvation & Nicene Creed.
“In Essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love” Augustine (354-430 AD)
Christ’s people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner.
Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom.Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament (Exodus 17:12; 18:17ff.; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Nehemiah 4; 8:1-5; Matthew 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff.; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Philippians 1:15-18).
We believe Christians can and should work with people of all races, genders, religions and political ideas when it comes to solving humanitarian needs and the moral climate of their community as it relates to issues of mutual concern. Our definition of justice is defined by the Bible with all it’s ethical prohibitions and freedoms (Exodus 20; Matthew 5-7).
Jesus made this point by His sermons and His example of love to Jewish and non-Jewish people. Love for humans has “no conditions” as God demonstrates His provision on the just and unjust everyday (Luke 10:25-37; Luke 11:42; Matthew 5:44-46).
We believe Cooperation over a singular or multiple issues of mutual concern with other Christian and Non-Christian Organizations does not make us guilty by association of all other views or practices held by those organizations.
If that was the case no organization or person would be able to work with, do business, or associate with anyone due to inability to agree on all essential and non-essential issues. Cooperation over human needs demonstrates the love of God for unbelieving humanity (John 3:16) and provides opportunities for relationship-based conversational evangelism.
Overall New Testament Churches should not aim to be “politically correct”, but love with truth. Unlike the false prophets of the Old Testament in Matthew 5:11-13, God’s people should not compromise the main teachings of scripture to make and maintain friends.
But, in love we should aim to build bridges of trust and communication, so as not to create unnecessary walls and make the Gospel unpalatable and incomprehensible.
But, when non-Christians are offended and seek to diminish our Gospel message we should not aim to neuter it, so as the reconcile in the public domain.
The Gospel is good news for all sinners (Including Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox Church Members who have a false salvation) searching for God and not the cultural baggage or secondary ceremonies that is sometimes communicated as essential (circumcision, dietary laws, special clothing, music styles, baptism, etc).
So, we are committed to not only work with people of different backgrounds and organizations, but to compel them to receive the Gospel and live a life of a disciple of Jesus Christ.
We are committed above all else to Unity in Diversity over mutual issues, our God given right of freedom of speech and to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ by calling all humans to repentance and obedience to His teachings:
Matthew 28: 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
