Category: Our Theology
Old but New
Old, yet new. Traditional but contemporary. Rather than being a kind of
disjointed paradox, those concepts get to the very core of what we believe:
at theology rooted in the traditions of the Bible, yet always open to new
insights from God’s Spirit.
The Sovereignty of God
Central to our Presbyterian tradition is the affirmation of the sovereignty of
God. That assurance provides a basis for all other key beliefs.
The Bible is our standard for all of life
You could say our Church has an enthusiastic commitment to the Bible. That
emphasis is the basis of the Church’s life and faith and its greatest gift from
the Reformers, who opened God’s Word to everyone and insisted that the
church be based on that word. The Bible is taught in our church, preached
from the pulpit, and applied in the community. There is no First Presbyterian
Church of Auburndale apart from an understanding of itself as a biblical
people.
Reformed but always Reforming
The original Reformers believed that God’s Spirit worked in the world as a
guide to understanding the Bible. Our church believes that the Spirit still
challenges us to examine our faith through the Scriptures to determine how
we should live in this day and age. We believe we are constantly learning,
growing, and being shaped into the people God created us to be. There is
never a point in our life or faith where we have it all figured out or have all
the answers.
Decently and in Order
Reformed faith says that the final authority of the church is Jesus Christ. We
have put in place an order that serves Christ through a series of groups and
bodies with specific responsibilities. We hold each other accountable for our
ministries in Christ’s name.
Unity amid Diversity
God has given a wide array of gifts to his people; some are called to be
teachers in our midst, others preservers of heritage, others leaders and
witnesses. We are committed to using all these gifts, even when some
inevitably bump into each other.