Full Mission Statement
What is God’s work in the world?
The performance and proclamation of the gospel.
The gospel is the good news of God who, in an overflow of Triune love, created humanity in His image; and who, after their rebellion against Him, did not leave humanity in a state of destruction, decay and death, but rather reached down to us in pure grace through Jesus Christ to redeem His children and return us to His side. By His Spirit the Church was and is created and empowered to be His new human community through whom He is at work renewing the entire world.
1. The gospel is the good news of God’s love and acceptance in the midst of our struggle against Him.
- God created us for life
- We rebelled against God and earned death
- God reconciled his children to his side through Jesus Christ
Jesus lived the life we should have lived; yet Jesus died the death we should have died for the kind of rebellious life we do live. He did this in order that we may be reconciled with God and live in union with Him. (Isa 53:4-10, 2 Cor 5:21, Mark 10:45).
It is through trusting in Christ rather than trusting in our own moral efforts (both before and after we come to know Jesus) that we are accepted by God. For we are sinners saved and grown by grace (2 Cor 5:17, 1 John 1:8-10, Col 3:3)
“We are more flawed and sinful than we ever dared believe, yet we are more loved and accepted that we ever dared hope at the same time."
The gospel is, therefore, fundamentally different than other religions. In other religions an individual attains peace, enlightenment or eternal life through their own efforts: as they obey the principles or teachings of their religion they are accepted and receive the promises of that religion. The reverse is true in Christianity. The gospel teaches that through Christ we are accepted and receive the promises of God to us, and so we obey.
Thus we can break God’s law either by rebelling against it or by keeping it in an attempt to earn our salvation. Likewise our growth in holiness is stunted when we pursue religion, even if in the guise of Christianity. For our acceptance in grace is foundational to all it means to be a Christian.
If we fail to forgive others—that is not simply a lack of obedience, but a failure to believe we are saved by grace, too. If we lie in order to cover up a mistake—that is not simply a lack of obedience, but a failure to find our acceptance in God rather than in human approval. So we do not ‘get saved’ by believing the gospel and then ‘grow’ by trying hard to live according to Biblical principles. Believing the gospel is not only the way to meet God, but also the way to grow in him.
2. The gospel is the good news of changed lives
Once we were slaves to sin. The power of sin was so great in our lives that we could not help but sin. No matter how hard we tried to be a good person, to follow the rules, we could never keep it up, sin kept creeping its way back into our lives. We were like lemon trees that could only produce lemons. Even when we tried plucking the lemons off and replacing them with oranges; our natural selves still only produced lemons!
But through the grace of God in Jesus Christ, when we give our loyalty to him, accepting and marinating in the truth of the gospel, Jesus’ life comes into our own through the Holy Spirit. We are freed from our bondage to sin (Ro 6:17-23). Now, in Christ, we are a new kind of person, we have a new nature (2 Cor 5:17). We are like lemon trees that have been remade into orange trees! This does not mean we are perfect and do not sin, it does mean we are no longer enslaved to sin.
So the gospel is not simply a truth we acknowledge with our minds, it is a truth that we experience with our being. Ephesians 5:25ff speaks of how the gospel shapes how we interact within our families; 2 Corinthians 8-9 speaks of how the gospel molds the handling of our finances; Col 3:23-24 speaks of how the gospel forms our professional ethics. Faith in the gospel changes us and is continually reshaping our motivations, goals and view of the world. In short, it changes our lives.
“Behavior compliance to rules without heart-change will be superficial and fleeting. The gospel changes your heart.”
3. The gospel is the good news of a new world
The gospel is not just for individuals; it is not simply about individual happiness and fulfillment, not only about individuals receiving eternal life. The gospel affects the entire created order (Ro 8:20-21). From seed to son and cranberry to community the gospel bears the presence of a new world coming. The gospel is a message about the restructuring of the world for the renewal of all things.
The gospel message can be broken into four parts:
1. God’s creation of the world for unity, peace and life
2. Mankind’s rebellion and so creation’s fall into destruction and death
3. God’s reaching down through Christ to redeem the world and create a new human community
4. The renewal of the entire world through this new community of Christ.
Or, in short form:
1. Creation
2. Fall
3. Redemption
4. Recreation
The Church, as Christ’s new community on earth is to work to bring the kingdom of God to earth so that “God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven”. (Matt 6:10) This involves recreating the world into a place of peace and justice beginning with our families and extending into our cities, our states and our world.
As Jesus commands us:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing 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.” Matthew 28:19-20
And as the Book of Order PC(USA) so clearly states:
The Church is called to undertake this mission even at the risk of losing its life, trusting in God alone as the author and giver of life, sharing the gospel, and doing those deeds in the world that point beyond themselves to the new reality in Christ. (G-3.0400)
What is our congregation’s part in God’s work?
First Presbyterian Church, Longview, is committed to go and make disciples of Jesus Christ by applying the gospel to our lives in a way that changes the city of Longview spiritually and socially.
1. Making disciples requires being disciples
A disciple is a person whose whole life purpose and practices are shaped by Jesus Christ.
39 [Jesus] also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Luke 6:39-40
At FPCL we are dedicated to providing guidance and opportunities that may be means by which we are increasingly shaped by Jesus Christ. Thus we have a commitment to becoming “inwardly strong”. This leads us to focus on the following:
- Soundness in worship and doctrine
- Faithfulness in prayer, Bible study and other spiritual disciplines
- Liveliness in Christian community
Soundness of worship and doctrine
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. John 4:23
It is [Christ] whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Colossians 1:28
“The human heart is an idol factory.” John Calvin
Believing that the human soul has a tendency toward idolatry (e.g. Phil 3:19, Col. 3:5, Eph 5:3-5, Hab. 1:9-11, Ro 1:21-25) and thus the creation of programs and institutions that are made in the image of fallen man rather than in the image of Christ, the Reformed tradition has always maintained a fervent allegiance to the pursuit of purity in worship and doctrine. Through diligent study of Scriptures, the wisdom of the church in ages past, and the continual guidance of Holy Spirit we are committed to worship and teaching that is pleasing to God and faithful to his revealed will.
Faithfulness in Bible study, prayer and other spiritual disciplines
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18
…pray without ceasing… 1 Thessalonians 5:17
One of the primary means through which the Spirit calls people to Himself and grows them in faith and holiness is through study of the Scriptures (e.g. 2 Ti 3:15-16, Acts 17:2, 11, John 5:39). This study not only informs us about religious things, but serves to shape how we think about all things. We begin to see not only God, through the eyes of Jesus, but to “take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). Thus with regard to all of life, both public and private, Scripture study enables us to think with a Christian distinctive in these environments. For instance, in the workplace we are to taught to distinguish between those practices all humanity engages in that are fine for Christians to accept (‘common grace’), those which are antithetical to Christianity and so must be rejected, and those in between that we can revise and use as disciples of Christ.
Thus one of the primary ways in which God’s people become inwardly strong is through regular, disciplined Bible study. At FPCL we desire to offer study opportunities in a variety of fashions: Sunday School classes, a variety of mid-week Bible studies for men, women and youth, and Fellowship Groups which meet throughout the year.
Likewise, a critical aspect of discipleship is prayer. God has always called his people to prayer, both corporately and individually (e.g. 1 Ti 2:1-3, 1 Sam 1:15-19) so that prayer is a natural and integral aspect to our lives here on earth and as they continue into eternity. Along with corporate prayer on Sunday mornings, the prayer ministry at FPCL offers a variety of prayer opportunities including: Intercessory Prayer Ministry, Prayer-Shawl Ministry, Worship Hour Prayer Vigils, Prayer Chain and Prayer Calendar.
Furthermore, spiritual disciplines such as fasting, silence, and the singing of hymns and spiritual songs are a part of our internal spiritual development.
Community Relationships
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… Acts 2:46
“Christian community is a comprehensive and distinct way to be human in deep relationships with others who have been transformed by the gospel…Classroom settings bring people together at a cognitive level; but Jesus’ disciples became a community through eating and living together; through sharing with one another socially, emotionally, physically, monetarily; through their times of agreement and disagreement; through the times when they modeled wisdom and foolishness before one another…Love is to permeate all of these communal moments.”
God’s people have always existed in community form. From Adam and Eve to Priscilla and Aquila, to be a follower of God meant to be one in relationship with others. Even more so, when we understand our acceptance by God, does the Gospel invite us to share that acceptance with others – embracing new members and visitors of all ethnicities and genders into our fellowship, and bringing each other into our households as we have been brought into the household of God (e.g. Ro 5:17, Eph 2:13-22). We are strengthened as we serve and love one another as we journey together with Christ, day in and day out in our common lives.
The secret of community lies not in its creative and enthusiastic genesis. It lies not in its great moments of celebration and revelation. Rather it lies in the daily rhythm of faithful and joyful service.
Due to the size of FPCL it is important for us not only to gather as a whole community, but also to develop communities within our whole church community. This currently happens in Sunday School settings, Bible studies, Fellowship Groups, mission and committee work, Cursillo, and a variety of other community opportunities.
2. Making disciples requires an other-centered focus
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mt 20:25-28
Jesus sends his people into the world as his emissaries; carrying out his will and his work (John 17:14-18, Mt. 28:19-20, 2 Cor 5:20) in this world. Thus a large part of what it means to be Jesus’ disciple is to be externally focused; to be other-centered rather than self-centered.
Thus as Christ’s church, with Him as our Head giving us our life, faith and authority, our purpose is to:
- Proclaim the gospel for salvation of humankind
- Shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God
- Maintenance of divine worship
- Preserve the truth
- Promote social justice
- Exhibit the kingdom of Heaven to the world
We are called to create a church where instead of staying inside our comfortable, tidy lives; instead of being concerned primarily for safer and better lives for us, we are called to be people who are in mission by going into all the world as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Jesus didn’t save with words alone, he saved with deeds as well. He reached out to those around him. He didn’t look upon our struggles as trivial, he didn’t expect us to simply “pull it together” and work our way out of the mess in our lives. He came and did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. At FPCL we strive to look upon others in this way as well. Free from senses of superiority or laziness towards each other, we desire to move with grace and generous resources into the lives of those around us both near and far.
3. Making disciples will change Longview
I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:23
As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. John 17:18
"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. John 13:13-14
Certainly the purpose of Jesus’ death involved atoning for sins; however the reason for the atonement was to enable the creation of a new community- a community who, knowing the service Christ has done for them, serves others. This new community, who in their diversity would be unified in Christ, would show the world a different way of being human. This way of being human would be the means through which Christ establishes his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven: it would entail the re-creation of a world of justice, peace and love – the kind of world that God wants, and that humankind wants.
Serving one another requires being committed to the well being of one another. Practically speaking, it means being a culture committed to seeking the welfare of our Longview. (Jer. 29:7). At FPCL we believe we are called to create a church where instead of staying inside our comfortable, tidy lives, instead of being concerned primarily for safer and better lives for us, we are called to be people who are in mission by going into all the world as disciples of Jesus Christ.
And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!' Matthew 25:40