Spirit of the Moravian Church
There are 5 characteristics which we hold dear in the Moravian Church. They make us unique as we do not consider ourselves liberal or conservative, rich or poor. All beliefs are welcome, so long as the most important part is that you continue to grow in your faith.
Simplicity: A focus on the essentials of faith and a lack of interest in the niceties of doctrinal definition. One of our denominations important early leaders once remarked: "The Apostles say: 'We believe we have salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ...' If I can teach only that concept, I have made that person a divinity scholar for all time." From simplicity flow secondary qualities of genuineness and practicality.
Happiness: The natural and spontaneous response to God's free and gracious gift of salvation.
Unintrusiveness: Based on the Moravian belief that God positively wills the existence of a variety of churches to cater for different spiritual needs. There is no need to win converts from other churches. The source of Christian unity is not legal form, but everyone's heart relationship with Jesus.
Fellowship: Based on this heart relationship; the Moravian ideal has been to gather together kindred hearts... Where there are 'Christian hearts in love united', there fellowship is possible in spite of differences of intellect and intelligence, of thought, opinion, taste and outlook.
The Ideal of Service: This is the happily having the attitude of a servant. This shows itself partly in faithful service in various roles within congregations, but more importantly in service of the world by the tireless service in the needs of others. Historically, this has been evident in educational and missionary work.
Simplicity: A focus on the essentials of faith and a lack of interest in the niceties of doctrinal definition. One of our denominations important early leaders once remarked: "The Apostles say: 'We believe we have salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ...' If I can teach only that concept, I have made that person a divinity scholar for all time." From simplicity flow secondary qualities of genuineness and practicality.
Happiness: The natural and spontaneous response to God's free and gracious gift of salvation.
Unintrusiveness: Based on the Moravian belief that God positively wills the existence of a variety of churches to cater for different spiritual needs. There is no need to win converts from other churches. The source of Christian unity is not legal form, but everyone's heart relationship with Jesus.
Fellowship: Based on this heart relationship; the Moravian ideal has been to gather together kindred hearts... Where there are 'Christian hearts in love united', there fellowship is possible in spite of differences of intellect and intelligence, of thought, opinion, taste and outlook.
The Ideal of Service: This is the happily having the attitude of a servant. This shows itself partly in faithful service in various roles within congregations, but more importantly in service of the world by the tireless service in the needs of others. Historically, this has been evident in educational and missionary work.
Who Are Moravians?
We hope that you find this desciption of of our identity to be helpful, but it is essential that we never lose fact that our faith is not simply a list of statements about our Church. Our faith is relationship -- relationship with Jesus Christ. This provides a basis for relationship with one another. This should always be the foundation for our understanding of Moravian identity. Once this is understood, then we can use these following statements as a way to describe this relationship.
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* Moravian's believe in one God: Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer
* Moravian's believe that Jesus Christ is the way to God and God's way to us. * Moravian's believe that a personal, heart felt relationship with God through Jesus Christ is an essential part of faith. * Moravian's hold that faith in Jesus must also be a community experience. * Moravian's believe the Church is called into existence by Jesus to serve and follow him. * Moravian's find guidance for doctrine and faith through the Bible. * Moravian's subscribe to the major creeds of the Church, including the Apostles' and the Nicene Creeds. |
* Moravian's share God's love in word and deed with people of other cultures and in all the world.
* Moravian's have a rich heritage of creativity in our music and worship. * Moravian's believe that discerning God's will is a task to be shared among many leaders rather than to be vested in a single person or office. Thus, there is a conferential form of government which shares this responsibility. * Moravian's place great value on their ties with Christians of other Moravian provinces and with Christians of other denominations throughout the world. |
