Friends Values

Values are a practical expression of our beliefs. They move us from a formal belief statement to a functional belief system. They help us put our faith into practice. These are not our only values, but rather ones that we hold as priorities in the life and practice of our churches. The following complement each other.

The Written Word of God and the Living Word of God

We value the Bible, the written Word of God, as God's revelation and our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We live in Christ because of its saving message of salvation through Jesus, our Lord and Savior. This value gives us respect for the authority of Scripture, a love for the teaching and preaching of the Bible and an intense desire to obey its teachings.

Along with the written Word of God we value the Holy Spirit of God, who inspired the Scriptures and illuminates our understanding. We believe that He teaches us to obey all that Jesus commanded, and grants us grace and power to live out the Word of God in daily life. Jesus said, "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life (John 5:39-40)." We value the written Word because it leads us to the living Word, Jesus Christ. This value causes us to worship God in spirit and in truth. Christ, the living Word, teaches us Himself, but never in contradiction of Scripture. We encourage our churches and people to spend time in silent listening to the Holy Spirit during both public and private worship.

The Great Commission and the Great Commandment

We value Christ's Great Commission to preach the gospel to every creature and to disciple all the nations. We believe the Great Commission begins at home, where we live, work, play and participate—and extends to every nation, culture and people group worldwide. We go in Christ's authority and with His presence. This value causes us to invest in cross-cultural missions, disciple making, church planting, pastoral training, and sending out missionaries and workers into the harvest.

Along with the Great Commission we value the Great Commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This value causes us to honor and protect every individual—high and low, rich and poor, unborn and disabled, mentally ill and terminally ill, exceptional and institutionalized. We seek to obey the often-repeated commands in Scripture to love one another and to do good.

Leadership of the Elders and Priesthood of the Believers

We value the leadership of elders and pastors. We select our leaders on the basis of holy living, spiritual leadership, personal morality and ethical conduct. We hold our shepherds and leaders in high honor for their hard work, love of God's people and work in the ministry. This value leads us to select elders prayerfully and carefully. Then we listen to their wise counsel as we seek the mind of the Spirit. We record or commission pastors and staff members as we recognize their gifts and abilities and the call of God upon their lives for public ministry.

Along with the leadership of pastors and elders we value the priesthood of all believers, the people of God who pray, worship, teach, discern, witness, bless, encourage, love, give and serve. This value causes us to gather in church for worship, teaching, fellowship and service. We develop team ministries and speak up for Christ wherever we may scatter—home, neighborhood, school, work, recreation, travel.

Personal Intimacy with Christ and Corporate Consensus from Christ

We value personal intimacy with Christ. This personal, saving relationship comes from the cross, resurrection and outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us. We respond with a heart of devotion and listen to the voice of our Good Shepherd through God's Spirit, Word, people and works. This value causes us to open ourselves to Him through the practice of spiritual disciplines, to discover our true identities as children of God, and to find our freedom in Christ Jesus.

Along with personal intimacy with Christ we value corporate consensus from the Holy Spirit. We believe that group guidance takes precedence over individual guidance. The Body of Christ helps us open our eyes to self-deception and encourages us toward sound judgment, good sense and God's guidance. This value causes us to use Friends business procedures that pursue the mind of Christ. We come to unity in decision-making through prayer and discussion rather than by voting. When we do not find ourselves in unity, we believe that we are the ones who are confused. God is not confused because He has only one will.

Godly Character and Spiritual Gifts

We value all the biblical character qualities, believing that we are being transformed into the image and likeness of Christ. The fruit of the Spirit produces a Christlike life that lives above reproach in obedience to the Scriptures. This life flows from our daily connection with Christ as we respond to Him by our repentance, faith, hope, and love. As we present our bodies and souls without reservation to God we experience life transformation, the filling and cleansing of the Holy Spirit and the renewing of our minds. This value causes us to hold one another accountable for holy living, gracious attitudes, loving actions, honest speech and enduring perseverance. Both formally and informally we hold expectations of living not for ourselves but for Christ. As we do so, we become more and more Christlike.

Along with Godly character we value spiritual gifts given to each of us by the Holy Spirit. He decides who receives each gift, and in what proportion. These gifts become unique as they mix with our God-given personalities, talents and abilities. While using spiritual gifts is personally enjoyable, their main purpose is to build up the body of Christ and to serve others in our work and witness. This value causes us to invite everyone in the church to find a ministry, to work together in teams and to reproduce workers, leaders, groups, classes and churches.