First of all, I wholeheartedly subscribe to Shalom Mission Cambodia’s Articles of Faith.
Second of all, there are so many technicalities, qualifications and nuances involved in Statements/Articles of Faith that I could fill this page with so many definitions, clarifications and caveats that the words become essentially meaningless.
Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was an eloquent 272 words. By comparison, The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has almost 400 words just for Cabbage Grades and Standards, with a 28 page document for Inspection Standards for Cabbage.
But isn’t that the way sin was birthed in our human race – multiplied words obscuring plain meaning?
“Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:1) was the beginning of all earthly horrors when our parents entertained those words in the garden of Eden.
Our Creator’s words were simple, straightforward and true. Proverbs 10:19a puts it this way: “When words are many, transgression is not lacking”. Conversely, where transgression abounds, no amount of words will ever bring clarity, for the heart of the rebel is determined to “suppress the truth” Romans 1:18.
So at the risk of droning on, there are a couple keystones for my faith:
- Matthew 28:6a “He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.”
- John 20:29b “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Yes, we are called to defend The Faith, but in the end “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17b) Logic won’t do it. Emotion can’t do it. Effort can’t achieve it. Even religious/spiritual effort.
“That is why his [Abraham’s] faith was ‘counted to him as righteousness.’ But the words ‘it was counted to him’ were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (Romans 4:22-25)
Since “just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27), in the end you and I will be face to face with the One Who created us, the One Who then died to pay for our sins, the One Who rose from the dead to prove His payment sufficiently satisfied God’s wrath against our sins, the One Who sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts by faith, “Let us then with confidence [NOW!!! wc] draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need [which is always NOW!!! wc].” (Hebrews 4:16)
If you can’t “draw near to the throne of grace” by faith, then may my Statement of Faith stimulate you to ask God to make you right with Himself so you may.
If you can “draw near to the throne of grace” by faith, then let my Statement of Faith should be sufficient for you to join me in worshiping the only One Whose Statement of Faith is perfect – Jehovah/Yahweh (God the Father), The Lord Jesus Christ (God the Son), and Their Holy Spirit.