Our Core Values
We Value People
People matter to God
We believe people matter to God and therefore they matter to us. God demonstrated the high value He places on people when he gave His very best, his Son, to provide the gift of salvation. GCIC’s assignment is to get the message of this good news to the world so we can help people establish a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and equip them to become Difference Makers in the world.
(John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Luke 15:7, Luke 15:10))
We Value Application of Scripture
Teaching is for Life-Change
We believe the Bible is God’s Word to our world. Therefore, we must live and practice the life changing principles we discover. God gave us His Word in order to equip us and change us for His glory and our benefit.
(Psalm 1, James 1:22-25, Luke 6:46, Psalm 119:11)
We Value Authentic Community
Life change happens best in community groups
We believe real authenticity is best described as openness with others about our strengths and weaknesses. We will help people find their way from the large group (weekend worship) into relationally-authentic community groups.
(Acts 2:44-47, Romans 7, Colossians 4:5)
We Value Relevance
Although our methods will change, our Message will not
We believe the Bible is the most exciting book ever written, and we seek to share its’ good news in relevant environments. We will create appropriate environments for our Preschoolers, Grade school children, Middle and High school students as well as adults.
(1 Corinthians 9:22, 2 Corinthians 11:2, 1 Chronicles 12:32)
We Value Service
Every member is a minister
We believe God has equipped every Christ-Follower with gifts and passions so they can become difference makers for Jesus Christ. We will encourage everyone to use and develop their gifts and talents in service to our church, community and world.
(1 Peter 4:10, Romans 12:6-8, 1Cornithians 12:4-7, Ephesians 4:11-13)
2 comments:
Just some thoughts, they may be pretty weak.
This is an interesting concept, but how far can you take it? If you go to the extreme, does the logic still work?
In the example of a driver running down a pedestrian by accident, icy road and all. Let's say (he) was speeding, and is aware that speeding can lead to these types of accidents? Now, is it murder? No, but it is a step up from being purely an accident.
Similarly, could you say there are "grades" of sin? Most have heard of the seven deadly sins (read Dante), but really how is any sin less terrible than another?
Now let's just say you THINK about committing a deadly sin. You just are physically unable to do it. Is that any less a sin? Is thinking about it with out doing it a "lesser" sin? I know you addressed this, but I am trying to ask...is there such a thing as a "lesser sin"?
Or was the car accident analogy just not intended to be so drawn out?
What about the hot girl? If you desire her, but know you could never do such a thing, are you sinning just in the desire? I mean come on, we are human and as such flawed in this way. Although I don't walk through the mall ogling every sample of God's artistry, there are times I get a crick in my neck and almost audibly say, "WOW"!
What do you say? Am I damned to see perdition's fault? If not, why is that fleeting thought of infidelity not a sin? And who makes that decision? (The last one is rhetorical)
Thank you for your comment.
- The illustration of the driver was used for showing the concept of intent in regards to wrongdoing. With that in mind we would recognize levels of guilt depending upon intent and negligence. In regards to levels of sin , wrong is wrong, but our understanding of wrong changes as we mature.
- If sin is defined more simply as our attempt to be independent from God there is no room for levels of "sin". Either we are trying to be independent from God or not, but again our recognition of this may change over time. As we grow in our walk with God He reveals to us new areas that we are attempting to be independent of Him. At any particular point in time we may feel we are fully dependent upon God, but then He may reveal we are not trusting Him for our finances or we are worrying about things in a manner that is not showing a dependence upon Him.
- The driving illustration again - a young inexperienced driver may not recognize the conditions call for a slower rate of speed and is therefore not guilty of negligence. A more experienced driver that does not slow down for the same conditions and causes a wreck is guilty of negligence. Although both drivers were guilty of the same results only one is guilty of negligence. This is a recognition of intent. This is why a reckless driving ticket can be so serious without any accident occurring. It is a recognition of the negligence and what the results could have been. Man can not be perfect in discerning intent, but God can and He can reveal it to us, about us.
- We often grade sins (consequences of sin)based on how severe they seem to us. The definition of sin we are using does not allow for grading - either we are attempting to be independent of God or not - it is not about the actions. This leads into the area you were referring to - "Now let's just say you THINK about committing a deadly sin. You just are physically unable to do it. Is that any less a sin? Is thinking about it with out doing it a "lesser" sin?" - First, I would say thinking about it is not the issue, it is not even the desire, rather the attitude or decision that if I could I would. This is the intent and is a reflection of attempting to be independent of God. Second, I would definitely not rate a decision not acted upon because of interference of some kind as a lesser wrong than the committed act. This inaccuracy is seen in different penalties for attempted murder and accomplished murder. Either way murder was the intent.
- I must confess, I have thought of killing someone and even desired to, but would never act on it even with an opportunity to get away with it. Thoughts and desires come to us unbidden. We are not guilty of the thought or desire that appears, but the determination that we will act on it if possible is a problem. Eve may not have been guilty when she grabbed the fruit because she had not decided to eat it yet, but she certainly put herself into harms way. Thoughts are not as powerful as desires - I always think of young Joseph being seduced by the masters wife and his response. He ran away. He did not run because there was no desire on his part. He put distance between himself and the temptation as Eve should have.
- Because of my early life, before becoming a Christ follower, being introduced to pornography, I have a difficult time with scantily clad women (probably most men do anyway). In recognition of this I do not spend time at the beach and other venues that are full of something that is tempting to me. As a young adult I did not attend parties that presented opportunities for failing in this area. I ran from the temptation to decrease the risk of failure and to decrease the power of the desire.
- The question "What do you say? Am I damned to see perdition's fault? If not, why is that fleeting thought of infidelity not a sin?" The thought that occurs is out of our control - the dwelling on it and deciding that 'man if I could I would be all over that' is the intent factor - the determination that I am not dependent upon God and will do whatever I like if I can. I would say it is foolish to put yourself in these situations needlessly, but they do occur. Avoiding all possibility of temptation is not only impossible, but does not address the problem. We must face temptation to choose God. That is why there was choice in the Garden - so Adam and Eve could choose God, not be created to follow with no choice. We must choose to be dependent upon God. The real issue with this is our inability to do this. It is only through Christ that we can turn to God.
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