What We Believe at Valley View Christian Church (Meirs 30yr church)

[Sgent]

Our beliefs are not innovative. Anyone familiar with historical Christian teaching will find these statements fall well within the boundaries of evangelical theology. (Evangelical means theology derived from the evangel , or the Gospel. In other words, it's biblical theology rather than speculative theology or theology rooted in tradition.)

We try not to be dogmatic about matters on which believers hold divergent views. Our core beliefs are centered in Christ and His message as supported by Scripture. More obscure doctrine, as well as controversial issues about which the Bible is silent, are left to believers to sort out on their own. On these issues we take no official/dogmatic position. What follows is a summary of what we believe.

We believe the Bible to be the only infallible, inspired, authoritative Word of God. As such it is our final authority for all matters of faith and Christian practice.( 2 Timothy 3:14-16 )

We believe that there is one God eternally existing in three persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is the Creator of all things. ( Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

We believe in Jesus Christ , God in human flesh, who came to this world to die for our sins and who was bodily raised from the dead. ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 )

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God, who draws people to Christ and who lives in every person who has received Christ. ( John 16:8-9; Acts 2:38; Ephesians 1:13-14)

We believe that man, created by God, willfully sinned and as a result is lost and without hope apart from receiving Jesus Christ. ( Romans 3:23;6:23; Acts 4:12)

We believe that salvation (forgiveness of sins) is available only by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. This free gift of forgiveness is offered to all who receive Christ as Lord and Savior. ( Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:6; John 3:16)

We believe the Bible clearly teaches the pattern to receive Christ is to believe in Jesus as God's Son and Savior of the world, repent of personal sin, confess Christ publicly, and be baptized. ( Romans 10:9; Acts 2: 36-38; Mark 16:16 )

We believe that full immersion under water is the prescribed mode of baptism as indicated by Jesus' own example and command, and best depicts our union in His death, burial, and resurrection. ( Mark 1:9-10; Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4 )

We believe that the Church is the body and bride of Christ on earth, founded on the day of Pentecost, consisting of all Christians everywhere. ( Matthew 16:13-18 )

We believe that death seals the eternity of each person ( Hebrews 9:27 ). Those who are forgiven will spend eternity with God in heaven, those not forgiven will be eternally separated from God in hell .( John 5:28-29; Daniel 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Acts 17:31)

http://www.vvcc.org/beliefsgo.asp
.....

Now I'm scared.

[Maat]

1. It really sounds like the typical Southern Baptist stuff ..

see the SBC website:

http://www.sbc.net/ .

I'm curious if they are affiliated with the SBC. Will report back.

[Maddy McCall]

2. Check THIS out. Before they sanitized their website, their "theological..

statement:"

Theological Statement of Valley View Christian Church

•We believe that there is one Living and True God, eternally existing in three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; and that this triune God created all, upholds all and governs all.

•We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired, without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice.

•We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

•We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teaching, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal visible return to earth.

•We believe in the Holy Spirit, Who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, Counselor and Guide.

•We believe that all men are sinners by nature and choice and are therefore under condemnation; and that God regenerates and indwells with the Holy Spirit those who repent of their sins, confess Jesus Christ as Lord and are immersed into His death.

•We believe in the universal Church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members.

•We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the church: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe in water baptism and communion open to all believers.

•We believe in the personal, visible return of Christ and the consummation of His Kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous, and endless suffering of the wicked.

•We believe that God created this world in 6 days, that He created man in His own image, for fellowship with Himself.

•We believe that life is sacred. It begins at conception and should be held in respect. Abortion to us is the taking of innocent life and should be condemned.

•We believe that God created man and woman for celibacy or a monogamous relationship. Homosexuality is a perversion of God's design and is condemned by Him in the Scriptures. We love the homosexual but denounce the behavior.

•We believe that God is sovereign. Man does not possess the judgment nor the right to determine when one's life should end. Euthanasia is man assuming God's sovereign role and therefore, must be rejected.


Google cache link: http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:C3nYuyNCChwJ:www.valleyviewcc.net/lccabout.html+%22Valley+View+Christian+Church%22+abortion&hl=en

[Mr_Spock]

3. Fascinating

Amazing that they would manipulate the message of the church like that. Seems to me that this is critical information that should be forwarded to Democrats on the Judiciary Committee.

[Tom Joad]

20. The Google Cache says it was Jan. 2005

This is G o o g l e's cache of http://www.valleyviewcc.net/lccabout.html as retrieved on Jan 23, 2005 14:25:43 GMT.

It does not say when it was changed. It could have been last week, or February.

We should be clear that people should be able to hold any belief about God or gods or no god they want. But the important to know what political beliefs she follows.

As bad as these things are, it gets worse. What she is being put on the court to do is not to overturn Roe v. Wade, but to be a corporate whore.
See this
http://counterpunch.org/frank10042005.html

Kenny boy, expect any verdict you might have to be overturned.

[Maat]

4. Yahoo!

Good catch, Maddy!

Wonder why it was scrubbed, and how recently?

[Az]

16. Bad data, Self delete

[Stephanie]

5. let's get this out to the press & the Dems

Can we get this to the Activist Corps?

Kicking & recommending -

Is there time to add the cached material to the OP?

[Tinksrival]

6. Is this the right church?

Highlands Ranch, Co. ???

[Allyoop]

8. Is this the right church?

No - check addresses.

[lynne]

7. This is a different Valley View church -

- its in Colorado. Miers church is Valley View in Dallas TX.

[Maddy McCall]

11. Shit! Sorry, y'all.

[asjr]

12. let's get this straight. They are basically saying

God created man, but he screwed up with homosexuals. How on earth can they explain that?

[FreedomAngel82]

23. I guess they could go by the old excuse

Satan made them do it. The thing though sometimes a lot of fundamentalists forget is a little thing God gave us called freewill.

[Rowdyboy]

15. Its so good to hear from you again...

I've followed your situation, but I hope we see more of you soon!

[FreedomAngel82]

22. What I wonder is

if they are like the fundamentalists on the "religious right". For the most part all Christians believe along those lines but the difference is respecting freewill and choices. I'm a Christian myself but what I know and respect is not everybody believes what I do. We have freewill and it's not my place to take away someone else's freewill. I may not agree with homosexuality but I am a support of gay rights because what gay rights is about is the law and not religion. Also as a woman first I respect Roe V Wade and a woman's right to choose. Some women do have to have an abortion and it's not my place to judge others. Here are some verses on judging others and what the Bible states:

Matthew 7:2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 12: 57 57"Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?

[hollowdweller]

27. I don't care what she BELIEVES, but how much of that she wants in law

[ruggerson]

28. Maddy

This should be sent to reporters from the NYT and WP as soon as possible.

[hatrack]

31. Pre-scrubbed version - good catch, and thanks!

:toast:

[Perky]

34. Maddy How about doint a bit of research before posting?!?!?!?!

This it Harriet's Church it's in Denver. SHe is from Dallas.

[dogfacedboy]

38. They only speak against abortion and euthanasia in the life

section. No mention of being against the death penalty, therefore they support the death penalty, therefore they condone MURDER.

[slay]

46. Whoops

I see now this is a different Valley View. Although wouldn't surprise me if both held the same beliefs.

edited to reflect new info

[longship]

9. Senators need this. So does the press.

Especially the neatly scrubbed Web site. Preserve that Google cache!!

[Maat]

10. Now, DUers, THIS is interesting ...

http://www.christianstandard.com/articledisplay.asp?id=134


"Faith in Action
Miers is a woman of faith with strong Christian beliefs. To her, it has been “wonderful to be working for a president who is a believer and who acts on his faith.” The president talks about his faith often, and it is important to him. It also is important to Miers. She brings her faith to bear on everything she does. It’s not only a part of how she views issues, it also affects her willingness to serve and her desire to do well. She readily acknowledges that she can’t do anything without the grace of God."

...

"Service, responsibility, duty, sacrifice, and faith are words integral to understanding Harriet Miers and her colleagues. She describes the Bush team as “an administration where faith is important. Prayers count. We all value prayers.” She says that everyone can make a difference–“by your vote, by writing, by doing something that is demonstrable, whether it’s in school,” or out in the community. “Empowerment is real, and individual people are able to change the course of history.”

[Occulus]

13. We should characterize these as HER views

and force her to rebut them.

If it's her church of 30+ years, they most likely ARE her views, and we should force her to answer as to whether those views will in ANY way color her legal rulings.

If yes, in any way, she is unacceptable. Period.

ed. sp.

[FreedomAngel82]

24. Sometimes people just believe in something

because it's all they've known. For a while I went through really studying and questioning my faith and seeing where I was going to belong and ended up staying with my Christian beliefs but some people never question anything they're told and don't read the whole Bible themselves and study it etc. I would like to hear what she has to say about those views as well. Will she go with the views and "stay true" to her church or will she change to get onto the SCOTUS?

[dretceterini]

14. In Utah

they are painting her as somewhere between moderate and liberal!! ??

[salin]

26. ah - so when she presided over a law firm that helped

defraud investor's (steal) of their hard earned money - she was following the teachings of Jesus? When she praises * it is just about his prayers - not about his actions - which seriously counter the teachings of Christ (ala further impoverishing the poor, while aiding and abetting the wealthy to get more wealthy). Interesting.

[marions ghost]

33. she repented

and got a pardon from God the Ultimate Judge, the same God who also pardoned Chimpy's minor transgressions.

[alittlelark]

17. I believe they should do some more 'shrooms

...quite prevalent in the south....


And look at the Good Book again.

[norml]

18. She's The Church Lady

Could it be Satan?

[Maat]

19. I think that you are quite correct, Norml (n/t).

[AllyCat]

21. They said they based this on the gospels. Few of those quotes are part

of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, John, and Luke). So, they have contradicted themselves and are just outright scary to boot.

[FreedomAngel82]

25. Good eye!

That is a very good eye. With me if the apostles say one thing about something I try to see if Jesus talks about it and if he does then since I am a Christian and follow Christ I will go by what he says. Mostly in the New Testament after the gospel books is the apostles spreading the story of Christ and what happened with him and setting up the first century church and making an establishment and letters to churches and whatnot from various apostles.

[Lerkfish]

29. seems fairly typical of that denomination..(edit) oops!

is the UNWRITTEN stuff, where the bigotry comes in...a better view would be to see if they organize protests outside clinics, or have "programs" to "heal" homosexuals, that sort of thing. those won't be in their "beliefs".

edit: didn't see the pre-scrubbed version, sorry. I saw it in subsequent posts.

even so, it is STILL fairly representative of that denomination, unfortunately.

[Connie_Corleone]

35. The Google cache is from a different church, different state. nt

[leesa]

30. Very shallow.

[Perky]

32. You People are outrageous.

You treat nominal and normal Christian tenets, the same way the fundies treat "fags and abortion doctors",


We areupposed to be the good guys.


We ware suppose have the big tent


I am a Christian. I have been a democrat all mylife. My southern Baptist dad born anr raised in middle Georgia wen into Neibwark after Martin was shot to try and slow down the riots. My Mom has been a Democratic activist all her life. We all marched on Washing when it mean something back in 1969 and 1971 and 1973. We are supposed be better than this. I will match my pedigree against anyone on this site

I am not a Democratic in spite of my faith I am a Democrat because of it.


Quit trying to push Christians to the back of the Democratic Bus or worse quie trying to push under the wheels.


Talk about being arrogant and narrow-minded.

[IdaBriggs]

37. "Talk about being arrogant and narrow-minded?"

Let me clarify for you -- I found your post offensive. Big tent, small tent -- whatever. You find comfort in your religious beliefs, and you are more than welcome to do so, but for those who don't follow your faith (whichever variant of heretical Christianity you practice), some of that shit is outright SCARY. That whole SIN concept, for example, where everybody is born bad, might make some people feel good, but heaven knows I think its a load of crap. As for the "word of God" aka the Bible, let's just say that between the talking snake and the zombie king, there is a lot of interesting stuff in it, but not everyone finds the tales of rape, murder, incest and war to be inspiring. Entertaining, yes. Inspiring, no.

I'm one of those "crazy people" who has actually read and studied the bible. Its a fabulous book, and the teachings of that Jewish boy Jesus sound a lot like a ton of other religions in the world. The writings attributed to Paul can vary between the beautifully poetic and the outright misogynistic. (Let's not even talk about women and slavery, okay?) But all of that aside, your faith helps you to be the person YOU want to be. That's fine. My faith -- which I choose NOT to discuss on a POLITICAL message board -- guides me also.

It is RUDE to scorn and ridicule the religion of other people, but heaven knows sometimes its not easy to remember good manners. (Talking snakes? "Angels" as investigative reporters? An invisible Zeus like figure impregnating a virgin? Etc. :eyes: ) But let's be clear:

"Christians" who want to send "gay people" and other "sinners" TO HELL along with women who don't "obey their masters", who think "slavery" was part of God's plan, and that they have a right to voice their opinions about other people's medical decisions in ANY form, have truly given many people a bad impression of themselves.

Now, you may be one of those "crazy people" who actually tries to FOLLOW the teachings of Christ (summed up as "love one another" and "be nice to each other"), but frankly, one of the two groups needs a new name, because until then, there is going to be the occasional "injured feeling" when innocent people are lumped in with the Hell Fire and Damnation Control Freaks.

And let me be clear -- big tent, small tent -- whatever: I am totally fine with those folks being tossed UNDER the wheels of ANY bus (metaphorically speaking, of course).

[Perky]

48. Yeah ok

Look I do not evangelize on this site.. would never think of doing so. But when people start insulting me and others solely because they do not like Christians or have chosen another path. that is offensive to people with no good reason other than being a jerk because you can.

You are absolutely and unequivically entitled to your opinions, but if this a purely political site, then you ought not be adding fuel to the fire by adding incendiary posts about people and their religious beliefs.

THat is narrow-minded bigotry in its worst form.

[Perky]

49. Yeah ok

Look I do not evangelize on this site.. would never think of doing so. But when people start insulting me and others solely because they do not like Christians or have chosen another path. that is offensive to people with no good reason other than being a jerk because you can.

You are absolutely and unequivically entitled to your opinions, but if this a purely political site, then you ought not be adding fuel to the fire by adding incendiary posts about people and their religious beliefs.

THat is narrow-minded bigotry in its worst form.

[Connie_Corleone]

36. There are many churches with those beliefs.

Many Democrats go to churches with those beliefs too. Why not look at what she thinks about the Constitution and the law? It's more relevant.

[AllyCat]

45. Because we can't TELL what she thinks about those things!

All we have to go on is what we can glean about her professional life before Bush* and her private dealings. Someone who belongs to a church that holds these views for 25 years is undoubtedly going to agree with most if not all of their teachings. She phoned her pastor right after the nomination to ask them to pray for her. She was "born again" in 1979. (Salon.com has an interesting article about this today).

Bush* will not release info on her work with him due to attorney-client privilege. She has no judicial experience to see how she might rule on cases brought before her. She hasn't done anything except corporate law so we have no clue how she might interpret the Constitution.

When we look at how Fundies do things in this day and age, and one finds out an unknown nominee is a member of a Fundie church, and we can't get any more information, we go with what we know.

No one here is slamming Christians. We are concerned about a church and a member of potential significance to our lives for the next 20 years or so, that espouses views that seem contrary to what we believe as Democrats and progressives.

[apnu]

39. Question: When did the Bible get a book called "Timothy"

I haven't even looked at a bible in over a decade, but I don't recall a book called "Timothy" I have a old King James bible that my grandfather had received when he became a deacon in the 1950s, I'll look in that for a book called Timothy (which is not near me right now) but I really don't recall such a thing.

Can someone explain that one to me? Are there new books in the bible? If so, since when?

:wtf:

[Connie_Corleone]

40. First and Second Timothy, supposedly written by Paul to Timothy.

They are both in the New Testament Canon. It's in the King James.

[apnu]

41. OK, I just don't remember that book...

all the other names refereced by the site I knew. But then, I'm not a X-tian, so I'm no authority.

[bmbmd]

44. Here's a link to Second Timothy.

http://www.raptureme.com/resource/kjv/2Timothy.html

(check out the url) It is one of my favorite books. It was written by the imprisoned Paul, and is purported to be his last words. He is older, he is wiser, and he is more mellow. I think you will be able to see his reconciling tone. He has certainly toned down some of that self-righteous my way or the highway rhetoric that characterized his earlier writings. I love the images of an old man in prison, awaiting execution, asking for his cloak and his parchments. I love the "finshed the race" allegory. I believe that if Paul can improve with age, moving on to perfection, that I can too. Enjoy the read-should only take a few minutes.

[jazzjunkysue]

42. Check out this image: Creepy, creepy, creepy

I don't care if it is the wrong church. This image is just creepy.


:scared:

[DanCa]

43. Full Immersion under water - is that why the bushes drink so much

[roguevalley]

47. That is why I no longer go to church or profess Christianity. Until

it comes back from the madness, I no longer participate.