神学的身份

Statement by 买球平台 On Its 神学的身份

Evangelicalism and Anabaptism have historically described the theological identity of 买球平台. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Clarence Hiebert and Wes Prieb articulated this descriptor of Tabor in chapels and in church pulpits. They were quite assertive in their identification of Tabor as an Anabaptist/Evangelical school, even stating that Tabor was the only Anabaptist school with this combined theological understanding. 最重要的是, these two theological streams were to receive equal importance in our identity with the 福音派 descriptor differentiating us from other schools.

The political climate of our nation combined with the media’s labeling of people groups and voter blocks has raised the question whether we should continue to use these terms to describe our theological identity. 作为一所大学, we become victims of our culture when we allow these labels to distort who we are and the mission and vision that we have been called to live out. 因此……

我们接受这个词 福音派 for the following reasons:

• The literal meaning of the term. “Evangelicals take the Bible seriously and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 这个词 福音派 comes from the Greek word euangelion, meaning ‘the good news’ or ‘the gospel.“因此,, the 福音派 faith focuses on the ‘good news’ of salvation brought to sinners by Jesus Christ.” (什么是福音派?)
• The inclusiveness that it represents. The label brings together many Christian traditions forming a common community around theological convictions, 教义的信仰, 还有信仰实践.
• The global acceptance and understanding of the term. Evangelicalism is a worldwide movement that transcends American politics. No one geopolitical region or political party should define the theological identity of the college.
• The affirmation of our constituency. 这个词 is supported by the vast majority of our constituents. It also is a term that the families of prospective students recognize when asking what decidedly Christian means.
• The transforming power that it represents. Only the transforming love of Jesus Christ and the guidance of the scriptures, which are the core of Evangelicalism, can bring about the true transformation of a person. Incorporating true 福音派 faith into the curriculum and practices of 买球平台 enables us to fulfill our deepest desire for our students.
• The strong compatibility with our mission and vision statements. An 福音派 faith is required to fulfill our mission statement and to provide the experience that we proclaim in our vision statement.

我们接受这个词 再洗礼派教徒 for the following reasons:

• 它提倡的激进主义. It encourages people to become involved in helping make the world more as God intended it to be. “True 福音派 faith … cannot lie dormant,它给赤裸的人穿上衣服, 它能喂饱饥饿的人, it comforts the sorrowful, it shelters the destitute,… it serves those that harm it,… it binds up what is wounded,… it has become all things to all creatures.”
• The lifestyle it calls us to. Living the way Anabaptism teaches is a healthy way of living. It makes for a meaningful and satisfying life that encourages reconciliation and peacemaking as a way of life.
• 我们的历史根源. The college was founded because of a desire to have a school that teaches and trains men and women a certain brand of 福音派ism.
• 专注于门徒训练. Following Christ requires us to engage in a lifestyle that demonstrates the power of Christ in our lives. Being a Christ follower is more than belief. It requires actions that demonstrate the beliefs.
• The positive impact it has on society. Our world would be a better place if as a society we would all embrace the principles of Anabaptism.
• The strong compatibility with our mission and vision statements. An 再洗礼派教徒 understanding of faith encompasses our mission statement and provides the experience that we proclaim in our vision statement.

Although Evangelicalism as a movement came considerably later than the Anabaptist movement, 在很多方面, Anabaptism can be understood as a subset of Evangelicalism. It is common to combine theological terms with 福音派 such as Evangelical/Calvinist, 福音派/卫斯理, Evangelical/Dispensational, 福音派/魅力, 福音派/阿民念, Evangelical/Fundamentalist, or any one of a number of theological terms that convey an understanding of 福音派. Given our history and scriptural understanding, 福音派/再洗礼派教徒 when combined define the heart and soul of 买球平台’s theological identity.