CONFESSION OF FAITH
1. God
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in God the Father, the Creator and Sustainer of this universe, who in infinite wisdom and love planned the redemption of humanity and accomplished it through Jesus Christ.
We believe in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly human, who was born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, was crucified for our sins, rose from the dead and was exalted to the right hand of God.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who effects redemption in the lives of those who believe in Christ. He convicts, guides, teaches, rebukes, indwells, empowers, comforts, intercedes, unites believers into one body, and glorifies Christ.
2. The Revelation of God.
We believe that God has made His power and deity known in creation. He revealed Himself also in word and deed in the Old Testament. God revealed Himself supremely and finally in the Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the New Testament. We believe that all Scripture is inspired by God as people of God were moved by the Holy Spirit. We accept the entire Bible as the infallible Word of God and as the authoritative guide for the faith and life of Christian discipleship
3. Humanity and Sin.
We believe that humanity was created in the image of God, sinless and in fellowship with God, with a free will to make moral choices. Man and Woman chose sin and thus brought death upon the whole human race. As a consequence all people are sinful by nature, guilty before God and in need of forgiveness and restoration.
4. Salvation by Grace.
We believe that there is one God and Mediator between God and humanity, Jesus Christ, who by his substitutionary death has redeemed humanity from the power of sin, death and eternal punishment. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ. Those who repent receive forgiveness of sins and by the power of the Holy Spirit are born into the family of God and, as faithful disciples, joyfully obey God’s Word.
5. The Christian Life.
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer and transforms him/her into the image of Christ and enables him/her to witness to Christ in daily life. The Christian lives in fellowship with God and other believers and joins a local church at baptism. The believer contributes to the building of the body of Christ with his/her material and spiritual gifts. By the means of grace provided by Christ, the believer seeks to grow to maturity, as this is expressed particularly in the “fruit of the Spirit.” Since the Christian’s body is a “temple of the Holy Spirit” believers refrain from those things which harm the body and the mind. In striving for perfection the believer recognizes his/her complete dependence on God and the constant need for God’s forgiving and cleansing grace.
6. The Church of Christ.
We believe that the Church with established through Christ’s redemptive work in history, and that is comprised of all who put their faith in Him and who are baptized by the Spirit into one body, regardless of nation, race, or social class. Despite the diversity in congregations and denominations, the Holy Spirit creates unity among all the people of God. The local church is an association of baptized believers. Mennonite Brethren churches, whose polity is in agreement with the constitution of the Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, work together in a spirit of interdependence, love and submission one to another under the Lordship of Christ. Believers manifest loving concern for each other and sbmit to mutual admonition and discipline. Those who fall and refuse to be corrected are excluded from the fellowship of the church; those who repent are forgiven and restored.
7. The Mission of the Church.
We believe that the Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation,” and that the command to make disciples of all nations is the primary task of the Church. Every member of the Church is called to participate in the mission of the Church as he/she is enabled by God’s grace.
8. The Christian Ministries.
We believe that God through the Holy Spirit has endowed all believers with gifts for Christian ministries. Some members of the Church, however, are called to lead, to preach, to teach, to evangelize, to nurture; others perform diaconal ministries. The Church commissions or ordains people for such ministries and loves, respects, and supports those who serve faithfully. Those in leadership are to live exemplary Christian lives.
9. Christian Baptism.
We believe that Christians should be baptized in water upon confession of their faith in Christ. The Mennonite Brethren Church practices baptism by immersion, although it receives into fellowship those who have been baptized on confession of their faith by another mode. By baptism a believer enters into the fellowship of the local church and commits him/herself to a life of discipleship and service.
10. The Lord’s Supper.
Believers who have been baptized observe the Lord’s Supper. In preparation every believer is to examine him/herself so as to partake in a worthy manner. Those who are at peace with God and their fellows are invited to the Lord’s Table.
11. Marriage and the Christian Home.
We believe that God instituted marriage. Believers who marry should have a common Christian commitment; a believer should not marry an unbeliever. We believe that divorce constitutes a violation of God’s intention for marriage. Christian parents should nurture their children through exemplary living, prayer, worship, instruction in God’s Word, and godly discipline.
12. The Lord’s Day and Work.
We believe that God has called us to work and that work is honorable. However, the Christian also needs to have time for worship, instruction in the faith and fellowship. Therefore, following the example of the New Testament Church, Mennonite Brethren gather on the Lord’s Day for spiritual upbuilding and limit their labors on that day to work of necessity and deeds of mercy.
13. Christian Integrity.
Christians are obligated to speak the truth at all times. As witness to our integrity we refuse the making of oaths, in keeping with what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. Also, we avoid holding memberships in lodges and secret societies, but seek father to foster fellowship among believers.
14. The State.
We believe that God has instituted the state. Our chief concern and primary allegiance, however, is to Christ’s kingdom. We pray for our government, respect those in authority, pay taxes, obey all laws not in conflict with the Word of God, and witness against corruption and injustice in society.
15. Love and Peace.
We believe that God is Christ reconciles people to himself and to one another, making peace through the cross. We believe the church is a fellowship of redeemed people living by love. Christians seek to the agents of reconciliation in all relationships, to practice love and enemies as taught by Christ, to be peacemakers in all situations, e.g., personal injustice, social upheaval and international tension. We view violence in all forms, e.g., abortion, abuse, rape, war, as contradictions to the new nature of the Christian. We believe that the evil and inhuman nature of such actions are contrary to the gospel of love and peace. We believe Christians are called to perform alternative service rather than to participate in war. Alleviating suffering, reducing strife, and promoting justice are ways of demonstrating the love of Christ.
16. Christ’s Final Triumph.
We believe that God will some day bring His purpose to a final consummation. When Christ returns the dead in Christ will be raised and together with the living believers they will be transformed and they shall be forever with the Lord. In the end all evil powers will be defeated, and whereas the ungodly shall suffer eternal punishment, the saints shall enjoy eternal bliss in the presence of God.
For a more detailed statement of faith, see the official 1975 “Confession of Faith” of the Mennonite Brethren Churches.
門諾弟兄會北美洲總會的信仰宣言就是頌愛堂的信仰宣言。
1. 我們信神是自有永有的獨一真神，是聖父、聖子、聖靈三位而一體。
a. 我們相信父神是萬物的創造者，是掌管宇宙的主宰。祂為人類計劃救贖並藉基督成就了此救贖。
b. 我們相信耶穌基督是永生神的兒子，道成肉身，是完全的神及完全的人，由聖靈感孕籍童貞女馬利亞所生，在十架上流血捨身替人贖罪使人脱離罪的刑罰和權勢。祂三日後從死裡復活，並且升天，現今在父神的右邊。
c. 我們相信聖靈。與父、子同等。被差來完成人類的救贖，為要榮耀基督，使人知罪悔改得獲重生，並居於信徒心中，勸戒，改造引領，教導、責備，賜下力量、安慰、代求，使信徒藉以得勝，又聯合信徒成為一體，作為教會。
2. 我們相信新舊兩約聖經是神所默示的，是神的話語。是無誤和絕對真確可信，是基督徒信仰和生活最高的準則。
3. 我們相信人是按神的形象造的，因悖逆神，破壞了與神的團契，給全人類帶來肉身及靈性的死亡，與神隔絕， 伏在神忿怒之下，唯有藉主耶穌基督使罪得赦。
4. 我們相信主耶穌基督藉著流血代贖，拯救世人脱離罪的審判和權勢，與神和好。凡悔改並誠心信靠基督為救主的人，就可以得著赦免，藉聖靈重生，進入神的國，成為神的兒女。
5. 我們相信聖靈住在每一個基督徒心中，引領信徒過得勝的生活，並與其他的信徒建立相交的團契，見証基督。
6. 我們相信教會是基督的身體，由真信徒所組成，她最主要的任務是藉著教導，講道及關懷，使人成為門徒。信徒使用神所賜的恩賜去服事人，活出基督徒的生活，彼此幫助。
7. 我們相信教會首要的任務和使命是使萬民作主的門徒。每一會友均有責任為基督作見証。
8. 我們相信神透過聖靈，賜予信徒各樣事奉的恩賜，服事他人，建立教會。
9. 我們相信基督徒須遵照基督的命令而受浸，這是表明與基督的死及復活聯合的＂約＂。
10. 我們相信聖餐是表明信徒與主及肢體的聯合。
11. 我們相信婚姻是神為了使男女雙方互為補足而設立的，故雙方須持守基督徒委身的態度。
12. 我們相信神的旨意是要人勤奮作工，祂並設立每周一日為敬拜及休息之用。
13. 我們相信基督徒當説真話，並避免起誓。
14. 我們相信神設立國家以維持社會的治安，基督徒須遵守沒有違反聖經原則的法律，並為執政掌權者代禱及支持他們。
15. 我們相信基督徒當避免戰爭及暴力，在任何景況下當實踐基督之愛律。
16. 我們相信基督必快再來，並會審判全人類，祂以永遠的痛苦懲罰不義的，在天上卻以永遠的快樂賜公義的，基督將建立新天新地，就是神與祂的子民永遠在一起的所在。