OPEN HAND vs. CLOSED HAND

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS.

At NightChurch, you'll hear us use words to describe our belief system like "Open Hand" and "Closed Hand". For us, this helps to describe which things are core essentials to our faith, and which things are open to discussion and cultural interpretation. Our "Closed Hand" items are timeless truths about GOD that the Bible has made clear - on these we will speak loudly. Our "Open Hand" items are those that we may have differing opinions on that are not necessarily core to the Christian faith - on these we will speak softly. They include many things like methods and preferences that are non-essentials. Here we see opportunity for grace and culture to allow for freedoms in their details.

While there are many "Open Hand" issues, we hold tightly to a few essential "Closed Hand" items:

• The absolute innerancy of the Bible.
• The Sovereignty of the Triune GOD, who is Creator of all things, including man and woman, unique and in His image.
• The present, painful, and destructive reality of sin - committed by both man and woman.
• The Incarnation of GOD as fully-GOD and fully-MAN in Jesus, who ultimately offered His life as a ransom for all mankind by means of Penal Substitutionary Atonement.
• The Resurrection of Jesus from Death to Life, conquering the power of Satan, sin, and death.
• The Salvation of man not through man's works, but solely through the work of Jesus, who by the Spirit, Justifies us in our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
• The choice is given to all men and women to either choose or reject the person and work of Jesus.
• The eternal nature of the Soul of Man will reside either 1. eternally with GOD or 2. eternally separated from GOD.

Ultimately, as we discuss these things, we look to a quote often attributed to St. Augustine of Hippo, who was also known in his day as The Doctor of the Church:

In essentials: UNITY
In non-essentials: LIBERTY
In all things: CHARITY [LOVE]