Here's What We Believe: Why the Truth You Stand On Changes Everything

Meta Description: What does your church actually believe — and does it matter? Discover why knowing your faith's foundation is more than just theology. It's freedom. URL Slug: heres-what-we-believe-truth-foundation-faith Featured Image: A worn, open Bible resting on a wooden surface with soft natural light, suggesting both ancient roots and present-day relevance — warm and inviting rather than formal or institutional.

What if the church you attended had beliefs that were quietly shaping everything you were taught — and you didn't even know what those beliefs were? That question is exactly what prompted me to begin a brand-new series this past Sunday called Here's What We Believe.

I'll be honest with you: I've spent most of my life hearing people ask, "What kind of church is that?" when they find out I'm a Nazarene. And I get it. But the truth is, every church — denominational or not — has a set of beliefs that shapes what is taught from the pulpit. People deserve to know what those beliefs are.

All Churches Share a Foundation — But Differences Do Matter

Before anyone assumes all churches are basically the same, it's worth knowing that while we share the same cornerstone — Jesus Christ — there are theological differences between churches that genuinely matter. That doesn't mean only one group is going to heaven. I have no doubt there will be people from every Bible-believing tradition worshipping together in eternity.

But I truly believe that living out the core truths taught in the Church of the Nazarene leads to a vibrant, Christ-centered life. And if we're not careful, any church — including ours — can turn its standards into legalistic rules that become stumbling blocks rather than stepping stones. That's why it's so important that we teach what the Bible actually says, not what we want it to say.

Jesus himself prayed for this kind of grounded, unified community. In John 17:20–23, he prayed:

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message — that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you... so that they may be brought to complete unity."

If Jesus prayed for unity, we should be fighting for it — not dividing over petty preferences or political lines.

Truth Isn't Flexible — It's an Anchor

One of the most powerful moments in Scripture comes when Jesus speaks directly to those who believed him in John 8:31–32:

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Notice he doesn't say, "If you think I'm a nice guy, you're set." He uses the word hold. In the original Greek, that word is meno — meaning to dwell, to abide, to make your permanent home. Jesus is telling us that truth isn't an option that changes based on who you are or who you're sitting next to. Truth is an anchor.

In a world that shouts "live your own truth," Jesus steps up and says his truth is the only one that will break the chains of sin. And if you don't hold to the truth, you will eventually be held captive to a lie.

Understanding Sin — Original and Personal

This Sunday we began working through the Articles of Faith of the Church of the Nazarene. One that deserves more than a passing glance is this one: We believe in sin — original and personal.

These two are very different, and understanding the difference changes how we run to Jesus.

Original sin is a state of being, not an action. It's the inherited tendency toward wrongdoing that entered the world through Adam's disobedience. Paul describes it in Romans 5:12:

"Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned."

We didn't choose this. We inherited it. And yes — I apologize on behalf of our great-great-(many-times-over)-grandfather Adam for that one.

Personal sin is different. These are the conscious, individual choices we make to disobey God — lying, stealing, harboring hatred. As Paul writes in Romans 3:23:

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Both original sin and personal sin separate us from a real relationship with God. But here's the good news: God sent his Son — born without the guilt of original sin, who never committed personal sin — to be sacrificed for the sins of the world. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:22:

"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

And when we confess our personal sins, the promise of 1 John 1:9 holds firm:

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

So What Do We Do With This?

Knowing what we believe isn't just an intellectual exercise. It has to change how we live Monday through Saturday. Here's what I'm asking of all of us:

Stop settling for a Walmart-aisle faith. God doesn't want your polite head nod when you pass him in the pharmacy section. He wants your life. Step out of the casual lane and into a real, personal relationship with him.

Confess the specific symptoms of sin — daily. If you lied, don't call it a communication misstep. Call it a lie. If you harbored bitterness, don't call it stress. Call it what it is, confess it, and let the promise of 1 John 1:9 wash that slate completely clean.

Protect the unity of our church. Jesus prayed for our unity. That means we actively fight against the things that would tear us apart — petty preferences, political divisions, racial barriers. We hold the major foundational truths together and extend grace on the minor things.

We Have the Cure — Let's Not Keep It to Ourselves

Our community is drowning in moral confusion. People all around us are being told that nothing is absolute, and it's driving them into anxiety, isolation, and spiritual emptiness. But we have something they desperately need.

When we know what we believe and stop falling for every cheap counterfeit the world tries to sell us, we have the cure — for both the inherited disease of sin and the daily wreckage of our choices. To keep that to ourselves isn't just being quiet. It's criminal.

So when the world tells you this week that truth doesn't exist, or tries to treat God like a casual acquaintance — anchor yourself in four simple words: Here's what we believe. Say it at work. Say it at your kitchen table. Say it when the enemy whispers a lie.

This is only part one. Over the coming Sundays, we're going to keep building on this foundation — diving into entire sanctification, the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, and what God promises about the future. Bring a friend, bring your Bible, and come ready to grow. When a church family stands shoulder-to-shoulder and declares to a broken world "Here's what we believe," chains begin to break and communities start to change.

I'll see you next Sunday.

Social Media Excerpt (Facebook/Instagram): In a world that says "live your own truth," Jesus says something completely different — and it changes everything. This Sunday we kicked off a brand-new series called Here's What We Believe, exploring the foundation our faith is actually built on. Read this week's message and share it with someone who needs an anchor right now. 🙏

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