What We Believe

GOD IS

The wonderful, one and only, true God exists. If this is true, it would rightly change everything, including our understanding of our world, ourselves, and counseling. This God has always existed three persons; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God created everything and everyone for our joy and his glory. He describes himself as both infinitely powerful (over all things) and intimately personal (loving and pursuing us for relationship). God’s very presence introduces more goals to therapy, not just for relief and healing (which we believe God wants!), but also for knowing God and learning to trust in Him.

(Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6, Isaiah 46:9-10; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 Timothy 2:5; Genesis 1:26; Psalm 45:6-7; Psalm 110:1; Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:17-20; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD

We believe the Bible is from God, revealing who he is and his very words. If this is true, it would mean that revelation (God intentionally revealing himself to us) would be the most direct way that we can know about our humanity, our design, how to live life with peace, love and joy, and how to change. This has been previously described as the “sufficiency” of Scripture.

(Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

BROKENNESS IS OUR MOST FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM

Even though we were created in beauty and perfection (God’s very image), the world was changed, due to the entrance of sin. Because of this, our world and ourselves are deeply affected, imperfect, and in need of help. Because of this, we are incomplete without God. We prove this to be true with our tendency to run from God and his desires for our lives. Our world and ourselves show many complex problems and weakness, of which we believe the root is sin. Without God stepping in to help, we are helpless. Our bodies also often reflect this brokenness with imperfections, disorder, sickness, and confusion. But thankfully, God did not leave our brokenness unexplained or unaddressed…

(Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; 5:8, 12-21; 7:18; Ephesians 2:1-3, Genesis 2:15-17; Genesis 3:19; Romans 5:12; 6:23; James 1:14-15)

JESUS MEETS US IN OUR BROKENNESS AND OFFERS HIMSELF AS THE ANSWER

God’s plan was always to show how deeply he loved the world, by coming to down to us in the person of Jesus. The Gospel is the ‘good news’ that Jesus was perfect in ways we never could be, but offers himself, in our place, on the cross. After death Jesus rose from death. This good news explains that God saves us, sustains us, changes us, and satisfies us. This only comes to pass by grace, a free gift from God. When we receive that gift by trusting Jesus, we are forgiven and cleansed of our sins and given Christ’s perfect righteousness. When we believe this, a new work begins with us and continues until we see Him face to face.

(John 1:29; 10:1-18; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 3:18)

GOD’S PEOPLE ARE THE CHURCH

The church is not a building, event, or institution — it is God’s family, made up of all those who have trusted in Jesus, had their sins forgiven and are being made new by the power of the Holy Spirit. God gave us the church as a way to show his love to one another including comforting, bearing burdens, sharing generously, and speaking the truth lovingly to one another. In many ways, counseling is truly “being Christian” to one another, fulfilling God’s instructions for how to “bear burdens with one another,” “love one another,” “speak the truth in love,” etc. We believe that the church is a gift and the primary way God intends to change us throughout life into his perfect image.

(Matthew 16:15-19; Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:17-32; I Corinthians 3:16; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12:1-31; Colossians 1:18; I Timothy 3:1-15; 4:14; Titus 1:5-9;I Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3)

GOD SENT US A HELPER

The Holy Spirit opens our ears to hear God’s truth, empowers us to love those around us, grows us more into the likeness of Jesus, assures us of our eternal inheritance as children of God, brings conviction in our hearts to turn away from sin, and works through us as we carry God’s hope and healing into the world. This ‘helper' (as Jesus described Him) is forever changing us until we see Jesus face to face.

(John 14:16,17,26; 15:26-27; John 16:9-14; I Corinthians 12:13; I Corinthians 2:10-11; 3:16; 6:19; II Corinthians 3: 6; Galatians 5:22-26; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9,12-13; Ephesians 6:11-18)