This seems to be a very hot topic in the church today and many churches use one's beliefs about creation as THE litmus test for the quality or legitimacy of one's faith.  We do not do that at Faith✟Journey.  As you will discover - there is room for a wide variety of beliefs about the story of creation as well as other parts of the Bible.  The creation stories of Genesis chapters 1 and 2 in the Bible (and other Scriptures) are ways we begin to respond to questions like “How did we get here?” and “What does it mean to be a human being in the middle of all the rest of the universe?” God created all things for good, of which we are all apart. How God created all things, and continues to create, remains a holy wonder and awe-inspiring.  As we study the Scriptures, we note that the creation story is a parable - a story used to teach a truth, not a story about a truth.  Just like Jesus used illustrations (parables) to teach about God and the Kingdom of Heaven, so too writers in the Old Testament used illustrations to explain the unexplainable - like creation.

While there is no rule about what one must believe, it is the teaching and the proclamation of the Pastors of Faith✟Journey that the creation story was never intended to teach the scientific facts concerning creation.  For the Pastors of this church, we are much more concerned about the "who" than we are about the "how."  We believe that God created everything, period.  How God actually did it is up to God and it really of no concern to us.  Could it have been in 6 literal, 24hr days? Sure it could have.  Could it have been according to the theory of the "Big Bang?" Why not?  God does what God does in God's own way and we are not to try to attach salvific significance to theological discussions.

What that said, the members of Faith✟Journey are free to believe whatever they choose about creation.  There is no litmus test for theological purity.  One's view of creation is certainly not salvific - that is - you must believe one thing or another lest you endanger your eternal soul.  This topic is what Martin Luther called, Adiophra which means "the things in the middle."  It has been interpreted to mean, indifferent things.  Things that are not commanded or forbidden.  Things that make for good lively debate - but not something to stake your salvation upon.

We believe that the church is the physical expression of the real presence of God in the world today.  Jesus said, "...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).  The most frequent term used for the church in the New Testament is, "The Body of Christ."  This is far more than a figurative term, we are called by God to "be Jesus" to the world.  Rev. Dr. Martin Luther (1483-1546) said in his explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles Creed:

"...but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way [the Holy Spirit] calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church [the Holy Spirit] daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers."

The purpose of the church is not to be a social club or a nostalgic memorial to a time long passed.  The church is called by God to be an active and dynamic presence in the world, acting on behalf of God. We do this by doing what God would do if God were physically present; loving whom God would love, serving the least and the lost in our community and world, standing in the gap between the weak and the innocent and those who would use them or do them harm, and calling all people into a real, relevant, and dynamic relationship with God.   The example we follow is the example of Jesus who is the "image of the invisible God."  (Colossians 1:15)  This calls the church into a radical involvement in the life of the world and gives purpose and meaning to all that we do.

We gather, in community, to learn, be challenged, comforted, and afflicted. We are fed with Word and Sacrament which gives us strength for our daily walk of faith.  Worship is not an end unto itself - it is the beginning of our week which, we pray, is filled with opportunities for witness and discipleship.