Overheard in today's culture:

    "It doesn't matter what a person believes, as long as he believes something."
    "Who am I to judge what someone else believes?"

    "There's no one-size-fits all religion."

    "Just as many paths may lead up a mountain, many religions lead to God."

Statements like these suggest that faith should flow out of what we feel, or that we should base our beliefs on whichever religious tradition we prefer.

 

However, the Bible wisely teaches us not to believe just anything that sounds good, or to believe whatever feels good, but to build our lives only on what is true. After all, what good would it do to believe a lie? Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true... think on such things." Proverbs 23:23 says, "Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding."

 

But how do we know what is true? By comparing our thoughts and ideas to what God has revealed in His Word, the Bible. Because God is true, we know that His Word is true.

 

The Bible is God's uniquely inspired message to mankind. "All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (1 Timothy 3:16)

 

The Bible reveals God in His Triune glory as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It records God's great works of creation, providence, and salvation. The Bible gives us hope by showing us what God will do at the end of time to create a new heaven and earth.

 

The Bible reveals mankind's unique place in God's creation, since He formed us in His image.

 

The Bible is also honest about our sin problem, which includes disobedience, pride and self-centeredness.

 

Yet the Bible is filled with Good News, for it reveals God's choice to treat us better than what we deserve. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, God has provided salvation gifts like forgiveness and everlasting life! To learn more about the Gospel, click here for a brief explanation by R.C. Sproul.

 

Because we at the Luverne CRC receive the Bible as divinely inspired truth, we seek to believe and to live its teachings. It's also why we hold to creeds and confessions that faithfully summarize what the Bible reveals. We subscribe to the following creeds that are called ecumenical because they're received by Christians the world over: the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. We hold to the following confessions that are called Reformed because they were written during or immediately after the time of spiritual renewal known as the Protestant Reformation: the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort.

 

We love the truth of God's Word! It is our source of comfort (inner strength) in life and in death.

 

Click here if you'd like to access the New International Version of the Bible. Here you may read the Bible yourself -- or listen to it being read -- a chapter at a time.