What does it mean to be a Word and Spirit Church? (Part One)

 

One of the core values of Kairos Church is that we desire to be a “Word and Spirit” Church. It’s a phrase we use often to describe our identity. But what does it mean? Are not all churches “Word and Spirit” churches? What does “Word in Spirit” mean in practice?

These are important questions. In a nutshell, to be “Word and Spirit” is to make statement about what we believe about the role of scripture, and the role of the Holy Spirit.

The Reformation restored the scriptures to the centre of the church’s life. Prior to the reformation, church tradition, and Papal decrees stood in equal authority to the scriptures. This, the Reformers believed, led to a number of errors creeping into the church. The errors increased and the plain truths of scripture were eventually eclipsed by human ideas and traditions. It took a young Monk by the name of Martin Luther to spark a revolution that led to the restoration of the primary place of the scriptures. At Kairos Church, and as part of the Apostolic Church UK, we stand in this Reformation legacy. We thank God for the Reformation (we don’t idolise the Reformation, for there much in the Reformation that needed to be reformed) because the Reformation brings us back to the Word of God. This is why one of our core tenets of the faith states that we believe in: “The divine inspiration and authority of the Holy Scriptures.” In other words, as one church Father expressed it: “When the Bible speaks, God speaks.”

Our statement of faith does not stand alone. We stand on similar ground to other creeds and confessions such as the Westminster Confession of Faith, which states:

The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture. (Matt. 22:29, 31, Eph. 2:20, Acts 28:25) (WCF)

Likewise we agree with the Belgic Confession which states:

The sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures, to be the only rule of faith

We believe that those Holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and that whatsoever man ought to believe, unto salvation, is sufficiently taught therein. For, since the whole manner of worship, which God requires of us, is written in them at large, it is unlawful for any one, though an apostle, to teach otherwise than we are now taught in the Holy Scriptures: nay, though it were an angel from heaven, as the apostle Paul says. For, since it is forbidden, to add unto or take away anything from the word of God, it does thereby evidently appear, that the doctrine thereof is most perfect and complete in all respects. Neither do we consider of equal value any writing of men, however holy these men may have been, with those divine Scriptures, nor ought we to consider custom, or the great multitude, or antiquity, or succession of times and persons, or councils, decrees or statutes, as of equal value with the truth of God, for the truth is above all; for all men are of themselves liars, and more vain than vanity itself. Therefore, we reject with all our hearts, whatsoever does not agree with this infallible rule, which the apostles have taught us, saying, Try the spirits whether they are of God. Likewise, if there come any unto you; and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house.

Our doctrine of scripture is important. It affects every other doctrine and Christian practice. Today there are a number of moral and ethical controversies. All other issues hang on the issue of the doctrine of scripture. How we approach marriage, sexual ethics, and questions of justice will all be determined by our view of the scriptures. For Christian believers, our first port of call should not be "what does society say?", or "what does the church say?", but rather what does God say? We discover what God says by turning to the scriptures.

The doctrine of scripture will also shape the gospel we preach and believe. There are many false gospels. However, if we are a “Word” church, then we are also a gospel a church. We don’t strip the rough edges from the gospel. We preach the full gospel. This is also reflected in our statement of faith, we believe in:

The inherent corruptness of man through the Fall; The necessity of repentance and regeneration by grace and through faith in Christ alone and the eternal separation from God of the finally unrepentant.

That’s a packed statement. It’s also a practical statement. Being a “Word” church means we build our doctrine of humanity, our doctrine of salvation and our doctrine of ‘Last Things’ on the Word of God. We believe in the doctrine of sin. We believe, that whilst God made humans in his own image, there has been a fall. Humanity is now in rebellion towards God. The human condition is one of sinfulness and separation from God. We are not just broken people needing to be made whole, we are rebels in need of pardon. God has given his Son as a sacrifice of atonement, and now calls all people to repent from sin, and to turn towards God. There is a day of judgement coming and only those who have repented and trusted in Christ will be saved. This is the gospel, and this what the scriptures teach. If we really want to be a “Word Church” we must be a gospel church.

So, in conclusion, being a "Word" church means we really do believe that the Bible is the Word of God. God has given us His Word to direct us and guide us. Most importantly God's Word reveals God's Son. We believe in Jesus because the Bible reveals that Jesus is the Son of God who cane to save us. 

God's Word is not simply a list of rules, it is bread for our souls, it is a sword to help us overcome the attacks of the devil, and it is the book of the covenant that reveals our covenant rights and responsibilities as God's people. 

In part two we will explore what it means to be a ‘Spirit’ church.