Our Values

Values are things that we hold dear and would not want to lose.

Values are what we stand for. And as the old saying goes, "If you don't stand for something then you’ll fall for anything."

In the face of an ever-changing world we shouldn't be saying, "How should we change?", but rather we should be asking the question, "What do we stand for and why do we exist?". So when we are faced with societal change we can answer with a strong and clear trumpet sound.

Our values are tied to our vision. But the means do not justify the ends.
We can't manipulate to get what we want even if what we want is God's best. We need to stop building for the immediate and build for eternity; to build not just for our generation or our moment in the sun to build selflessly for the future generations. To stop asking what's in it for me and start asking what's in it for them in the future.

Our values are part of our sowing and reaping. We build now upon what we are believing for in the future. If we have to manipulate people to see them converted. Or if we do it at the point of a gun barrel or sword then what is the point?

Jesus made this statement many times, "The kingdom of God is within you". He meant that it is the Kingdom of God that governs our heart and mind and outlook. We need Kingdom values not just the values of a culture or a particular movement.

Let's look at some of those values:

1. Being radically Word based:
Deuteronomy 4:1-4

2. Letting Theology Fashion our Behaviour:
Instead of designing our theology to fit our chosen behaviour, our behaviour needs to bow to theology or the study of God's Word. If we are going to be radically Word based then it also means that we have to act radically Word based. We don't change our interpretation of scripture to fit our chosen pattern of behaviour.

3. Friendship before Function:
Acts 2:42 gives us a glimpse of life in the early church, "They met together daily…ate together..." They were committed to doing life together no matter what differences they had or difficulties that came up with each other. Their relationships were valued over their position, job, task or function.

4. The Priesthood of all Believers:
1 Peter 2:9
Over the years there has been a wall of separation built between the professionals and the pew. God intended for the entire nation of Israel to be a nation of Priests, representing Him to the world. The Church is supposed to be made of priests giving themselves away for the benefit of the body. There is not supposed to be an A team and a B team.
Leadership yes, but not leadership based on a hierarchical structure. The only agenda we are to have is to lay our lives down for one another.

5. No Gaps!

No generation, gender, age, culture, economic or race gaps. The Church is to be all embracing.

The pigment of my skin might be different, the amount of money in my paycheque might be different, the way I do my hair might be different.
But when my culture, gender, race, age or economic level separate me from a brother in the Lord in anyway then it's time for my culture, gender, economic status, age or racial discrimination to bow down at the feet of the Jesus.

6. Covenantal Relationships:
Acts 2:44-47 describes relationships that involve more than just showing up at church on Sunday morning and turning to the person behind you at the prescribed moment and greeting them. It's about getting involved, committed and genuinely concerned about your Spiritual family. It's not advocating Socialism but it is describing a people that are in love with God, each other and not the things of this world.

7. A Plurality of Leadership:
All throughout the New Testament model of the early church we see a plurality of leaders emerging at every level. We see deacons (Acts 6:1-7); church leaders and body (Acts 15:22); elders (Acts 20:17-31); and Translocal ministry (Ephesians 4:11-) working together for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Teams of leadership working together at every level.

8. Marriage is the First Team:
When God calls someone to lead He never calls the one spouse at the expense of the other. He calls both husband and wife together. Husbands and wives need to be shaped together, share together and minister together. Not separately. More trouble and strife arises when the two who have become one aren't involved together. Leading the first team, your marriage and family is the qualifier for leading the family of God (1 Timothy 3).

9. Readiness to pay the Price/Sacrifice:
Matt: 19-29-30, Matthew 16:24-28, Mark 8:34-38. It is a commitment that has to go beyond convenience.

10. A People of Faith:
Hebrews 11: especially vs. 6, Romans 10:6-17, Romans 4:16-5:1

11. A People of Prayer:
Acts 1:14; 2:42, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Colossians 4:12

12. Building away from Ourselves:
1 Corinthians 4:17, Acts 8:4-40. Paul was constantly building and releasing. Building up churches and leaders and then releasing them to hopefully do the same. A true father knows when to come and when to go, never selfishly holding on to or controlling something that is not his in the first place. A true father takes no greater delight than seeing his own sons and daughters go farther than he has. Let's build away from our names, our prestige, our profile and toward the benefit of future generations.

13. The Church as God’s Healing Community:

In order to bring healing to people we must be a healed people ourselves. In order to bring life to people we must have life. If all we have is religion then that is what we will bring to people. If all we have is some form, pomp and ceremony then that is all we can expect to bring people into. We must be a radical new breed of convert that loves God, loves His Word and loves people. With a clear understanding that we are all part of the priesthood of believers it's up to us to be whole in every area of our lives.

That means many things:

We don't take offence when someone says something or doesn't say something about us, when we are bypassed, when someone else is promoted or blessed in some way. It also means that we are emotionally whole so that the devil can't use our past against us and we don't hold on to old racial stereotypes or views of the opposite gender.

*Whole in our relationships ~ loving and forgiving.
*Whole in our families ~ leading properly, submitting to one another, referencing each other.
*Whole in our finances ~ sowing and reaping, wisely living within our means, a sense of contentment and freedom.
*Whole in our morals ~ letting God's Word fashion our behaviour.
*Whole in our physical bodies ~ walking in God's covenant of health and caring for God's Temple.
*Whole in our food ~ making smart choices to provide the maximum of health.
*Whole in our employment ~ working as unto the Lord and not as unto man.
*Whole in our housing ~ being faithful over what God has entrusted us with.
*Whole in our dignity and self worth ~ understanding who we are in Christ and His body.
*Whole in our understanding of social equality ~ having a healthy view and caring for all mankind.

And our values list could go on and on and on. For more information please e-mail us at info@newsong.ca We'll be glad to answer or clarify any questions you may have.