Overview:

If you have not yet read our Vision & Mission statements, then please start there. The article below is better understood with that context in mind, as we’ll break down the individual pieces of the two statements in the post that follows.

In order to understand our values, one must first understand where they originate. Unlike many secular organizations, our values are not based on our human experiences, sensations or sentiments about what might feel right, or even what modern culture may say, as we believe those sources are imperfect and can be misleading. Rather, our values come from the inerrant word of scripture.

We believe that the Bible, 66 books verified in canon, are the divinely inspired and inerrant word of God.  These have been preserved over the years in ways that humans could not have coordinated over thousands of years.  For example, even when examining some of the earliest books written, such as the Book of Job, or perhaps the Pentateuch itself, we see that the message is unchanged.  The point is, the message and content was preserved, even when comparing the earliest transcripts to the most recent versions of these writings.  In examining scripture, we find we were passed down three types of law: Moral, Ceremonial and Judicial. The Moral law carries with it absolutes, that we believe still direct our day to day for modern-day Christians. While many of the Judicial (Civil) and Ceremonial (Cultural) laws applied only to the context of the time and people in which they were written; they still service to help us understand God and his covenants more deeply.

Our Values:

Fully Surrendered: We wholly depend upon the power of the Holy Spirit – made available to us through faith in Christ – to entirely transform and continually grow us.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Authentic Relationships: We forge deep, authentic relationships and communities in which all people can be fully known and experience the grace and transforming power of Jesus Christ.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

Courageous Faith: We live and declare an unashamed allegiance to the biblical, historical, and orthodox truths of the gospel no matter the cost.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:16-17

Missional Living: We deploy our lives, resources, and gifts for God’s glory and the advancement of the gospel.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

 

Values Seen In Our Vision & Mission:

Let’s use scripture to break down DCCA’s Vision & Mission statements. First, our vision makes a pretty broad aspirational statement about what we feel called to become. We first must acknowledge that our vision is a lifelong endeavor, which is congruent with the sanctification process (the continual process of being made holy by God) in our lives. Let’s break down the verbiage of the Vision statement:

Vision: The body of Christ in unity providing God’s love to the world, transforming all people.

Paul talks about how the body of Christ is the church. Not a building mind you, but rather the collective inseparable body of all believers, the people:

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” – 1 Corinthians 12:27

We also see truth of how we are to be in unity with other believers in the body of the church:

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” – 1 Corinthians 1:10

Of course, the key here is to let God’s love do the heavy lifting, since we humans have no control over who is or isn’t convinced of scriptural veracity:

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:12-13

Finally, we are called to be transformed by God, not by the world:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

We can also examine the Mission statement, which is a collection of activities that all roll up to one theme – conveying truth:

Mission: Equipping God’s people with truth through the teaching of scripture, the diplomatic implementation of admonishment, the Biblical execution of spiritual warfare, and the advancement of truth across our unique and individual callings in His kingdom work here on earth.

Only God’s word can cut through opinions to distinguish between right and wrong, meaning that scripture is still alive and applicable today:

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12

We also hold dear to the act of conveying love with truth. This is tricky today, as the culture has taught us to live in the extremes, and reflexive with our judgements rather than reflective. So much of today’s culture now equates the word love with the word acceptance. Acceptance of anything a person claims or does that makes them happy, even many of the actions they may do that are harmful to themselves or others. You will be told that if you do not accept the person as they present themselves in their entirety, then you are not truly loving them. We know however that true care and a desire to love deeply isn’t saying what makes someone comfortable, but rather can include admonishment that may be hard to hear. These equally hard truths come out for someone when you truly care about them, and show actual love.

The good news!

We also know that the story doesn’t end with hard truths, but rather redemption! There is amazing news on the other side of those hard truths about how wonderfully and intentionally made each and every person is. It is God’s design and desire to know each of us intimately, including you.