Our Core Values - (1) Christ the Cornerstone
Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 1:55AM 
During our discussions about core values over the summer, we kept coming back to New Hope’s commitment to providing Christian education for homeschooling families, seeing this as a defining characteristic of our community. In this spirit, we chose “Christ the Cornerstone” as our first core value because we believe that all of our other “values” spring from our relationship to the Risen Lord. We are empowered by God to demonstrate “integrity” and “grace and affirmation” (to name two), and these virtues spring up as a thankful response to His love for us.
But what does it mean that we are a Christian organization? What does it mean that Christ is "the Cornerstone" of who we are and what we do?
At New Hope, we enjoy a diverse Christian community representing traditions from Congregationalist to Roman Catholic. From Presbyterian to Anglican, from Baptist to Eastern Orthodox, New Hope incorporates the broad range of traditions in Christendom today. We say that we "strive to recognize and promote areas of agreement for all Christians," and in that vein we have the Nicene Creed as our statement of faith. The Nicene “Symbol of Faith” was selected because it is one of our universal Christian Creeds (most Christians in all times and places have accepted it) and because the Creed witnesses to the centrality of Jesus Christ in all things: "God of God, Light of Light, True God of True God…of one Essence with the Father, through Whom all things were made."
It is fundamental to New Hope’s vision to affirm this. We believe that these statements of faith are not dusty and antiquated philosophies, but living realities which pierce our temptation towards materialism and pragmatism with rays of light and glory. It is sometimes tempting to focus only on the here-and-now, the day-to-day realities of expectations and rules, schedules and due dates. We wish to move right to solutions, right to fixing the problem. We must remember, however, that it is God who empowers us to face the day-to-day, and it is our experience of God in Jesus Christ that gives us the discernment to wrestle with everything from biology and history to conflict resolution in our community. So, in the words of the title of Dr. Timothy Tennent’s new book on the Apostles Creed: this we believe!* Our community seeks to hold to the broad Christian vision--not to differentiate ideologically from others--but to encounter creation, history, mathematics, and the arts in the context of the drama of our loving God’s relationship to all of us and all that we are studying.
There is another temptation, however: to stay in the realm of "intellectual Christianity", patting ourselves on the back, telling ourselves that at New Hope we hold to "the faith", while all the while forgetting that our relationship with the Living God is not summed up in formulas but in a life filled with grace and mercy.
I would like to suggest that all of the above proves fruitless if it does not express itself in the basic love of neighbor so central to our experience of God. As Christina Wassell has often said in her tutorials, our challenge is “to see the face of Christ” in the people around the tutorial table. We are very good at saying the “right things” about God. The rubber meets the road when we do unto others as we would have done unto ourselves. In the parable of the sheep and the goats, the Lord says that those he knows (the sheep) are those who fed, visited, and cared for “the least of these”, and therefore fed, visited, and cared for Him. It is much harder to love our neighbors than to assent intellectually to creeds, but the true fruit of proclaiming Jesus Christ is that we become conduits of God’s love for those around us.
A few things come to mind right away. If Christ is the Cornerstone at New Hope, our community should feel like a safe place. No one should fear being criticized or mocked. No one should feel marginalized or ignored. If Christ is the Cornerstone, everyone is valued and affirmed. If Christ is the Cornerstone than we must learn to think of others rather than ourselves, we must learn to return a blessing for a curse, we must learn to forgive one another in love. If Christ is the Cornerstone, than the kid sitting next to us is a unique person, made in the image of God and worthy of all the love, kindness and respect we can muster.
Some Questions to Ponder:
- How does our belief in Jesus Christ affect our academic work at New Hope? Are we approaching the content and the learning process as part of a greater journey (from Glory to Glory)?
- How does the social culture at New Hope manifest our commitment to loving our neighbor as ourselves? Do we treat one another with respect and dignity? How can we develop a community characterized by love and mutual respect?
* Dr. Timothy Tennent was one of our first New Hope dads and is now the President of Asbury Seminary (This We Believe! Find his book here.).
Reader Comments (15)
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Unity is nearly unattainable when we let the fine print define our relationships more than the indisputable doctrine of love and respect through Christ resurrected.
"If Christ is the Cornerstone, than the kid sitting next to us is a unique person, made in the image of God and worthy of all the love, kindness and respect we can muster." Well said! This is so true, even if it isn't always as easy as it sounds. We can get so caught up in how others live their lives (as Christians) that we forget that some of the most important parts of Chirstianity are to not judge, forgive, and love!
"We say that we 'strive to recognize and promote areas of agreement for all Christians', and in that vein we have the Nicene Creed as our statement of faith."
It's always fascinated me how many divisions of Christianity there are all over the world. The sad truth is that most don't try and coexist, but keep their beliefs and traditions between themselves and their neighbors, who are in actuality their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I agree that to have something in common like the Nicene Creed unifies the community. More than that, however, we must recognize that we also have God's Love and Grace in common, and when it comes to the "chief end of Man", we all must seek to glorify God with the life He has given us. @Michaela has stated it very well above, that we cannot let "the fine print" of what the world defines as a religion define us and what we hold as valuable. Nothing can change the foundation of Christ the Cornerstone. It's up to us, with God's help and guidance, to keep it from sliding from beneath us.
@ Abby: Thanks for highlighting how our faith needs to be make real in the way we treat one another. I'm convinced that dogma which has no bearing on our actions towards others is very dangerous. It so easily leads to divisions and conflict. But true conviction which leads us to love of neighbor strengthens us to do those hard things mentioned above (e.g., forgiving one another).
It has always saddened me when I or other Christians are judged poorly due to the sum of all people who call themselves 'Christians.' The truth is that many, many people will do terrible, unacceptable things and cover it all by saying that they are a 'Christian' and they are doing 'God's work.' It is terrible how these people get the most attention and all Christians are stereotyped off of their behavior.
As we strive to hold Christ as out Cornerstone, we must be careful to let Him stay there, and not only say that he is in order to cultivate a reputation.
"If Christ is the Cornerstone, than the kid sitting next to us is a unique person, made in the image of God and worthy of all the love, kindness and respect we can muster."
This is great encouragement for creating a stronger community, and not just because we're told to or because its "right." Instead, we should be reaching out to all different kinds of people because we truly want to become one with all through Christ, even if everyone is not on the same path.
@Ryan Breuer - I completely agree. All throughout history people have placed God's name at the front of their horrific acts. An example that comes to mind World War I. Although it was not the Church who started the war, in America churches all across the country screamed for the annihilation of the Germans. A few examples - "If the kaiser is a Christian the devil in hell is a Christian, and I am an atheist," said Courtland Meyers from Boston's Tremont Temple. Newell Dwight Hillis, minister of Breecher's Plymouth Church, advocated the complete "...sterilization of 10,000,000 German soldiers and the segregation of women." Henry B. Wright, a YMCA director and part time Yale Divinity Professor said to young soldiers, "I would not enter this work [the war] till I could see Jesus himself sighting down a gun barrel and running a bayonet through an enemy's body." The list goes on and on. Is this really what God wants out of his disciples? Yes, war is a part of society and is sometimes necessary to prevent the slaughter of countless innocent men, women, and children. However, should we advocate the annihilation of an entire civilization? I think no. As Mr. Westrate says we must learn to look at person beside us and know that he or she is a "unique person, made in the image of God and worthy of all the love, kindness and respect we can muster." At New Hope we must strive to obtain this quality. As @Abby said we must remember that it is our duty as Christians to forgive and love each other as we would our own brother.
Great blog! Really brings insight to who we are as a community of Christian scholars and the foundational building blocks that have made New Hope into what it is today. I especially loved the line, "our challenge is “to see the face of Christ” in the people around the tutorial table." This is so true and what we must work towards to become an even better Christian community.
"Christ the Cornerstone"... only three words, yet I have trouble finding the right meaning. This piece showed that there is not only one way to define it. We are all working together to make our own path with Christ as the cornerstone. Even though we are all so different, we are all on the same path together.
On another note, the line "If Christ is the Cornerstone, than the kid sitting next to us is a unique person, made in the image of God and worthy of all the love, kindness and respect we can muster." (Mr. Westrate) is beautiful!
I know it's been said quite often above but I have to say it again: the most critical aspect of Christ the Cornerstone is the way we treat each other. And if we can see Christ in each person, that'll become a lot easier.
In regards to the first question "How does our belief in Jesus Christ affect our academic work at New Hope? I believe it's first and foremost doing all things as if working for the Lord. That might mean not slacking off and getting the work done early or working as hard as you can to get a B instead of a C. Either way, though, the principle still applies.
The second question can be first and most simply (thought not most easily) followed by reaching out first to individuals that appear to be on the outskirts of the community, and then individuals who already have their own "group." Whether these groups should exist or not is another conversation.
The spotlight on Tim Tebow this past week has made me consider once again how vocal we as Christians should—or should not— be about our faith. On one hand, we are called to make disciples of all nations, and on the other we are still flawed and sinful people who make mistakes. There is always the worry that we will poorly represent the perfect God we attempt to mirror. Yet we are given assurance in Mark 13:11: “[…]do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit” (NIV). Declaring that Christ is the Cornerstone of New Hope is a bold statement that requires stepping out in faith, trusting that God will use New Hope’s words and example to wholly glorify Him, despite our flawed natures. @Ryan and @Edison: Good point— We do need to make sure that we are fully rooted in Christ so that what we speak truly comes from The Spirit, not from ourselves to accomplish our own goals.
"There is another temptation, however: to stay in the realm of "intellectual Christianity", patting ourselves on the back, telling ourselves that at New Hope we hold to "the faith", while all the while forgetting that our relationship with the Living God is not summed up in formulas but in a life filled with grace and mercy."
I completely agree with this, I always tell people that our relationship with God is not about just going to church, memorizing the Bible verses, and singing the songs; our relationship with God is shown through how we conduct ourselves in his glory, talk to him and ask for his guidance, and try to emulate him. You aren't going to get into heaven by just trying to do as many good deeds and knowing as much about the Bible as possible, it's about realizing that you are not perfect and facing all of your wrongs and simply admitting them to God.
I've heard and seen churches that call themselves "Scientific Christian Churches". This is the epitome of what Christianity is becoming. Our job as Christians, Catholics, etc. is too show what the true meaning of having a relationship with God is: loving everyone, friends and enemies alike, being like God, and spreading his name. Christianity "is not summed up in formulas" but truly knowing God and working to have a relationship with him. I have trouble with this, and I'm sure everyone does, but we must keep in mind that that is what it is all about.
On a different note, I completely agree with Chrissy S. I wish I could be like Tim Tebow every day of my life, he's inspired me and many others as well.
I like the point that Mr. Westrate made about needing to be careful that we don't slide into merely intellectual Christianity. If we are focused on living the way Jesus did it will come out when we think about things intellectually, but we must watch out so that we don't forget "that our relationship with the Living God is not summed up in formulas but in a life filled with grace and mercy."
In answer to the first question, I second what Timothy said about working as if working for the Lord. I think a part of that is trying your best at everything and doing things with integrity and honesty.
For the second question, I think the best way to grow in this (community) is to really "do to others as you would have them do to you."
I definitely agree with Mr. Westrate's points. A Christ-centered community is so much richer than one without Christ. Though the New Hope community may never reach the ideal, we must always strive to make everything--behavior, attitude, relationship with Christ, and learning--closer to the way that they will be when our Lord comes in glory.
@ Tommy Cefalu: Although it is true that just "being good" alone will not help us attain heaven, the reason why we go to church and memorize Bible verses is so that we may be reminded each day of the Risen Lord working within us. Doing good deeds for God alone reveals that the person performing them does have a relationship with God and is at peace.
@ Chris Westrate: Very good point. Dogmatic issues can very often get in the way of a good Christian community. Often times, we need to put aside the philosophical arguments so that we can grow together in the Lord. However, dialogue among Christians about doctrine is healthy, as it brings all Christians into the fuller union of the "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church." If a church is to be one, unity of belief must be present. However, this topic of discussion should not keep all Christians from loving each other as brothers and sisters.
In answer to the 2nd question along with Christ as our cornerstone, I believe we as Christians, mirroring His image in action and word, need to consider fully what Christ as our cornerstone means. Does it mean that all things rest, are supported by, held together by, and are kept straight and true? I say yes to all these and more. We need to be modeled by Christ in all things and how does that happen? By sanctification of the Word. By it's cleansing power. "The word of God is sharper than any two edged sword...". Without the Word (Christ and the written word are the same) we can do nothing.
So...in answer to the 2nd question...the social culture at New Hope should be one of unity. "How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." As God is three in one and unified and as Jesus said, "I in Him and He in me" talking about the Father, then it should behoove us as Christians to dwell together in unity. Are you a respecter of persons? Do you look on the outside and judge? Or are you taking time to get to know one another, accepting each others idiosyncracies?These things we all struggle with. Are you struggling to please God? Are you working out your salvation with fear and trembling? Things to think about. I speak to myself here as well. Now I will go read the Word and pray.
@ Tommy and Chrissy I agree. Tim Tebow does a great job of giving glory to God in everything he does. I love that he publisizes his faith in a way that will inspire Christians across the country.
But (@ Chrissy) I think that being a flawed and sinful person shouldn't stop someone from vocalizing thier faith. Everybody sins and falls short of the glory of God, but what if everyone decieded to be silent about their faith for that very reason? Many people say Christians are hypocrites; and sometimes I am a hypocrite, but the great thing is I can always come to God and ask forgivness. I think this is part of what it means to say that Christ is our Cornerstone. It doesn't mean that New Hope is perfect, because nothing is perfect, but it means that we ask Gods forgivness for where we have fallen short, and and strive in all ways to make New Hope a place worthy of him.