These affirmations and denials are intended by the session of Christ Church to provide a theological framework for the various mercy ministries operating under the authority of Christ Church, as well as any related teaching ministry connected to or supported by our church. We write with the average parishioner in mind, wanting to encourage active involvement in the mercy work of our church, and in such a way that simply shows us to be overflowing with gratitude as we live out the implications of what God has done for us.

This statement on these issues represents the current position of the session as a session at the time of adoption. This is a working document, and we invite response and feedback. Individual elders may certainly differ with various elements of this statement, but the statement as a whole represents our corporate conviction. The Scripture texts cited are simply meant to “show our work,” and to demonstrate that we are seeking to develop this statement in submission to the teaching of Scripture. But agreement with this document does not require agreement with the citation of any particular verse or passage. In other words, the proof texts are intended to support this statement, but are not to be considered as a part of it.

The statement addresses five broad, interrelated topics. Our statement begins with the problem, an unbelieving world under Mammon, and then moves to a treatment of the sacrificial violence that overthrew the violence of Mammon's realm. Our statement then moves on to a treatment of the kingdom ethic that believers should embody throughout the course of their lives, first distinguishing sins from crimes, and then moving on to the twin headings of generosity and mercy.

Largely because of the divisions among disciplines in our universities, I suppose, we tend to think of Bible and Classical world in different categories.  Of course, we know that Alexander swept through, that Rome took over Palestine, and Pilate the Roman governor put Jesus on a cross.  Yet we often miss the depth and extent of contact between East and West.

A series of events from the early third century illustrates how deep the contacts of East and West were, and how long they persisted.

One spring evening in the year 218 A.D., the emperor Macrinus was enjoying dinner at Apamea.  News of a coup led by Antoninus was disturbing, but Macrinus had confidence that his commander, Ulpius Julianus, would be able to handle it.  Meanwhile, Macrinus could sit to enjoy his dinner.  But the banquet turned macabre when a messenger was brought in and presented the emperor with the Ulpius’ head.