The Phoenix Affirmations

[rayodeluz]

Dutch made a good suggestion when he said this may be a good topic for discussion. Below are the Phoenix Affirmations, and more information about what they are can be found at this site: http://phoenixaffirmations.wordpress.com/ I read them very quickly, and didn't at first glance see anything I would really object to.

 

The Phoenix Affirmations

Version 3.8

 

Christian love of God includes:

1. Walking fully in the path of Jesus, without denying the legitimacy of other paths that God may provide for humanity;

2. Listening for God’s Word which comes through daily prayer and meditation, studying the ancient testimonies which we call Scripture, and attending to God’s present activity in the world;

3. Celebrating the God whose Spirit pervades and whose glory is reflected in all of God’s Creation, including the earth and its ecosystems, the sacred and secular, the Christian and non-Christian, the human and non-human;

4. Expressing our love in worship that is as sincere, vibrant, and artful as it is scriptural.

 

Christian love of neighbor includes:

5. Engaging people authentically, as Jesus did, treating all as creations made in God’s very image, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental ability, nationality, or economic class;

6. Standing, as Jesus does, with the outcast and oppressed, the denigrated and afflicted, seeking peace and justice with or without the support of others;

7. Preserving religious freedom and the church’s ability to speak prophetically to government by resisting the commingling of church and state;

8. Walking humbly with God, acknowledging our own shortcomings while honestly seeking to understand and call forth the best in others, including those who consider us their enemies;

 

Christian love of self includes:

9. Basing our lives on the faith that in Christ all things are made new and that we, and all people, are loved beyond our wildest imagination – for eternity;

10. Claiming the sacredness of both our minds and our hearts, and recognizing that faith and science, doubt and belief serve the pursuit of truth;

11. Caring for our bodies and insisting on taking time to enjoy the benefits of prayer, reflection, worship, and recreation in addition to work;

12. Acting on the faith that we are born with a meaning and purpose; a vocation and ministry that serve to strengthen and extend God’s realm of love.

[rivanna]

Thanks for reminding us of the Phoenix affirmations—to me, they always seemed like a nice complement to the 8 points of tcpc, in more expressive language perhaps. One difference is that third part, love or care for the self, which you don’t see articulated in the 8 points.

 

A Congregational minister has been focusing on the Phoenix affirmations in his blog--

 

http://brimfilled.blogspot.com/

Edited August 28, 2012 by rivanna

[Raven]

I'd never heard of these before, but they are wonderful. To me, this sums up very well my idea of true faith. If more Christians would walk this way, the path might not seem so daunting to others. Thanks for sharing.

[glintofpewter]

1. Walking fully in the path of Jesus, without denying the legitimacy of other paths that God may provide for humanity;

 

2. Listening for God’s Word which comes through daily prayer and meditation, studying the ancient testimonies which we call Scripture, and attending to God’s present activity in the world;

 

3. Celebrating the God whose Spirit pervades and whose glory is reflected in all of God’s Creation, including the earth and its ecosystems, the sacred and secular, the Christian and non-Christian, the human and non-human;

 

4. Expressing our love in worship that is as sincere, vibrant, and artful as it is scriptural.

 

8. Walking humbly with God, acknowledging our own shortcomings while honestly seeking to understand and call forth the best in others, including those who consider us their enemies;

 

12. Acting on the faith that we are born with a meaning and purpose; a vocation and ministry that serve to strengthen and extend God’s realm of love.

So if God is a problematical word for some and a personal relationship with the divine is also unimaginable for some how would you rewrite these statements so they are still significant.

 

Dutch

[glintofpewter]

Here are my attempts at some of these:

 

1. Walking fully in the path of Jesus, without denying the legitimacy of other paths to wholeness

 

4. Celebrating our connection with the universe and each other in joyful vibrant rituals which resonate with deep truth of texts we call sacred.

 

8. Walking humbly and confidently, acknowledging our own shortcomings while honestly seeking to understand and call forth the best in others, including those who consider us their enemies;

 

12. Seeking a meaning and purpose; a vocation to add value to the universe.

 

Dutch

[glintofpewter]

A study guide for the Phoenix Affirmations available at the mothership.

http://progressivechristianity.org/phoenix-affirmations-study-guide/

[Raven]

I like your ideas, Dutch. I think these Affirmations were designed to be a bit flexible to allow for inclusion. Very nice.