What I Believe

As a pastor and writer, I believe it is important to openly share my personal beliefs for transparency and to avoid confusion. In the past decade since I was first called to preach, I have experienced immense personal growth resulting in a completely different set of beliefs than I once held. My beliefs have been shaped through prayer, thorough study, and many discussions with others. Nevertheless, I recognize my fallibility as a fallen human, and I understand that I am prone to making mistakes like anyone else. Above all, my aim is to stay faithful to the Scriptures and let them guide my beliefs in all aspects of life. I believe I have much more to learn, but I am thankful for the direction that God has led me in and the knowledge I have been able to attain until now.

The documents I list below are merely statements that I agree with. They do not hold greater or equal authority to the Scriptures, but they are clear articulations of doctrines which I believe and are expressed better than I likely could myself. My agreement with these documents are an example of my commitment to catholicity and unity in the Church.

Orthodox Christianity

I affirm the orthodox Christian faith as expressed in the Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, and Chalcedonian Creed. I believe these creeds accurately summarize the teachings of Scripture and reflect the ecumenical conclusions of the Church in all ages.

The Historic Baptist Faith

I affirm the Historic Baptist Faith as expressed in the First London Baptist Confession and the Second London Baptist Confession, and that these confessions are in harmony, having no substantial difference between them.

The Five Solas of the Reformation

I affirm the Cambridge Declaration (1996) and firmly stand by the Reformational distinctives of Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria contained therein.

Scripture

I affirm the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, and that God has kept His word pure in all ages, having preserved the original manuscripts in the traditional or received text of Scripture.

The Doctrines of Grace

I affirm the doctrines of grace, commonly summarized with the acronym “T.U.L.I.P.”, that is Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and the Preservation of the Saints.

Biblical Manhood & Womanhood

I affirm the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

Human Sexuality

I affirm the Nashville Statement (2019) on Biblical Sexuality.