The Phoenix Affirmations

The Phoenix Affirmations, named for the town in which the principles were created and the mythological bird adopted by ancient Christians as a symbol of resurrection, offers disillusioned and spiritually homeless Christians and others a sense of hope and a more tolerant, joyful, and compassionate message than those we often hear from the media and some Christian leaders. These twelve central affirmative principles of Christian faith are built on the three great loves that the Bible reveals: love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self. They reflect commitments to environmental stewardship, social justice, and artistic expression as well as openness to other faiths. Transcending theological and culture wars, inclusive and generous in spirit and practice, these principles ask believers and seekers alike to affirm their Christian faith in a fresh way.

The Author ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

Affirmation 1 Walking fully in the Path of Jesus without denying the legitimacy of other paths that God may provide for humanity 1

Affirmation 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 13

Affirmation 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 29

Affirmation 4 Expressing our love in worship that is as sincere, vibrant, and artful as it is scriptural 39

Affirmation 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 51

Affirmation 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 65

Affirmation 7 Preserving religious freedom and the church’s ability to speak prophetically to government by resisting the commingling of church and state 79

Affirmation 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 89

Affirmation 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 99

Affirmation 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 111

Affirmation 11 Caring for our bodies and insisting on taking time to enjoy the benefits of prayer, reflection, worship, and recreation in addition to work 125

Affirmation 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 135

Notes 145

CrossWalk America 151

The Phoenix Affirmations 152

THE AUTHOR

Eric Elnes, Ph.D., is a pastor and the cofounder of CrossWalk America (www.CrossWalkAmerica.org), a nonprofit organization that is launching a coast-to-coast walk starting on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006, to unite progressive Christians nationwide, encourage meaningful discussion, and establish common ground for people of faith.

The Phoenix Affirmations

"You never know where the next Great Awakening is going to come from. Wherever it happens, I want to be present at the beginning, when the Spirit moves in wonderful ways. I see a spark of what very well may be the next Great Awakening in Phoenix, Arizona."
—Dr. James Forbes, senior pastor, Riverside Church, New York City, New York

The Phoenix Affirmations, named for the town in which they were created and the mythological bird adopted by ancient Christians as a symbol of resurrection, offers disillusioned and spiritually homeless Christians and others a sense of hope and a tolerant, joyful, and compassionate message. Built on the three great loves that the Bible reveals, love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self, these twelve affirmations reflect commitments to environmental stewardship, social justice, and artistic expression as well as openness to other faiths. Transcending theological and culture wars, inclusive and generous in spirit and practice, these principles allow believers and seekers alike to affirm their Christian faith in a fresh way. "You never know where the next Great Awakening is going to come from. Wherever it happens, I want to be present at the beginning, when the Spirit moves in wonderful ways. I see a spark of what very well may be the next Great Awakening here in Phoenix, Arizona."
—Dr. James Forbes, senior pastor, Riverside Church, New York City, New York