• "In Essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love"
• Augustine (354-430 AD)

I believe Christians should be unified in the Worship of Christ and the work of evangelism with all Christians from differing backgrounds (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational, etc) who hold to the Essential Statements of the Nicene Creed:

• "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
• 
  Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
• 
  And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
  And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."

As Christians we can and should work with people of all races, genders, religions and philosophies when it comes to essential social justice, humanitarian and community issues that are common of concerns (i.e. crime, eduction, joblessness, gangs, drugs, affordable housing, abortion prevention, civil rights, etc).

Christ reached out and taught that we should affiliate with people outside of religious circles when it comes to bringing moral reform, love and salvation. He made these points by example in the Gospels, His teachings and His rebukes to the legalistic Jewish religious establishment. A few Biblical proofs:

• Luke 5:29-3229
  
• Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 31 Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
  
  

• Luke 11:42
• 42 "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

• Luke 10:25-37
• 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
  26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
  27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
  28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
  29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
  30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
  36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
  37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
  Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

What Are My Ministry Values?

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