A United Methodist Congregation
As United Methodists we have historically shaped our beliefs around four points:
- The Bible – how do we experience God in this complex series of writings produced by several cultures over so many centuries?
- Tradition – what has the Christian faith learned and taught throughout the years since Jesus lived on earth?
- Personal Experience – how has God nudged our individual spiritual journeys?
- Reason – how do we think using all the resources available to human beings?
These four points are like four legs of a table – they must each contribute to one’s spiritual balance. Focusing only on one’s individual experience without considering the ancient traditions can lead to imbalance. Reading the Bible without utilizing our God given intellect can lead to imbalance. Spiritual imbalance does not decrease God’s love for us but it certainly contributes to unrest and chaos in the community of faith and beyond.