Our Theological Foundation: Introducing Ascent’s Affirmations

Introduction Ascent is a movement of the Holy Spirit focused on re-engaging North America with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are praying and working for an awakening that will touch the whole person and the whole community. As we worship the Holy Trinity, we are also invited to join the Trinity on the divine mission of reconciliation and restoration (2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2). Ascent is a new kind of "missional connectionalism" for the Church in North America—a movement of congregations, leaders, ministries, networks, associations, and theological institutions sharing a common goal of living out the Great Commission locally, regionally, and globally in an increasingly post-Church culture. We gather and work rooted in the historic, orthodox heart of the Nicene Creed of 381 and the 2010 Capetown Commitment (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Truth and unity in a polarized, post-modern, and globalized world. We aim for a dynamic, Jesus-centered orthodoxy that is faithful to scripture and the historical Christian faith, affirming timeless truth in a timely matter. Such commitment liberates God’s people from ideological captivity and cultural and religious syncretism. In the Nicene Creed of 381 and the Capetown Commitment of 2010, we find resources for a clear and inclusive and unifying summary of our theological affirmations. Our posture is one of centrist, confessional historic faith. We consciously aim at avoiding the polarizing ideologies infecting public conversations and dividing the church. We counter post-modern epistemological anarchy with a commitment to truth that transcends our personal or cultural narratives. We respond to the gender and sexual confusion of this moment with biblical celebration of humankind created in God’s image, invited to dwell with God and do the works of God as male and female. Our commitment to our Creator and the new creation found in Christ leads us to affirm complete equality of women and men, with full access to all of God’s callings and gifts for both sexes. Put simply, we are biblically egalitarian. We believe that the global church is being empowered to prophesy to the West, calling on formerly Christianized nations to repent and rediscover the gospel afresh. What used to be the margins are now new centers of vital Christianity and we rejoice in the progress the evangelization in the past two centuries. The global church is also calling on many Christian movements to rediscover biblical truth and reject the syncretism of human ideologies that lead to moral and theological compromise. There is no place for any kind of classism, ethnocentrism, or racism in the church. Our Theological Affirmations: Biblical, Pneumatic, and Prayer-Infused Rooted in historical orthodoxy and the Capetown Commitment, we have refined our affirmations for fidelity to the truth and clarity for contemporary belivers and seekers. Faithfulness comes before originality (Thomas Oden), yet every generation must articulate the “faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” (Jude 3 cf. I Corinthians 15:3-8 and Philippians 2:5-11) While affirming objective truth rooted in the Bible, we also confess our radical dependency on the Holy Spirit who makes Christ our contemporary, enlivens the Word and empowers our service. All of God’s callings and gifts are present for the church to grow into the fullness of Christ and carry out the mission of God (Romans 12:1-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; I Corinthians 12-14; Acts 2). Our vision for awakening included revitalization of every belivers and each local church and such joy overflowing to every arena of the community. “Prayer is where the action is.” (John Wesley) God has decided that our cries and hopes, intercessions and petitions matter for the mission. This is why Ascent focuses on prayer as foundational for awakening, mission progress, and transformation of persons and communities (Ephesians 6:18-20; Philippians 1:19) Orthodoxy, Orthopathy, and Orthopraxis Intellectual acumen united with prayerful affections and obedient actions are all necessary for the display of God’s glory to a watching world (Ephesians 3:10). Out Theological Affirmations are thoughtful and represent the serious consensus of diverse leaders committed to Ascent’s mission. These Affirmations also engage the heart, calling for new dispositions of compassion and conviction, forgiveness and hope. For God’s people of all traditions, right theology/worship must lead to the obedience that springs from faith (Romans 1:5). The prophetic poetry of Micah 6:8 is a clarion call to integration: doing justice rooted in loving mercy is the fruit of humbly walking with God. We are calling on God’s people to be “contemplative activists” (MaryKate Morse and Charlie Self), equally at home sitting at the feet of Jesus and washing the feet of all in need of grace (John 13:1-6). In our listening to young (20s and 30s) Christian leaders in North America, we discovered three vital points of consensus for fruitful mission going forward: 1) Stay faithful to Scripture and historic, consensual theology; 2) Avoid the ideological cliffs of Left or Right political ideologies; 3) Always integrate the declaration of the gospel along with the incarnational apologetics of doing good works that change people and communities. Back to the Future: An Invitation We invite leaders and movements to find a home with Ascent as we join Jesus on his mission. We are hopeful realists, aware of extraordinary grace of God and challenges of ordinary life. May we be an answer to the prayer of Jesus and walk in joyful unity (John 17:21). For more of Ascent’s theological foundation, please visit our affirmations here.