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2. TTP Mission and Values

Mission:

Reclaiming the mind for Christ by equipping people and churches to understand and defend the Christian faith

Values:

  1. Diligence in pursuit of the knowledge of God (ethic):

We believe that the diligent pursuit of the knowledge of God through the revelation of God is the first pursuit of order that makes all other pursuits justified and fruitful to God’s glory. This pursuit is of utmost importance for every believer.

Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the lack of your God, I also will forget your children.”

(See also: Ezra 7:10; Ps. 1:2; Prov. 9:10; 2 Tim. 2:5)

  1. Development of a Biblical worldview (essence):

People who think and act biblically are exceptional in today’s world. People’s understanding of life’s most important questions (how did the world come into being? what is life about? what is my purpose? what does the future hold? who’s in control?) constructs their worldview. Therefore, we lead people in the development of a biblical worldview by seeking out what God's word and God's world have to say in answer to these and other questions.

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

(See also: Jn. 17:14-17; 2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:9-10)

  1. Commitment to objective truth through God’s revelation (rule)

We adhere neither to the modernist assumption that man can know all things, nor to the postmodernist assumption that man can know nothing. We believe that the sovereign God has revealed many things to man, and, as well, has chosen to withhold many things from him. Therefore, we are diligent to discover objective truth through the revelation that God has given to us. We are committed to the Bible as the primary source of objective truth because it is the only infallible standard that God has made available to us.

Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.”

(See also: Jn. 17:17; Ps. 119; 2 Tim. 3:16-17)

  1. Construction of a comprehensive theology (scope)

The Scriptures address a wide range of theological concepts. It is important that the believer pursues and diligently studies all these concepts because of their interdependence. Therefore, we value a holistic understanding of God’s revelation through systematic study.

2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

(See also: Eph. 4:11-13)

  1. Doing theology within community (audience)

God has constructed the Body of Christ in such a way that all members need each other for growth to occur. We believe that theology should not be developed in a vacuum. If theology is done alone, it will be limited by each individual’s perspective. Therefore, when constructing theology, we value the input of the entire Body of Christ, both living and dead.

Phil 2:1-2

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

(See also: Rom 12:16; 1 Cor. 1:10)

  1. Excellence in Teaching (standard)

The Bible gives record of many teachers who sought to teach truth with diligence and accuracy. All of the teachers were uniquely dynamic, engaging, gracious, transparent, creative, and persuasive. Therefore, we follow this model of teaching, seeking leaders who have all of these qualities bringing the people to God’s truth with great passion.

Acts 18:24, 28 “Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, a man with eloquent and convincing speech, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures . . . He powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”

(See also: Ecc. 9:10)

  1. Irenic Approach (method)

We believe that people are created in the image of God, and that having this image gives them great dignity and responsibility to use their minds the way God intended. Therefore, we believe that the best approach for teaching theology is in a peaceful manner that accurately represents all possible views. In doing so we honor God and His image by trusting people to think for themselves and in humility pursue truth. Also, we believe when theology is taught with an irenic spirit, the inherent risk that is involved gives way to confidently held beliefs. In other words, we do not believe in “Christian indoctrination” or “theological outsourcing.”

Titus 2:7-8 “. . . In your teaching show integrity, dignity, and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, because he has nothing evil to say about us.”

(See also: Rom. 14:5; 2Cor. 4:12; Col. 4:6; 2 Tim. 2:15)

  1. Satisfying Power of Biblical Truth (result)

We believe that a person with the Spirit of God residing in them has no greater thirst than to learn deeply of the Object of their affection. We also believe that there is nothing more satisfying to this thirst than the learning of Biblical truth. Therefore, we seek to bring people to the fountain from which we all long to drink through the teaching and open discussion that takes place in TTP courses.

John 4:14 “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

(See also: Psalm 42:1; 63:1; Jer. 31:25; Ps. 143:6)

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