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Shepherd's Corner ...
with Ruling Elder Ted Fines
Excerpts from Ted's August 2025 letter:
"Love as Our Foundation: Understanding Presbyterian Theology"
"Dear Friends in Christ, As we continue to grow together as a community of faith, I would like to share some reflections on what truly makes us Presbyterian—and, more importantly, what makes us Christian. At its heart, our faith is built on a simple yet profound truth: God is love.
The Heart of Our Faith
When we discuss what makes our church Presbyterian, we're referring to something much more profound than organizational structure or denominational labels. We're talking about the very love of God that shapes everything we believe and do together.
In our Reformed tradition, we understand that love isn't just one of God's qualities—it's who God is. As the apostle John puts it so beautifully: "God is love." This isn't just a description of what God does; it's a declaration of God's very nature.
God's Choosing Love
Our Presbyterian understanding of salvation begins with a wonderful truth: God's love for us started before we could love God in return. Before we were even born, God chose us in love. This isn't because we deserved it, but because love is simply who God is.
Paul writes in Ephesians: "He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love."
Sometimes people worry about the doctrine of election, thinking it makes God seem cold or arbitrary. But it's the opposite! It's rooted in the warmest truth possible—that God loves us so much that divine love wouldn't let the world exist without redemption.
Grace: Love in Action
When our Reformed ancestors spoke of "grace alone," they were talking about love in action. Grace is God's love reaching toward us when we cannot reach God. Grace is God's love pursuing us even when we're running away. Grace is God's love embracing us when we feel unlovable."
Click here to read Ted's August 2025 letter in its entirety.
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