Micah J. Sturm

Encountering Jesus Christ changed my life—He made a difference!

I give thanks to Him that the people whom He used to nurture me actually live and believe the following statement:

“The church joyfully proclaims the good news that we may be delivered from all sin to a new life in Christ. By the grace of God we Christians are “to put off the old self ”—the old patterns of conduct as well as the old carnal mind—and are “to put on the new self ”—a new and holy way of life as well as the mind of Christ.

It is further recognized that there is validity in the concept of the collective Christian conscience as illuminated and guided by the Holy Spirit.

The historic ethical standards of the church…should be followed carefully and conscientiously as guides and helps to holy living. Those who violate the conscience of the church do so at their own peril and to the hurt of the witness of the church.

The Church of the Nazarene believes this new and holy way of life involves practices to be avoided and redemptive acts of love to be accomplished for the souls, minds, and bodies of our neighbors.

Our leaders and pastors are expected to give strong emphasis in our periodicals and from our pulpits to such fundamental biblical truths as will develop the faculty of discrimination between the evil and the good.

We suggest that the standard given to John Wesley by his mother, namely, “whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of your body over mind, that thing for you is sin,” form the basis for this teaching of discrimination.”

(Manual, Church of the Nazarene, Covenant of Christian Conduct)

Is there any difference in you?

What needs to change?

The best mission statement I’ve heard:

“To know the transforming Christ and be found faithful in our generation!”

Make it so, dear Lord.