First Presbyterian Church of Arlington 663 Kearny Avenue Kearny NJ 07032-2935

I believe that the God who created the universe continues to care about His creation.

I believe that God has revealed and continues to reveal Himself in nature, in history, in His prophets and in His Church.

I believe that God has revealed himself in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments.

I believe that God's fullest revelation of Himself was in Jesus Christ.

I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and sent his Holy Spirit so that we might continue to experience His life-giving, life-enhancing and life-empowering presence.

I believe that God hears and answers prayers, that God helps and heals.

I believe that the word "hopeless" is the worst kind of blasphemy as no one or no situation is beyond God's love and power.

I believe that God, through the Holy Spirit, gives us the strength and wisdom to be better, wiser, stronger, happier and more complete than we could be without Him.

I believe that God inspired the biblical writers to provide us with a kind of "User's Manual" to form our character and guide our behavior.

I believe that the letter of the law must always give way to the spirit of the law.

I believe that of the two attitudes, the pure and the responsible, Christ calls us to be responsible rather than pure.

I believe that the 10 Commandments are binding:

1. You must not worship other gods (Idolatry)
2. You must not worship anything made by man (Idolatry)
3. You must not break an oath sworn to God (Perjury)
4. Worship on the Sabbath Day
5. Respect your father and mother
6. You must not murder
7. You must not commit adultery
8. You must not steal
9. You must not slander or libel anyone
10. You must not envy anyone else's blessings (Jealousy, greed)

I believe that because God loves me I am obliged to love the rest of His creation.

I believe that "agape," or the kind of love commended and commanded by Jesus is:

1. Practical empathy
2. Love that one ought to give even when one doesn't feel like it, just because it's the right thing to do
3. Love that expects nothing in return

I believe that Christ's model of practical empathy, sympathy and compassion should be normative for all Christians.

I believe that Christ's model of disgust with injustice and hypocrisy should be normative for all Christians.

I believe that Christianity is a way of life, not merely a set of beliefs.

I believe that hands that help are as precious in God's eyes as lips that pray.

I believe that because God forgives me time and again, I must forgive others.

I believe (as I was taught by my old Sunday School teacher) that Christ's love is a circle that draws people in rather than shuts them out.

I believe that the evangelical impulse should be non-coercive and non-judgmental.

I believe that a grateful heart is most precious to God and that gratitude to God means observing the Sabbath in public worship, supporting His Church and loving all His children.

I believe that when we die we will see God and our loved ones face to face.