Our Beliefs and Model of Care

Our Beliefs:

Since our goal is to view the world through God's eyes and understand everything in connection to Him, we remain dedicated to the infallible truth and supreme authority of Scripture.

Since God's activity in human lives reveals itself progressively over time, we are devoted to the overarching story of redemptive-historical theology, using this narrative as the lens through which we view systematic theology, practical theology, and the history of the church.

Since God’s work of salvation through Christ Jesus results in the formation of a people set apart for His possession, we are dedicated to serving and building up the local, visible church.

Since the truth of God and His ways are timeless and universal, we are dedicated to practicing cultural sensitivity. Furthermore, since the church is commissioned to enter the world redemptively, rather than retreating into a defensive or antagonistic isolation, we are committed to active cultural engagement.

Since there is but one Body and one Spirit, we are dedicated to serving believers across a wide range of denominational backgrounds and traditions.

Our Model of Care:

We are Christ-centered. Therefore, we point people to a person, Christ, and not a program. He is wisdom from God, the inexpressible gift who delivers us from our sins and sufferings. He is the faith-nourishing foundation in whom the call to obedience finds its inner principle and power. People need the Savior, not a system of self-salvation.

We believe in God’s common grace to all humanity, and therefore we can learn from those who do not espouse a Christian or even a theistic worldview. For example, while the fundamental worldview of secular psychology runs counter to Christianity, there are descriptive riches to be found in the writings and teachings of those who have gained case wisdom through their research and care. These materials can enrich our care of those in need and can be useful to us as we continue to develop our biblically-based counseling method.

We are aware that human behavior is inextricably tied to deeper motivational drives. Therefore, we emphasize the primacy of the heart, because all human acts arise from a worship core, either disordered or rightly ordered.

We believe that we best image the triune God as we live and grow in community. Therefore, we embed personal change within God's community—the church, with all its rich resources of corporate and interpersonal means of grace.

We believe the Scriptures are rich in their understanding of who we are as human beings. Therefore, we use Scripture with a full commitment to its authority and sufficiency, convinced that from beginning to end, it reveals Christ and his powerful redeeming grace addressing the needs and struggles of the human condition.

We believe that human beings are both spiritual and physical beings. Therefore, we recognize that people are physically-embodied by God’s design. A variety of bodily influences impact moral response. We take the whole person seriously, granting that there are ambiguities at the interface of soul and body. We seek to remain sensitive to physiological factors, as the context within which God calls a person to faith and obedience.

We believe that people are socially-embedded by God’s design. Therefore, we recognize that a variety of socio-cultural influences and sufferings influence moral response. We take the person’s whole context seriously, granting that there are ambiguities at the interface between an individual and their environment. We seek to remain sensitive to social factors, as the context within which God calls a person to faith and obedience.

We believe that the incarnation of Jesus is not just the basis for care but also the model for how care is to be administered. Therefore, we seek to enter into a person’s story, listening well, expressing thoughtful love. Such incarnational patience recognizes that a particular season of intentional counseling plays one part within a life-long process of Christian growth.

We believe that Jesus is our faithful Redeemer who enables us to persevere in the midst of our problems. Therefore, we understand that change is often slow and hard. Jesus promises no instant panacea. He abides in us as we abide in him. He gives grace to walk a long obedience in the same direction, learning wisdom.

We believe that we at First Refuge Ministries have not “arrived.” We have not fully and clearly expressed all that the Bible has to say about counseling ministry. Therefore, because Jesus tarries and we are not yet what we shall be, we humbly admit that we struggle to consistently apply all that we say we believe. We want to learn and grow in wisdom. We who counsel and teach counseling live in process, just like those we counsel and teach.