What's a Nazarene?
Our Extended Family...

WE think of ourselves as one family within the greater family here at Beaverton Nazarene Church. First, we are one part of the greater "Body of Christ." This body of people includes all sorts of other denominations and churches. As a part of one diverse body we all participate in God's mission in the world.

BNC is also one family within another family--the global Church of the Nazarene. We are a Christian church that has emerged out of the Wesleyan-Holiness stream of Christianity. The "Nazarenes" have been around for over a century now and are still seeking to be obedient to Christ's call to go and make disciples throughout the world.

Walking in step with our Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, we are convinced God can fill our hearts with Christ-like love until we truly have victory over our habits of sin. We are being transformed along with all of God's Creation!

You can find other Nazarene churches scatterd throughout Oregon, the USA and the rest of the world. While our BNC family has its own "feel" and "personality," our identity grows out of this larger family. In case you're wondering we (BNC or the global Nazarene Church) do not claim to be
the Church. Again, we are a part of Christ's family, which includeds many sisters and borthers.

If you're curious to know more about how the denomination began or would like to know more about the global Church of the Nazarene, please visit
www.nazarene.org.

images


Our Core Beliefs


"To bring people to Jesus by reflecting His likeness in our daily lives...
Establishing them in the Word of God...
Developing them into faithful servants...
Who reach out to the community...
Extending God's family and celebrating Christ's Love!"


When we think of how our beliefs, values and priorities come together in our ministry, we find our purpose expressed in what you see above. The "We Believe" statements below also help to describe our identity as Christians and Nazarenes in a general, yet profound way.

We Believe:

  • In One God--As the Holy Trinity, God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit.

  • In the divine inspiration of the Bible as it reveals God's will for humanity in all things necessary for salvation.

  • Human-kind is created in the image of God; but due to our sin condition God's image has been distorted leaving us in ultimate need of salvation.

  • Jesus Christ is the good news and way to salvation offered to us all. Because of God's enabling grace we can choose to follow Jesus, turn from sin, believing and trusting in Christ for our salvation.

  • All of Christ's followers are to be sanctified--set apart for God's work of filling us with the Holy Spirit and Christ-like love. It is through this journey we are made to be more like Jesus and thus, we can be transformed back into the image of God still imprinted within us.

  • The Holy Spirit will be evident within those who experience "new birth" in Christ and the Spirit filled or holy life.

  • Those who resist God and ultimately refuse to repent will be eternally lost.

  • Believers need to be baptized as a way to both receive a deeper measure of God's grace and testify to the church community what God is doing in his/her life.

  • There should come a time when one wishes to further his/her commitment to Christ by joining our local church officially in its fellowship and ministry, including a practice of regular giving to the church.

  • Those who have faith in Christ should participate in the Lords Supper (Communion). It was instituted by Christ, and through it we receive God's grace anew and proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

  • In divine healing, not excluding God's use of medical professionals. Just as God heals us from sin, so God is able to heal us from other diseases and illnesses.

  • Our Lord will come again and His Kingdom will come fully; the dead will be raised and the final judgement will take place.

  • In the Church--the community of Christian believers everywhere who proclaim the good news of Jesus, a sent people, used by God to continue Jesus' redemptive mission in the world.