our beliefs

Are we an evangelical church?

Over the last few years the word ‘evangelical’ has increasingly become understood in culture as a voting block as much as a theological coalition. The chaotic era of 2016-20 has many people re-examining the label to see if it still fits. So it’s fair to ask, is Good News in the Neighborhood an evangelical church?

I was raised, educated, and discipled by a variety of conservative evangelical institutions. Evangelicalism as the large, broad coalition of white Christianity in America was organized in the late 1940’s, personified by the ministry of Billy Graham. Evangelicals wanted to hold strong to biblical truth as a contrast to the slippage they saw in mainline denominations. They also wanted an outward focus as a contrast to the insular fundamentalists. The movement (which claims 1/4 of Christians worldwide) is framed around 4 ideas:

  • the work of Jesus on the cross

  • a personal response to that work

  • a high regard for the Bible

  • a commitment to tell as many people as possible

Do you nod your head as you read that list, wishing evangelicals had stayed a little more focused on their main components? 

I believe the church must make a critical shift in how these 4 concepts are executed and perceived to be fruitful in the generations ahead. If we want to be multi-ethnic, Bible-teaching, and life-giving, we must love + listen well.

In summary, We are an evangelical church in the sense that we believe the things the evangelical church believes, but not in the sense of having a fixed political ideology.

– Pastor Luke MacDonald

good news

We believe the timeless truths of the Bible and the story of God they explain. We don’t just want to know these truths, but live them as well. Our statement of beliefs is organized as a narrative of how we become + bring the good news to our neighborhood.

  • the triune God created a perfect world for man to enjoy and a perfect word to reveal Himself.

  • our sin punctured the perfection of creation and ruptured man’s relationship with God + each other.

  • Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross + resurrection from the grave makes provision for man’s sin once + for all.

  • when the Holy Spirit opens a person’s mind + heart to acknowledge their sin + Jesus’ substitution, they receive the gift of salvation.

  • although God’s final judgement + kingdom is still to come, because of Jesus’ resurrection, fullness of life + joy is available to all in the here and now.