Church
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lutheran · Safford: a neutral profile of what this congregation describes about its beliefs.
Where to find them
Public details for this congregation.
TraditionLutheranAbout →
Sourcing statusFrom their statement of faith
Beliefs on file893 positions
Statement of faithPublished →
Where they stand
Each position below is labelled by how it was sourced, so you can weigh it for yourself.
VerifiedConfirmed by the church
From their statement of faithEstimated, not verified
Tradition defaultEstimated, not verified
Showing 36 of 893 positions across 18 topics. Expand any topic to see the rest.
God & the Trinity54 positions
- Analogical LanguageAffirmsTradition defaultHuman language about God is analogical: true but never capturing God univocally as it captures creatures.Estimated, not verified
- Apophatic PriorityAffirmsTradition defaultWhat God is in himself is ultimately beyond human comprehension, so negative ("God is not...") statements are more reliable than positive ones.Estimated, not verified
Christ64 positions
- Assumed Fallen Human NatureStrongly rejectsTradition defaultChrist assumed a fully fallen human nature (subject to the effects of the Fall) in order to heal it from within.Estimated, not verified
- Assumed Unfallen Human NatureStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChrist assumed an unfallen, sinless human nature, untouched by original sin/corruption.Estimated, not verified
Sin & the fall45 positions
- Adams Sin Brought Physical DeathStrongly affirmsTradition defaultPhysical death entered the human race as a consequence of Adam's sin; humans were not originally subject to death.Estimated, not verified
- All Sin Deserves Death EquallyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultEvery sin, however small, deserves God's condemnation/death: there is no class of sin that does not by nature merit it.Estimated, not verified
Salvation52 positions
- Active Obedience ImputedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChrist's lifelong law-keeping (his "active obedience"), not only his death, is imputed to the believer as their positive righteousness.Estimated, not verified
- Assurance Grounded In Christ AloneStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAssurance rests on Christ's finished work and God's promise, not on the believer's own works or sacramental performance.Estimated, not verified
The Holy Spirit52 positions
- Assurance Is Normal For BelieversStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithSettled assurance of salvation is normal and to be expected for genuine believers in this life.Estimated, not verified
- Blasphemy Against Spirit UnforgivableStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThere is a specific sin against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable.Estimated, not verified
The Church42 positions
- Apostolicity Is Doctrinal Not SuccessionalStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithApostolicity consists primarily in fidelity to apostolic DOCTRINE, not in an unbroken chain of ordinations from the apostles.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Is The Entry Into The ChurchStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithBaptism is the rite of entry/incorporation into the visible church.Estimated, not verified
Sacraments & ordinances43 positions
- Anointing Sick Is A SacramentRejectsTradition defaultAnointing of the sick with oil is a sacrament conveying grace, healing, and forgiveness to the seriously ill.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Mode Immersion RequiredStrongly rejectsTradition defaultValid baptism requires full immersion of the body in water.Estimated, not verified
Worship & liturgy46 positions
- Altar Oriented ArchitectureStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe worship space should be ordered around an altar/holy table as its visual and theological focus.Estimated, not verified
- Bowing And ProstrationStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithBowing, prostration, or full physical reverence before the altar, icons, or sacrament is fitting in worship.Estimated, not verified
Last things27 positions
- A Literal Mark Of The Beast Is ComingAffirmsTradition defaultA literal future "mark of the beast" will be imposed as a condition of economic participation.Estimated, not verified
- Apocalyptic Prophecy Read Literally FuturisticallyStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe prophecies of Daniel and Revelation should be read primarily as literal predictions of still-future events.Estimated, not verified
Scripture48 positions
- Authority Creeds SubordinateStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe ecumenical creeds and confessions are authoritative only insofar as they faithfully summarize Scripture.Estimated, not verified
- Authority Holy Tradition OrthodoxStrongly rejectsTradition defaultScripture is rightly read only within Holy Tradition: the Fathers, councils, liturgy, and consensus of the Church.Estimated, not verified
Revelation, creation & science38 positions
- Adam Special Creation From DustStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe first human was specially and directly created by God from the dust, not biologically descended from earlier hominins.Estimated, not verified
- Angels Created BeingsStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithAngels and other spiritual beings are part of God's created order, made by God.Estimated, not verified
Life & bioethics57 positions
- Abortion Gravely Wrong In PrincipleStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithDeliberately ending a pregnancy by killing the unborn is in itself a grave moral wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Abortion Permitted To Save Mothers LifeAffirmsTradition defaultAbortion is morally permissible when continuing the pregnancy would directly threaten the mother's life.Estimated, not verified
Sexuality & marriage45 positions
- Abortifacient Contraception WrongStrongly affirmsTradition defaultContraceptive methods that may act after fertilization (potential abortifacients) are morally wrong even if other contraception is permitted.Estimated, not verified
- Annulment Recognizes Invalid MarriageRejectsTradition defaultSome unions that appeared to be marriages were never valid marriages, and the church can rightly declare them null (annulment).Estimated, not verified
Society & politics64 positions
- Active Nonviolent Resistance ObligatoryAffirmsTradition defaultChristians should actively resist injustice through nonviolent means (protest, civil disobedience, noncooperation), not merely abstain from violence.Estimated, not verified
- Almsgiving Is A Binding ObligationAffirmsFrom their statement of faithGiving to the poor is a binding moral obligation, not optional charity, and to withhold from the needy is a sin.Estimated, not verified
Angelology Demonology42 positions
- Angelic Fall Caused By PrideStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe angels fell primarily through pride: refusing subjection to God / seeking to exalt themselves.Estimated, not verified
- Angelic Fall Predates Human FallAffirmsTradition defaultThe angelic rebellion occurred before the fall of humanity, and the serpent's temptation issued from an already-fallen angel.Estimated, not verified
Anthropology70 positions
- Body Essential To PersonStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe body is essential to being a complete human person, not an accidental or dispensable container for the soul.Estimated, not verified
- Body GoodStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe material human body is intrinsically good as created by God.Estimated, not verified
Covenant Law Israel45 positions
- Abrahamic Covenant Foundational And OngoingStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Abrahamic covenant is foundational and its promises remain operative for the people of God today.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Replaces Circumcision Covenant SignStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithBaptism is the New Covenant counterpart to circumcision, marking entrance into the covenant community.Estimated, not verified
Mariology Saints59 positions
- All Believers Are SaintsStrongly affirmsTradition default"Saints" in the New Testament sense means all believers, not a special canonized class.Estimated, not verified
- Altar Relics Required Or ProperStrongly rejectsTradition defaultIt is fitting (or required) that altars contain the relics of saints.Estimated, not verified
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