Harkness, Georgia
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Beliefs That Count return to religion-online Beliefs That Count by Georgia Harkness Georgia Harkness was educated at Cornell University, Boston University School of Theology, studied at Harvard & Yale theological seminaries and at Union Theological Seminary of New York. She has taught at Elmira College, Mount Holyoke, and for twelve years was professor of applied theology at Garrett Biblical Institute. In 1950 she became professor of applied theology at the Pacific School of Religion, in Berkeley, California. Published by The Graded Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 1961. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted & Winnie Brock. Twelve basic affirmations of our Christian faith as each relates to modern man are discussed: What we believe about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, Man, Sin, Experience, Perfection, the Church, the Kingdom of God, Divine Judgment and Eternal Life. Foreword by Horace R. Weaver This is the seventh book in a series of twelve volumes entitled Basic Christian Books. Introduction Chapter 1: We Believe in God God condemns, but he does not reject us. Mercy, not judgment, is God’s last word. Therefore, we should not be surprised to find that "there is no conflict between the justice of God and the mercy of God; both spring out of His infinite love for His children." And if this is true, it is certainly true that in response to his self-giving love he bids us love both him and our neighbor. Chapter 2: We Believe in Jesus Christ Rightly we celebrate on Easter God’s gift of eternal life. But as John’s Gospel repeatedly assures us, eternal life begins here --where we are -- as we "believe" in Christ. It begins as we accept him as our Lord and find our lives anchored to God through him. Chapter 3: We Believe in the Holy Spirit There is no real contradiction between the Holy Spirit as God himself and as his gift to us of guidance, grace, and power for every need. Though we may never fathom the full mystery of God’s nature as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we still can know the glorious fact of his presence in our minds and hearts. file:///D:/rb/relsearchd.dll-action=showitem&id=593.htm (1 of 3) [2/2/03 8:30:52 PM] Beliefs That Count Chapter 4: We Believe in the Bible For Christians, the Bible "...is God’s eternal Word to every generation." When we read the Bible with receptive minds and hearts, God speaks to us through it. Chapter 5: We Believe in Man If the Christian in all humility subordinates himself to God and recognizes his sin and weakness and his complete dependence on God for his existence and his salvation, there is nothing wrong in thinking that man is the supreme object of God’s concern. Jesus apparently believed this, and so may we. Chapter 6: We Believe in Salvation From Sin Salvation from sin means more than personal sanctification. A regenerated Christian looks outward in sympathy and service to other people -- all people of all races, classes, and nations. He takes so seriously the injunction to love God and his neighbor that he cannot be at ease before injustice, evil-doing, or the suffering of others. Chapter 7: We Believe in Christian Experience We do not know God in Christ through one channel only; we know him through the Bible, through the great Christian heritage of the Church, and through the best possible use of our minds. Our experiences in all of these areas are made real, personal, and vital through the Holy Spirit. One channel taken by itself may be deceptive. Chapter 8: We Believe in Christian Perfection Two things must be said unequivocally: first, that it is God who saves us and not we ourselves; and second, that God saves only those who in penitence and obedience respond to his proffered grace. If we do not so respond, we fail to meet the conditions he lays upon us and thus we cannot lay claim to salvation. Chapter 9: We Believe in the Church The Church is the body of which Christ is the Head. It must have no other head but Christ; the governing authorities and all else within it must be subject to him. It exists to exalt the lordship of Christ over all of life. When anything or anybody else becomes supreme, idolatry has corrupted its nature and distorted its function. Christ is the incarnate Word of God, and he alone must reign within it. Chapter 10: We Believe in the Kingdom of God In the kingdom of God, God rules as Lord but loves as Father and works with us as Companion. Slowly, gradually, like the leaven and the mustard seed, the Kingdom comes as we labor faithfully in God’s service. Some evidences of its coming we see about us in redeemed lives file:///D:/rb/relsearchd.dll-action=showitem&id=593.htm (2 of 3) [2/2/03 8:30:52 PM] Beliefs That Count and in a better society; for others we must hopefully wait, labor, and pray. Chapter 11: We Believe in Divine Judgment The wrath of God must not be taken to mean vindictiveness. It means God’s inevitable condemnation and terrible judgment upon sin. It is because sin is so serious and divine judgment is so real that hell (alienation and separation from God by persistent rejection of him) is a reality upon earth and may well be after death. God forces no man to love and serve him; but when we refuse his invitation, we bear the penalty. Chapter 12: We Believe in Eternal Life It is our Christian hope that Christ, who rose triumphant over sin and death, will reign forever in God’s eternal kingdom and that we shall know the glory and blessedness of his presence. 16 file:///D:/rb/relsearchd.dll-action=showitem&id=593.htm (3 of 3) [2/2/03 8:30:52 PM] Religion-Online religion-online.org Full texts by recognized religious scholars More than 1,500 articles and chapters. Topics include Old and New Testament, Theology, Ethics, History and Sociology of Religions, Comparative Religion, Religious Communication, Pastoral Care, Counselling, Homiletics, Worship, Missions and Religious Education. site map (click on any subject) RELIGION & THE SITE THE BIBLE THEOLOGY SOCIETY About Religion Online Authority of the Bible Theology Church and Society Copyright and Use Old Testament Ethics Sociology of A Note to Professors New Testament Missions Religion Comparative Religion Social Issues Bible Commentary Religion and Culture History of Religious Thought RELIGION & THE LOCAL COMMUNICATION CHURCH SEARCH BROWSE Communication Theory The Local Search Religion Online Books Communication in the Local Congregation Index By Author Church Pastoral Care and Recommended Sites Index By Communication and Public Policy Counseling Category Media Education Homiletics: The Art of Preaching Religious Education A member of the Science and Theology Web Ring [ Previous | Next | Random Site | List Sites ] file:///D:/rb/index.htm [2/2/03 8:30:54 PM] Beliefs That Count return to religion-online Beliefs That Count by Georgia Harkness Georgia Harkness was educated at Cornell University, Boston University School of Theology, studied at Harvard & Yale theological seminaries and at Union Theological Seminary of New York. She has taught at Elmira College, Mount Holyoke, and for twelve years was professor of applied theology at Garrett Biblical Institute. In 1950 she became professor of applied theology at the Pacific School of Religion, in Berkeley, California. Published by The Graded Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 1961. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted & Winnie Brock. Foreword by Horace R. Weaver The Title Basic Christian Books aptly describes the character of the twelve volumes that comprise this series. They are basic; they are Christian; they are books. The studies are basic in that they deal with the areas in which all adults should be informed in order to be thoughtful members of their religious communities. These include (1) The Faith, (2) The Church, (3) The Christian Life, and (4) The World. Again, the studies are Christian since they are written in the light of the meaning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, with its many facets that extend into all of life. Personal religious experience, the home, other religions, church membership, missions, the Scriptures, doctrine, Christian action, the ecumenical movement, church history, Methodist heritage, evangelism, and Christian education -- each of these is considered and thoughtfully interpreted from the Christian viewpoint, book by book. The series is written for lay persons and in non-technical language, although the authorship is highly distinguished in the several fields in which the authors write. The treatment of the subjects is brief, but it is never shallow. The books, more or less, have the character of a primer that emphasizes essentials in bold outline with a minimum of detail. The Basic Christian Books may be fitted into the program of adults in a variety of ways. Many will wish to use them as an elective course in a Sunday morning class hour or in a Sunday evening fellowship session. Leadership helps in booklet form will be available for each book, so that teaching aids and group guidance will facilitate their use. Beliefs That Count is the seventh volume in the Basic Christian Book series. The purpose of this book is to lift up twelve basic affirmations of our Christian faith. Each affirmation is then file:///D:/rb/relsearchd.dll-action=showitem&gotochapter=1&id=593.htm (1 of 2) [2/2/03 8:30:55 PM] Beliefs That Count discussed as it relates to modern man. As these beliefs are affirmed and are adopted for personal understanding and motivation, Methodists will discover that every area of their life will change.