Articles

We are certainly a fellowship of those who seek to know Christ better, make him known, and serve him more fully. But to answer the question theologically and historically is to observe that within the sweep of different churches and denominations St Jude’s is Evangelical, Reformed and Anglican.

Clearly, there are many different types of churches and denominations of churches. In the light of Jesus’ call to unity, in some ways it is right to be saddened by this reality. The divisions between churches are often over minor matters that ought not to create such separation. Although some of those divisions are simply the result of different histories or patterns of immigration and healthy fellowship continues between Christians across those denominations (as we certainly have in the Highlands).

However, the reality is that often there are differences between churches that go beyond the historical and the trivial. Simply claiming to be a church does not make a church.

A church is a gathering of people who trust in the Lord Jesus, listen to his Word, and seek to live that out in their fellowship and in the community. Clearly over the years there have been plenty of so-called ‘churches’ that have completely failed to do that.

However, instead of focusing on the negative, I want to try to spell out briefly and positively what type of church St Jude’s is.

We are certainly a fellowship of those who seek to know Christ better, make him known, and serve him more fully. But to answer the question theologically and historically is to observe that within the sweep of different churches and denominations St Jude’s is Evangelical, Reformed and Anglican.

To say that we are Evangelical is to say that we give supreme authority to God’s Word the Bible. Traditions are important but they need to be critiqued by the Bible. Experience can be valuable, but it needs to be interpreted by the Bible. Our own reasoning is vital but the Bible stands above it and shapes our thinking (rather than our reasoning seeking to edit and alter the Bible). To be Evangelical is to have the Word of God at the heart of all our services, not as a book to be venerated or carried around, but as a Divine Word to be listened to and obeyed.

To say that we are Reformed is to say that we hold to the key principles expounded by the 16^th century reformers. We put the chief emphasis on God’s grace and his sovereign power, rather than upon our efforts and religious works. We are helpless sinners in need of God’s grace in Christ provided supremely by his work on the cross. We seek in all things to give God the glory, rather than claiming the credit ourselves. 

Finally, to say that we are Anglican locates us historically as arising from the witness and ministry of the pioneer pastors of the Church of England in the colonial era. It also places us in a tradition of carefully crafted, and richly Evangelical and Reformed church services and liturgy. Whilst some Anglican churches have abandoned the Evangelical and Reformed basis of the Church of England, we have not. As such we stand in fellowship with other faithful bible-believing Anglicans across the world, and support organisations that strengthen their ministry (including GAFCON and EFAC if you like a good acronym).

If you are visiting with us, welcome to our church. If you love Jesus or are seeking to learn more of him in the Word of God, then I am sure you will find yourself at home at St Jude’s.

Rev Gavin Perkins