Well! I have compiled a pretty wide ranging statement of my personal beliefs. Enjoy!
In Relation To Common Theological Doctrine
I affirm the Methodist Affirmation of Faith, and the Methodist Articles of Faith
I affirm the doctrine of continuationism - meaning that I believe in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and manifestations of His spiritual gifts are alive, and still practiced today.
I fundamentally believe in the inherent errancy of theology being that it is based on the human attempt to understand God’s logic (theology, by definition), and that it is safe to assume that any theological doctrine, therefore, is flawed and more than one theological stance may be correct (as long as they don’t contradict) or a combination of doctrines is probably more accurate (because no human has the fullness of truth).
I recognize God as omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. While I acknowledge God’s divine foreknowledge, I do not allege that divine foreknowledge is in direct conflict with free will, rather believing that even in spite of Him being all-knowing of the choices we will make, that He still give us the ability to choose. I believe in prevenient grace, and essential kenosis
In Relation to the Calvinist Five Doctrines of Grace
(John 3:16,17; Romans 5:8, 18; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; 1 Timothy 2:4; 4:10; Hebrews 2:9; 10:29; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 2:2; 4:14; Romans 14:15; 1 Corinthians 8:11; Hebrews 10:29, Mathew 11:28, Isaiah 45:22, John 7:37, John 12:32, Acts 17:30, 2 Peter 3:9, Revelation 22:17, 1 Timothy 4:10, Titus 2:11, 2 Peter 3:9, John 1:29)
I affirm the doctrine of Total Depravity,
I reject the premise of Unconditional Election, and believe that Christ died for all
I believe in Unlimited Atonement, not in universal salvation, but rather that all sin past and future of all people was atoned for by Christ.
I believe in Resistible Grace, that rejection of God’s grace comes out of our total depravity (or complete corruption).
I support the Perseverance of Saints (with minor modifications)
In Relation to My Lifestyle of Worship, & Personal Convictions
I am continuationist, and charismatic by my personal experience with the Holy Spirit. My birth was foretold all the way down to my physical appearance, as well as that of my brother.
I believe in creative miracles,have seen the healing power of God released in the laying of hands, and have felt the Holy Spirit guide me to speak over people, and am blessed with the gifting of prophetic worship. While I have never operated in the gift of tongues (xenoglossia), I do not deny its existence. I have, however, experienced glossolalia, generally in worship leading when I am so overcome by the physical manifestation of the Spirit, that my singing breaks down into syllables.
I believe that there is power in prayer, and that God grants us all prayer that is aligned with His Divine Will. I believe in baptism by immersion as preferable because of biblical instruction but view it as an outward symbol of an inner conversion that has already taken place, and not a prerequisite to salvation.
I believe that God is Love, even in the midst of His sovereignty and judgement and that its the Love of the Father that gives life, the Love of Christ that saves, and the Love of the Holy Spirit that convicts.
Furthermore, I believe it is the Holy Spirit that pricks our hearts, convicting us of our nature, and bringing us to repentance. I believe that we were meant to be one with God. That was our purpose, that was our calling. And when we separate ourselves from God, we try to fill the space meant for Him with drugs, and sex, and alcohol and work and school, and knowledge, and money but we can’t. Deep within, we were created to worship. Our souls crave God.
In worship, I believe in singing and dancing before the Lord, because He told us to in addition to other creative outlets. I believe that through worship we enter the presence of God, and that as a worship leader, it is my responsibility to encourage people to encounter Him for themselves, NOT to encounter Him for them. To these ends, I believe a need for an increase in WORSHIP, and downsizing the church in the Church which will only come from a revival of the Holy Spirit. I aim to WORSHIP in spirit and truth, giving Him all that I am, and to release the cry of the heart He has placed within me. Finally, God says in a statement of His character, that He makes all things new. Therefor e, I believe if we are not constantly being renewed, if our WORSHIP looks and operates virtually the same, then He is not inhabiting it, and we have begun to worship the ritual of church not our Creator.