Core Values
UNITY
In Bethesda Chapel, this ‘unity’ is one of the five core values. Christ has broken down the dividing walls between different groups of people. Christ’s death on the cross has brought us the peace of God (John 14:27-28; 20:19, 21, 26; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:13-15; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 13:20).
The unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace is summarized as follows:
“There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV).
The prayer of Jesus in John 17 says it all.
This unity binds all that we are and do. Hence we are admonished to make “every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3-6 NIV).
We are Christ’s beloved because of God’s love and mercy and grace. In response to God-given new life in Christ, we are to be Word-filled and Spirit-filled in our being.
WORD-FILLED
Word-filled – To be word-filled is to have a regular intake of God’s word.
Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 reminds us that, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 NIV). It is by living on God’s Word that one’s faith is built up and one is equipped to serve God (Colossians 2:7; 1 Timothy 4:6; 2 Timothy 3:16-18).
Paul urges us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16 NIV).
As Christ’s disciples, we are to abide in His Word, continue in His Word, and meditate on His Word (John 15:5; 8:31-32; Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1, Psalm 119). Those who apply God’s word will be blessed (Luke 11:28; John 13:17; James 1:25)
SPIRIT-FILLED
Spirit-filled – In the Old Testament, men and women of God were filled with God’s Spirit to do His work. After Pentecost, the resurrected and ascended Lord Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit to indwell the believers. The believers are members of the Church, the Body of Christ, also refers to as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. We are commanded to “be filled with the Spirit.” The evidence will be rejoicing in praises to God and thankfulness (Ephesians 5:18-20), and bearing of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Those who do not walk by the Spirit yield to the natural self and can be boastful, challenging one another, envying one another (Galatians 5:26).
BROTHERLY LOVE
Brotherly love or brotherly kindness (philadelphia– philo love of the brothers). The foundation of this virtue is faith in God. We are urged to make every effort to supplement our faith with moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with perseverance, and perseverance with godliness and godliness with brotherly kindness. Then we can finally supplement brotherly love with agape love (2 Peter 1:5-7).
In Jesus’ conversation with Peter, Jesus asked twice, “Do you love (agape) Me?” before He asked the third time, “Do you love (philo) Me?” Each time, Peter could only reply, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love (philo) You.” Only God can love (agape) each of us unconditionally. We do well by loving (philo) each other as brothers and sisters of the household of God in the Bethesda family. In the household of God, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ (Mark 10:30; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:19; 1 Timothy 5:1-2).
COMPASSION
Compassion – Jesus had compassion for the hungry, the sick, the blind, physically and mentally infirmed, for the lost sheep and for the orphans and widows (Matthew 14:14; 15:32; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 6:34).
Since the Lord Jesus Christ is full of compassion and is merciful, we ought to imitate Him and be compassionate and merciful (James 5:11).
Compassion, along with other virtues, like kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness are eventually tied to brotherly love and agape love. The latter is the perfect bond of unity. It is the peace of Christ that must rule in our hearts. For we were called to be in One Body of Christ (Colossians 3:12-15).