®

"You don't have to be a Christian to be a good person," we're often told. That is absolutely true - anyone can choose to be kind, considerate and generous. The difference between that kind of choice and what Christians get up to really comes down to a sense of calling. 
​
We believe that God is good and that he is already at work in all kinds of ways in the world, but that precious few people take the time or make the effort required to tap into that, believing instead that they can figure out for themselves what's most needed. Sometimes it is obvious what's needed, but it's also possible to actually undo some of the good work that God is already up to when we don't check in with him before taking action. This is because biblically and historically its very evident that God values different things from us and we often have agendas that clash with his. For example, when it comes to us, God values things like forming a relationship with him, finding our identity in the secure knowledge of his love for us, growing in wisdom through character-forming experiences, and ultimately learning how to love not just ourselves, but one another with a deep and lasting love that comes directly from our relationship with God himself. Apart from God, we tend to look for fulfilling human relationships and a sense of worth in our actions or what other people think of us; we tend to value an easy life, ample resources, and feel-good experiences. These two different value systems can make for very different approaches to "good works".  
​