These are the core beliefs of the founders of the Celtic Evangelical Monastic Society. We trust the Holy Spirit of God to bring us closer to himself, the source of all Truth.
God
We believe in the God revealed in the Jewish and Christian scriptures, referred to as YHWH: one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—co-eternal in being, co-eternal in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections. We do not refer to any other being but YHWH as (Capital-G) God; we do not worship any other being.
People refer to YHWH in various ways (God, G-d, the LORD, and countless other titles). This is all perfectly appropriate. We like to use YHWH for clarity: we are referring to the God revealed in the Jewish and Christian scriptures.
The Scriptures
We believe that the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full and the final authority on all matters of faith and practice.
People
Humans are uniquely created, crafted, moulded, shaped into the likeness of God. We are unlike anything else in creation. We were created very good–a creative representation of the Creator of the Universe.
Humans are uniquely precious to God, and he continually pursues a love relationship with us in any way that does not violate our free, willing response of love back to him.
Sin and Salvation
Sin is any action or thought that is contrary to God’s intentions for us. It harms us, usually harms others, and always damages our connection to God. The spiritual penalty for sin is death.
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but through Adam’s sin, humans inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God.
Despite having a sinful nature, every person is precious to God and He continually pursues every person to restore relationship with each of us through Jesus.
Jesus paid the death-penalty for the sins of everyone by living a completely sinless human life and allowing himself to be killed. God raised him from the dead. If we accept Jesus’ sacrifice, God considers our sins paid in full.
We believe that God makes salvation freely available to everyone who wants it.
Jesus
We believe that Jesus, the eternal Son of God, became a real, complete human man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary to reveal God and restore sinful people to relationship with God. We believe that Jesus paid for our sin through His death on the cross so that we could have a real relationship with God. He was literally, physically resurrected from death. We believe that Jesus ascended into heaven and is there with God right now. We believe Jesus is coming to earth again to judge the living and the dead.
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the person of the Holy Spirit was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply the saving work of Jesus to people. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their need of a Savior and regenerates them. At the point of salvation He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength and wisdom. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying Scripture. His power and control make it possible for the believer to lead a life of loving Jesus and loving people.
The Church
There are many (lowercase-c) churches, but only one (Capital-C) Church. We believe that Jesus is the one and only head of the Church. The Church is made up of everyone who has put their faith and trust in Jesus, accepting his sacrifice as payment for their sins.
Faith and Practice
Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We recognize it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by God, to Whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible.
Many tools and techniques over the years have been used to facilitate humans connecting with God and each other. Some of these are helpful to some people, and others aren’t. We are particularly interested in some of the pre-Roman Celtic Christian practices.