About North Shore Lutheran Ministry
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Many of you who are visiting this page already know Jesus, and are familiar with the precepts of Christianity. If, however, the language of formal "doctrinal creeds" seems a bit strange or foreign to you, please be reassured - your uncertainty, doubt and skepticism are openly received here at North Shore Lutheran Ministry in Lake Forest, Illinois. As an expression of that welcome, we have outlined below some of the core concepts of our faith, in order to provide you with some simple reference points as you visit among us. We hope these will be 'conversation starters' and that you will halp us move the Christian conversation forwards.
We believe that the Bible is a beautiful, God-inspired, complex, and challenging book. God desired to reveal many amazing truths to humanity, and He did so through the most effective communication medium in human history: writing. People all over the world can sit down and read the Bible, learning the same unchanging truths of the God of all nations.
About Eternity: We all were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. For the Christian, eternity is a place of eternal union and life with God.
About Separation of Church and State: We believe that each local church is self-governing, and must be free from interference by any external ecclesiastical or political authority; that every human being is ultimately responsible to God in matters of faith and life; and that each person is free to worship God according to the dictates of his/her conscience. We further believe that governments are established by God; that Christians, as good citizens, should be subject to governing authorities insofar as possible, recognizing our greater allegiance to God and His kingdom in matters wherein human authorities conflict with clear, biblical mandates.