The Vineyard Church at Wool, - What do we belive

Some people might think that the Vineyard

promotes a kind of 'Christianity Lite'.

Vineyard is known – and is usually happy to be known – as an easy-going, informal, free-wheeling, doughnut-and-coffee-loving movement, founded in the early ’70s by a fat man from the popular music business.

Of course, we would insist that that is not all the Vineyard is, but could we then be accused of obscuring the more serious side of the Christian message; of attracting people under false pretences?

Granted, the Vineyard style is partly a reaction to certain, sometimes accurate, perceptions of the church in general: that it’s negative, critical, miserable, dull, and out of touch with ordinary people.

So is our movement a bit of a contradiction?

Deep truth often has to be expressed in terms of apparent opposites – it’s part of the human condition (most notably the fact that our brains are so microscopic in comparison with the cosmos).

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So here are a few important contradictions that are us:

We strive to be culturally relevant, but we know that Jesus challenges cultural norms.

We want to serve people and community – affirming all as loved by God, yet we know the Gospel will subvert all human ambitions and desires.

We love and respect the created environment, but reserve worship for its creator.
We stress that church life should be fun and adventurous, but we know that we may have to sacrifice much to live the Jesus way.

We celebrate the all-powerful, majestic God, yet on planet Earth we are followers of a humble, servant king.

We celebrate the forgiveness and restoration made real in Jesus, but we do not ignore our weaknesses and capacity for evil.

We emphasise the life-affirming benefits of faith and God's world, but we know that we only become fully human when we give ourselves to Jesus.

The Vineyard Church at Wool | pastor@purbeckvineyard.com