The following is the Nicene Creed. It was formulated in A.D. 325 in Nicea, as an attempt to bring clarity about what Christians actually believed. While over the ages Christians have unfortunately fallen out over a variety of issues, this creed has often been a good rallying point for Christians.

"We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through Him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."

(Thanks to Cup and Bread ministry.)

Concerning the church and culture

All over the world there is a growing awareness that the world has entered a postmodern era. All around us the effects of this change are visible: in the media, movies, the courts, politics, psychology and religion.

All over the world people are experiencing this change in worldview. Confronted with many different races, worldviews and lifestyles, many people don't know what to believe anymore, and instead adopt a lifestyle in which they pursue personal happiness.

The change in context is not leaving the world unaffected. There are many believers who feel these changes are not good, and some have adopted a defensive attitude, extolling the blessings of the good old days, and resisting the new with all the power they can muster.

But the reality is that ours is a pluralistic society, and which ever way we go from here, going back is not an option. The church must learn to live and breathe in the postmodern world, and find ways to be the agent of change that Christ called her to be.

Jesus called us to 'make disciples of all nations', and to 'teach everyone what he had commanded' (Matt 28:18-20). But just how do we do that in the postmodern world? How do we reach people with God's message? How do we communicate God's love to people? How does one make an intelligible appeal for people to turn their lives over to God?

In recent years many people have started noticing the changes in society. A few pioneers have gone ahead, seeking to forge new trails. Some have attended seminars and conferences, and others have read books and articles. But relatively little has happened thus far, because all of us are starting at this from ground zero. The new landscape is like nothing we have seen before, and it takes time to find your path.

Across the world people are exploring new ways. They share the conviction that we will have to substantially change the way we do church to be relevant to the postmodern era. In short, we are expecting a new wave of (new) churches. Churches that will be faithful to the word of God, and faithful in carrying out our God-given mission, to reach the present culture with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

What is missing between these explorers and pioneers is a sense of connection. Two people can be struggling to develop the same sort of strategy without any knowledge of each other. Next-Wave web magazine exists to bring like-minded people together. Our desire is to provide a forum where we can share ideas, thoughts, strategies, theological insight and friendship. You may be a pioneer in your location, or in your denomination, but there are others like you out there, and you can meet them here.

Modernism is giving way to Postmodernism, and the results of this change in worldview can be viewed in just about every discipline and area of life. Postmodernism is a worldview, and it changes the way people perceive, themselves, God, reality, truth, Religion, leadership, institutions, society, etc.

Everywhere Christians are discovering that strategies that were successful in bringing people to Christ 10 or 20 years ago, have little or no use anymore. Instead, they realize, there is a need for new approaches, new methods, new strategies. All over the world people are exploring new ways. Some are successful, some are not. In the process of exploration, very often, we are confronted with ourselves, with our beliefs, with our worldviews.

This is a time of re-calibration, re-focusing, re-thinking, and usually of profound paradigm shifts. One could compare it to a slow-motion earthquake. The landscape is changing, the ground is trembling beneath our feet, and our certainty is disappearing fast.

All too often we are unaware that others are experiencing the same thing we are. If we could connect, share our experiences, pool our wisdom, and stand together, we would be better equipped for the challenge before us.

Our desire is not to rescue people from the grips of postmodernism. We suspect postmodernism has as much or as little in common with Christianity as Modernism did. Our desire is to see people enter a relationship with Jesus Christ, receive his forgiveness, enter into community with the saints, worship in ways that are meaningful to them, and reach out to others in their world.