“The Intesa Evangelica Siciliana (I.E.S.) (Sicilian Evangelical Agreement) is a fellowship of different sicilian local churches on the basis of a common consensus to a statement of faith and several statements regarding the charismatic and ecumenical 'issues'."

INTRODUCTION

In recent years we are confronted by an ever increasing religious confusion. Sad to say, even in the so-called 'Evangelical' milieu, we are witnessing extremes both in doctrine and in form which deny the very wholesome principles of biblical truth. Furthermore, liberalism and materialism are seeking to swallow up those who would seek to live "self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age".

Thus the I.E.S. wants to be a brotherly 'agreement' of a united proposition and a a way in which to, publicly, without shame or reserve, take a position of open unity.

Only too often have evangelical comunities lived in a state of tension between themselves.

The I.E.S. does not candidate itself as the solution to every inter-church life problem; rather it wishes to be a platform, a trampoline from which it is possible to declare with united voice: "how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.".

THE I.E.S. PURPOSE STATEMENT.

Different sicilian Evangelical local churches (see church list) have decided to develop an 'agreement' between them with the aim of favouring the development of greater unity and also to give public credibility to their common doctrinal position.

This 'agreement', which does not set itself any organizational goal, is developed on the basis of reciprocal esteem between the local churches represented and a common consensus to a statement of faith, with specific statements regarding the charismatic and ecumenical 'issues'. This 'agreement' does not have an institutional goal, nor is it born with the intent of seeing the formation of a denomination, but rather in full respect of the autonomy of the variety of local churches represented the desire is to define a sense of common doctrinal identity in the increasingly confused 'scenario' "of faith".

THE I.E.S. IS NOT:

A NEW DENOMINATION
AN ORGANIZATIONAL MONOPOLY
A LOSS OF AUTONOMY FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH
A SPIRITUAL HIERARCHY

THE I.E.S. IS:

A BROTHERLY 'AGREEMENT' BETWEEN EVANGELICAL LOCAL CHURCHES ON THE BASIS OF A COMMON DECLARATION OF FAITH WHO DESIRE TO LIVE THEIR COMMON FAITH TOGETHER.
AN INCLUSION OF SIMILAR LOCAL CHURCHES.
FULL RESPECT ON DIFFERENCES REGARDING MINOR ISSUES - BOTH IN DOCTRINE AND IN FORM.
A MEANS BY WHICH TO STRENGTHEN TIES BETWEEN THE PARTICIPATING LOCAL CHURCHES.
A WAY BY WHICH TO CREATE A COMMON IDENTITY.
A VOICE WHICH CAN GIVE CREDENCE TO THE SINGLE VOICE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH.

A STRUCTURE WHICH CAN OFFER GREATER STABILITY AND AGGREGATION FOR THE DIFFERENT LOCAL CHURCHES.

THR I.E.S. STATEMENT OF FAITH

1. The Bible. We believe in the divine inspiration and divine authority of the Scriptures, composed of the 66 books of the Old and New testaments. They are the Word of God, without error in their original composition.

2. God. We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Creator of the universe and of all that is in it.

3. Jesus Christ. We believe in Jesus Christ, in his perfect divinity and his eternal pre-existence, in His birth from a virgin, in his perfect humanity, in his sustitiutionary death in our place, in his resurrection and bodily ascension, in his personal, imminent, visible and glorious return.

4. The Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit, in his divinity and His personality, that He is received at the moment of conversion to God, in His indwelling all those who believe in Jesus Christ, in His work in the Church.

5. Man and Sin. We believe that man, created in the image of God, fell and that all humanity dwells under the dominion of Satan, in rebellion, corruption and condemnation.

6. Salvation. We believe that the justification of man is accomplished only by God's grace alone in Christ Jesus and that it is received only by faith. We believe in the necessity of repentance and new birth which lead to a life of godliness, holiness, witness and service to the glory of God through the work of the Holy Spirit.

7. The Church. We believe that the universal Church is formed by all those who are redeemed in Christ Jesus. It's true unit is in it's only head: Jesus Christ, thorugh the work of the Holy Spirit. We believe that it's visible expression is that of local churches.

8. The Future. We believe in the resurrection of all men; to eternal joy for the redeemed and to eternal punishment for impenintent sinners.

Furthermore, the IES adopts the following statements:

Art. A. Receiving the Holy Spirit. The believer receives the Holy Spirit and is united to Jesus Christ by faith, without it being possible to separate in time these two aspects of the start of the Christian life.

Art. B. The work of the Holy Spirit in the believer. In the course of his spiritual growth, in the form of different experiences, the believer is beneficiary in two respects of the work of the Holy Spirit; he enjoys, on the one hand, the actual blessings which are already his in Jesus Christ, but he does not experience them perfectly (in view of the fact that he is in the process of sanctification); on the other hand, he receives one or more spiritual gifts according to the particular plan of God regarding each person.

Art. C. Evaluation of spiritual gifts. The presence of gifts in no way allows one to flaunt spiritual superiority. It is therefore important not to depreciate the life and godliness of other believers.

Art. D. Speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues is not an indispensable, nor certain sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Art. E. Divine healing. Though we still await the redemption of our body at the return of Jesus Christ, though he has acquired it in his death, God grants already the healing of the sick when it pleases him, but he has not promised to do so always. It may happen that the most faithful believer can remain sick and be called to glorify God in such a situation.

Art. F. Prophecy. The prophetic ministry in the Church, in whatever form, may in no way contradict, alter, replace or complete the Scriptures.

Furthermore, regarding the Ecumenical Movement:

We are Opposed to:

* The existence of an ecumenism which does not recognize the Holy Scriptures as infallible Word of God and sole authority in matters of faith and life.

* The practice of an ecumensim which does not take into consideration the doctrinal and ecclesiological realities of Catholicism.

* The increase of an ecumenism which goes beyond the borders of Christianity and which therefore tends towards sincretism.

* The desire of catholic egemony in as to other Christian confessions.

* The ignorance relative to the Evangelical Churches and their being labeled as 'sects'.

* The characteristic orientation of the Ecumenical Council of Churches: doctrinal pluralism, questionable methods, political compromises, sincretistic tendencies. (We do recognize the possibility of authentic Christians within the Catholic Church)

Thus we disapprove:

of the belonging of churches, evanelical agencies or missions to the Ecumenical Council of Churches or whichever other organism which might have similar positions, which are incompatible with the biblical teaching regarding the authentic unity of the Church.

Torna alla pagina principale