Q &A
Q: Is MOVRF a church? Answer.
A: Absolutely, in that Christ's church is the people of God in Christ by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit through regeneration. But no, we are not a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization — but neither are we tax revolters. We believe that the separation of church and state means, among other things, that the church is not a taxable entity for civil government. Taxation has always been the primary element regarding the separation of church and state because taxation is the civil government's means of control. Churches that voluntarily elect to become 501(c)(3) organizations have crossed the line of church/state separation. We would rather be more circumspect, so we pay taxes in protest of civil government's intrustion into the jurisdiction of the church.
Q: Is MOVRF affiliated with a denomination? Answer.
A: Yes and no. A denomination is defined as a group of religious congregations having their own organization and a distinctive faith. This church declares itself to be in union with Jesus Christ and through Christ with all of Christ's body as described in Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12-15. In this sense what holds Christians in unity is the distinctive faith of Jesus Christ (that faith being the definition of denomination).
This church also declares itself to be a family integrated, interdependent Christian church. We believe that Christian unity is not a social work that we have to accomplish, but is a spiritual reality that the Lord declared and established. We need to get ourselves and our man-made institutions out of the way, so that the unity of the God-made church of Jesus Christ can shine through.
We are locally governed, but interdependent upon all other faithful Christian churches throughout the world and throughout time. Our faith is not our own, but Christ's. We confess the faith of Jesus Christ. We endeavor to understand and promote the Christian faith as it has always been understood throughout history. But we do not deny the historical development of Christian theology and are working to faithfully understand and develop it further in our time, noting that its development never changes its biblical beliefs and/or principles. So, we celebrate the history of that development though various creeds and confessions that have been established by various denominations. These are the core curriculum of our studies.
We are "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: (Ephesians 4:3), and understand Christian unity to be a matter of attaining "to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). It is a matter of intellectual (knowledge) and spiritual maturity (growth in grace or sanctification.
Q: How is MOVRF governed? Answer.
We are governed locally by our own elected elders, who have the responsibility to govern the church. Think of it as independent presbyterianism, with a spirit of cooperation with other local like-minded churches as described the Cambridge Platform. We also believe that Christ's churches are to be led by elders who are well… older — not just old in years, but experienced, knowledgable and mature in the faith. Christ did not leave His Church in the hands of children, but in the hands of elders. Scripture does not teach that our children are to lead the family or the church, nor are we to appeal to the values and aesthetics of the godless. Rather, we are to keep our eyes on the faithfulness and righteousness of Jesus Christ, and let the proverbial chips fall where God has predestined them to fall.
Q: Does MOVRF believe that Christians are supposed to be nerds? Is this church just for smart people? Answer.
Not at all! But neither are Christians to be cool, where being cool leads people away from the values and aesthetics of Scripture. Modesty and humility are to prevail in the character and behavior of Christians.
Scripture does teach that we are to "study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Is this just for leaders and elders? Yes, it is for elders, but no, it's not just for elders. All Christians are called to grow in the faith and take leadership of their homes and children — and of other Christians God may put into their paths, unchurched friends and neighbors. Christianity has been around for a long time, so there is a lot to know. But this isn't a problem for faithful Christians, it's a joy!
