And where do we find this vision of the Lord that renews the Church?
In the Word, of course, but more specifically in the spiritual meaning of it
revealed in the Heavenly Doctrine of the New Jerusalem. That doctrine is the
Lord with us; and it is from it – and it alone – that the New Church is formed.
(And that statement itself is a retelling of the “prior” truth we find in the first
chapter of John: “In the beginning was the Word .... and the Word was God ....
and without Him nothing was made that was made.”)
In each of us individually, the church begins anew whenever we turn back
to the Word and gain a new insight – a new sight of the Lord in His Word,
through the lens of doctrine – and respond affirmatively.
The New Church as an organized body in the world is formed by first
principles derived from doctrines which have themselves been derived from the
Word. Because of their derivation from the Word, and thus their connection
with the Lord, these first principles have life in them – which, like the soul in a
body, continually revitalizes, renews, restores and maintains the body’s form.
And what are these first principles? Regarding the universal New Church,
examples of them are: 1) God is One, and the Lord Jesus Christ is that One. 2)
Sacred Scripture or the Word is Divine Truth itself, and has within it a spiritual
sense previously unknown. 3) And charity, or a life according to the Word, is
what saves us, not faith alone.
All New Church people believe those things, and they form a deep bond
between us. But our particular branch of the Church, the General Church of
the New Jerusalem, is based upon additional first principles, also derived from
the Word, which are the reason for our church body’s existence. These include:
1) The Divine authority of the Writings. 2) The vital importance of New
Church education. 3) And the sanctity of marriage (defined as being between
one man and one woman, although until very recently this was so obvious that
it hardly needed to be spelled out).
It is essential to remember these (and other) first principles, return to
them regularly, and renew our commitment to them. We must not take them
for granted, but actively study, discuss and apply them.
The life of our church depends upon these things, for “such as life is in
its first principles, such it is in the whole and in every part.” (Divine Love and
Wisdom 366)
(WEO)
unique in the world
Students all over North America and Europe are graduating at this time of
year. These are joyous and significant ceremonies. But none is as unique and
meaningful as those in our New Church schools, the Academy Secondary
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